Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody Review
Our Verdict
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Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Price | $161.85 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $300 List | $299 List | $259 List $259.00 at REI | $200 List $139.96 at Backcountry |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Slick fabrics layer well, stuffs into pocket with clip loop | Light, easily stowable, very weather resistant | Very warm, comfortable fit, seals out the weather | Very comfortable, great fit, breathable, impressively warm, great mobility | Wind resistant, excellent breathability |
Cons | Expensive, heavier than similar lightweights, lots of stiching to abrade | Doesn't breathe, expensive | Heavier than most, not very breathable, pricey | Pricey, not as warm as thicker layers, doesn’t stuff into itself | Poor water resistance, minimal features |
Bottom Line | A true classic, this contender is stylish and durable, but does not offer the highest performance | When it comes to features, this jacket has everything you need and nothing you don't | A very warm, weather resistant hoody that easily fits over other layers but isn’t too baggy | The ideal active insulated layer combines lightweight mobility and great breathability, yet still wards off the chill during cold weather | Breathable and lightweight, this jacket is the perfect companion for cold weather high-output activities |
Rating Categories | Patagonia Nano Puff... | Arc'teryx Nuclei FL | Arc'teryx Atom AR H... | Arc'teryx Atom LT H... | Rab Xenair Insulated |
Warmth (25%) | |||||
Weight and Compressibility (20%) | |||||
Comfort (20%) | |||||
Weather Resistance (20%) | |||||
Breathability (15%) | |||||
Specs | Patagonia Nano Puff... | Arc'teryx Nuclei FL | Arc'teryx Atom AR H... | Arc'teryx Atom LT H... | Rab Xenair Insulated |
Measured Weight (size) | 12.8 oz (M) | 11.5 oz (M) | 16.75 oz (M) | 13.20 oz (M) | 11.8 oz (M) |
Insulation | Primaloft Gold Eco (60g) | Coreloft (65g/m²) | 120 g/m2 Coreloft body, 80 g/m2 underarms, 60 g/m2 hood - with Dope Permair 20 in armpits | 60 g/m2 Coreloft Compact w/ Stretch Fleece panels on sides | PrimaLoft Gold Active+ |
Outer Fabric | 100% recycled polyester, DWR finish | Arato (10D nylon ripstop) | Tyono 30 denier nylon | 20D Nylon Tyono | Pertex Quantum Air |
Stuffs Into Itself? | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Hood Option? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Number of Pockets | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered internal | 2 zippered hand, 2 internal | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered internal chest | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered internal chest | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody receives middle-of-the-road scores in all performance rating metrics. Patagonia has stuck with their classic, generalist design for this model and has also introduced other options when breathability is key. The Nano Puff compresses very small into its chest pocket and remains an excellent and classic choice for clipping to your harness or carrying while backpacking and hiking, and will save you a bit of cash when compared to other Patagonia synthetic options.
The Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket has no hood and is a little lighter and less expensive. Without the hood, it's easier to layer under other hooded jackets. For example, it much easier to wear under a ski jacket. It also just looks better around town. Both models are classics, although the hoodless version is probably the best-selling insulated jacket of all time.
Performance Comparison
Warmth
This insulated jacket uses 60 g/m2 Primaloft Gold insulation Eco held in place with quilted squares. All the stitching in these squares lets some air pass through, which is nice if you're looking for some breathability, but not great when the winds start howling. This insulation compresses better than Coreloft and Polartec Alpha and will maintain its warmth when damp. An elastic cinch at the hem lets you seal in warmth, but the loose wrist cuffs let heat escape. We found this model a bit warmer than the majority of the active insulated layers that now dominate the market.
Weight & Compressibility
This is one of the heavier of the lightly insulated pieces we tested. At 12.7 ounces for a size small, it's a bit heavier than other smalls we tested. What the Nano Puff Hoody does offer, however, is excellent compressibility. It stuffs tightly into its chest pocket, creating one of the smaller stuffed packages we tested. This makes it very popular for multi-pitch climbing. Having a jacket with a low stuffed profile is great for squirming through chimneys in Yosemite and Zion, but keep in mind that the smaller the stuffed size of a jacket, the longer it takes to pack away. Stuffing this thing into its pocket certainly takes a hot minute.
Comfort
This insulated jacket's minimalist features make it a lightweight and functional piece, but it earned a relatively low comfort score overall. Slippery fabrics allow it to layer well under a shell, but those same fabrics feel sticky if you start to sweat. Though designed with climbing in mind, the short hem length tends to ride up when raising your arms. Patagonia uses a snug-fitting, non-adjustable hood design that fits well under a climbing helmet.
We appreciated the comfortable microfleece patches that form a "zipper garage" when the jacket is fully zipped up against the face. Two deep, zippered hand pockets lined with slippery nylon and an internal zippered pocket on the left chest provide ample storage. The jacket stuffs into this chest pocket, while the main zipper and the hand pockets have easy-to-grab zipper pulls. The wrist cuffs are simple and straightforward, but not as snug as we would like. The hem cinch has one cord lock located on the right side.
Weather Resistance
This is one of the light models we would call fairly weather resistant. While the outer shell is sewn-through, the interior nylon liner blocks wind that penetrates the seams. While the DWR on the Puff's outer fabric beads water well, there is tons of stitching sewn through it. You definitely want to have a light shell layer handy if you're heading out in threatening weather. We have found that models with nearly continuous outer fabric perform much better when the rain and wind rolls in, and yet the Nano Puff's liner fabric resists the wind once it comes through the exterior.
Breathability
This is not one of the more breathable models we tested. Both the outer shell fabric and interior liner contribute to blocking airflow. Many other jackets use advanced insulation and stretchy permeable fabrics that create excellent breathability for high-energy use and are thus better choices if breathability is one of your top concerns. The Nano Puff functions best as a lightweight belay jacket.
Value
While not the most expensive Patagonia insulated jacket you can buy, there are much better values to be had. Still, we think it's cool that the Nano Puff is constructed from so much recycled material, and it is backed by Patagonia's excellent warranty. If you love the Nano Puff design, but want to save some money, check out the non-hooded and pullover versions.
Conclusion
The Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody is a classic generalist jacket. It stuffs really small and is great for clipping to your harness or toting in your backpacking kit. That said, lightly insulated jackets are quickly becoming more specialized. We prefer more breathable options for high-energy use and more wind and water-resistant options for multi-pitch climbing.
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