Patagonia DAS Light Hoody - Women's Review

The Patagonia DAS Light Hoody is a heavy midweight jacket with a large hood and a relaxed fit. Its exterior is made of 10D Pertex Quantum Nylon and it has a relaxed hem with no adjustment points. It features three pockets — two zippered hand pockets and an exterior zippered chest pocket. The jacket is supposed to fit into this 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.

When testing it in Jackson Hole, WY, on a superbly cold day, it did exactly what it was supposed to with just a base layer and midweight fleece. The exterior shell is excellent at cutting wind while offering some water resistance. Even when we got soaked from a wet winter storm one day, it still kept us warm, even when temperatures dipped into the single digits. The hood is large with a cinch strap around the back and fits beautifully overtop a ski or climbing helmet. We also wore it while climbing in the spring and fall, and it functioned beautifully as a belay jacket. On multi-pitch climbs, this is the one we'd choose to stuff into a small bag to wear at any frigid belay ledge.

Comfort

The lofty warm, and 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 that are lined with a smooth Pertex Quantum material.

It's easy to layer the DAS Light over top of other clothing with its smooth slippery surfaces. The roomy interior fit of both the arms and the torso through the armpits allowed us to easily add a base layer and 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 every season. The nylon construction throughout the liner and exterior both prove to be wind and water-resistant. The exterior shell is made of a superior textile called Endurance Pertex Quantum, which is a nylon composite. During wind storms, no air penetrated. During snowstorms, water is kept away from our core so we stay protected and warm.

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 kept water out of the jacket. Most continuous shells just pool water between the layers, but none was absorbed. 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. The material beaded water at first, then finally saturated, but it never penetrated the lower layers. We also stayed warm, despite the jacket 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!

Weight and Compressibility

The DAS Light Hoody feels light and airy. It has a few more material features than ultralight coats, so a size small weighs in at 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 close all the way. That said, we typically just stuff it into the bottom of our climbing or running 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 vent moisture, the layers are a bit too thick to provide much fabric breathability. We tested it while hiking uphill in the winter and even tried (and failed) to wear it while running.

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 you're willing to sacrifice a smidge of weather resistance for a very comfortable jacket that costs a lot less, the Rab Xenon 2.0 is our favorite insulated jacket for a much more approachable price. If packability is what you're after, check out the lightweight, yet still quite warm, Mountain Hardwear Ghost Shadow.