Patagonia DAS Light Hoody - Women's Review

The Patagonia DAS Light Hoody is a midweight insulated jacket with a large, adaptable hood, drop hem and a relaxed fit. The exterior is constructed from 10D Pertex Quantum Nylon, filled with Primaloft synthetic insulation. It has a relaxed, but flattering fit with no hem adjustment points. It features three pockets: Two zippered hand pockets and an exterior zippered chest pocket. The jacket is supposed to pack into its own chest pocket, but we were unable to actually zip it closed.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

This is a warm jacket that we've tested thoroughly while skiing in both the resort and backcountry. We deem it appropriate for four seasons. Slide it on during a cool summer evening in the mountains or layer it with a fleece and base layer in the winter. It's packed with 65 grams of PlumaFill insulation that'll stay warm even when wet. The coat traps lots of air and warms up quickly.

The exterior shell is excellent at blocking the wind while offering reasonably effective water resistance. When we stayed out throughout the day in heavy winter storms, it still kept us warm, even when temperatures dipped into the single digits and below. The hood is generous, with a cinch strap around the back, and fits well over a ski or climbing helmet. We also wore it while climbing in the spring and fall, and it functioned beautifully as a belay jacket. We were also happy taking it on the go, with a respectable warmth-to-weight ratio.

Comfort

The lofty, airy feel of this jacket makes it super comfortable. While it's not loaded with any weight-adding features like fur or fleece, it's comfortable in a different way. It comes with a voluminous chest pocket and two large waist pockets lined with smooth Pertex Quantum material.

It's easy to slide on the DAS Light over the top of other layers with its smooth interior fabric. The roomy fit of both the arms and the torso through the armpits allowed us to easily add both a base layer and thick fleece for added warmth in cold months. The Pertex Quantum shell slides easily, even overtop high-pile bulky fleeces. The hood is quite roomy, with space for a ski or climbing helmet. Unlike mobile jackets, the hood isn't tightly fitted, so it has to go overtop the helmet (not underneath, as some prefer). We also like that it comes with a cinch strap for a solid fit. The cuffs and hem are simple and taper inside to try and keep heat out. If we had to ask for any additional feature, it'd be a cinch strap around the hem to keep cold air out on especially cold days.

Weather Resistance

We put this jacket through the wringer and tested it in a wide range of conditions. To thoroughly test weather resistance, we put the jacket under the nozzle of a showerhead for two minutes. During these tests, we were thoroughly impressed. The double layer of nylon and Pertex coating did its job and kept water out of the jacket.

The shell beaded water, and when put outside in the sun, it was dry in about ten minutes. During a snowy day skiing at the resort, we were hit with a wet snowstorm that soaked the DAS Light. Water beaded off at first, then finally saturated, but it never penetrated the lower layers. We also stayed warm despite the outer fabric being completely saturated. Overall, we deem it superior when it comes to poor weather. It's excellent at cutting the wind and offers more water resistance than other continuous shell options or any insulated jacket that we've tested so far!

Portability

The DAS Light Hoody feels light and airy. It has a few more features and loft than most ultralight coats. But, size small weighs in at a respectable 11.5 ounces. When packed, it almost compresses down to the size of a small Nalgene bottle.

It can stuff into its own pocket, but unfortunately, we found it nearly impossible to zip closed all the way. That said, we typically just stuff it into the bottom of our skiing, climbing or hiking pack, which works just fine. The continuous fabric design compresses to a small, lightweight package, making it versatile for virtually any adventure where weight is a concern or consideration.

Breathability

As is true with most highly weather-resistant jackets, breathability suffers. While the DAS Light has a full-zip construction that'll easily help you fully vent if needed, the layers are a bit too thick to provide much fabric breathability. Additionally, Plumafil, of course, isn't as breathable as down, either. We tested it while hiking uphill in the winter and even tried (and failed) to wear it while running on a winter day.

When hiking to a mountain at Grand Targhee, we found ourselves getting pretty sweaty with the warm sun beating down. We opened it up all the way and eventually had to take it off. This isn't a jacket we recommend for super sweaty endeavors in warmer weather. However, we wore it while ski touring on a really cold day, and we kept it on the whole time. The fabric has some breathability; however, if you're seeking a breathable jacket, we'd recommend looking at mobile and soft-faced jackets or a continuous shell design with a thinner design instead.

Should You Buy the Patagonia DAS Light Hoody?

While the DAS Light is one of our favorite jackets, its price is high. But for those seeking an almost perfect blend of superior warmth, compression, and weather protection, this coat may be worth the investment. It's one we'd recommend to our friends that have the cash and need this kind of performance. However, for most ladies just looking to get outside, you can probably find a higher-value option that'll do what you need for fewer dollars spent.

What Other Insulated Jackets Should You Consider?

The DAS is an excellent jacket that features a protective weather-resistant shell, lofty warmth, and great compressibility. If packability is what you're after, check out the lightweight yet still quite warm Arc'teryx Atom. For a more affordable insulated jacket, we love the warmth and comfort offered by the Columbia Heavenly Hoody.