Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket - Men's Review

Likes
The Nano Puff is the lightest jacket that stuffs into itself, it packs down very easily, and is a perfect thin alpine layer since it can clip to your harness. It is very warm for weighing only 12.5 ounces and could be worn as an inner or an outer layer. Even though the MontBell Thermawrap is lighter, the Nano is easier to bring along on a climb because of the biner loop and it doesn't have the complication of a separate stuff sack. The Nano isn't quite as warm as The North Face Redpoint, which also stuffs into a pocket, but it is significantly lighter and easier to stuff.

A big part of Patagonia is the history, manufacturing process, and philosophy behind their gear that is told in Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard. Highly recommended reading.

Dislikes
Like many Patagonia products, this jacket is on the pricey side, though it is not nearly as expensive as the Arc'Teryx Atom SV. During my use of these jackets, I rarely came across a feature that didn't seem to hold up well under the conditions I put them, but I did notice some of the baffle stitching on the Nano Puff start to unravel and come undone. This wasn't a functional deal-breaker, but I would expect a longer lasting product for the price tag.

Best Application
The Nano Puff's light weight and small size make it one of the best jackets to bring along with you on an alpine climb or as an extra layer while ski mountaineering.

Value
For $179, this jacket seems like a big investment. However, this jacket seems to do the best at its job by being easy to use, lightweight to carry, and a warm mid-layer, so the investment would be worth it. Plus, it is made with high quality Primaloft One. Even if the stitching on the jacket started to unravel, Patagonia has a fantastic warranty program, so you could always replace the jacket at little or no cost.

Other Versions
The Patagonia Nano Puff Pullover - Men's ($149) is a bit warmer than the Nano Jacket but we much prefer the full length zip of the jacket. The Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody - Men's ($199) is the hooded version of this jacket. The hooded version is better for really cold temps. But we prefer the more versatile layering of the regular jacket. This also comes as a vest with the Patagonia Nano Puff Vest - Men's

The Patagonia Nano Storm - Men's has the same Nano insulated material on the inside but a waterproof shell outside. It looks bad ass… but it's expensive and not as ideal for high heart rate activities (it doesn't breathe as well).

There are also Women's version of all the Nano jackets.

Patagonia Footprint Chronicles: Nano Puff Pullover Design