Patagonia DAS Light Hoody - Women's Review
Cons: Shell can tear easily, less breathable
Manufacturer: Patagonia
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Patagonia DAS Light Hoody is an excellent insulated jacket that offers superior warmth and comfort for all four-seasons. A roomier fit and a packable design make it versatile for all adventures. The colors are gush-worthy, and we love its fit. The DAS is back, and it's better than ever.
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 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 superiorly 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.
Weight & Compression
On this body, 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 10.5 ounces. When packed, it compresses down to the size of a small Nalgene bottle.
Packability is an important consideration if you have a small pack or want to go light. While this isn't the lightest jacket in this review, it's only one to two ounces heavier and packs in a lot more warmth than those ultralight options. If an impressive weight to warmth ratio is what you seek, this does the trick.
It can stuff into its own pocket, but unfortunately, we found it near 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.
Comfort & Coziness
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. There's a reason that when we opened our closet and were faced with over ten different options, we chose this one over the rest.
It's easy to layer over top of other layers with the smooth slipper textiles. The roomy interior fit of both the arms, torso, and through the armpits allows you to easily add a base layer and fleece for added warmth in cold months. The Pertex Quantum shell slides easily, even overtop hi-pile or bulky fleeces.
The hood is quite roomy as well, 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. The cuffs are excellent.
Weather Resistance
We put this jacket through the wringer over our long testing period that spanned all the seasons. 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 kept away from our core, keeping us protected and warm.
To thoroughly test weather resistance, we didn't just put ourselves in the "stuff", but 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 our jacket. While the material beaded at first, it finally saturated but never penetrated to 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!
Breathability
As is true with all continuous shell designs, breathability is truly subpar. While it does have 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 to wear it while running.
When hiking to Mary's Nipple, a mountain at the Grand Targhee resort, we found ourselves getting pretty sweaty with a warm sun beating down. We opened it up all the way and eventually had to take it off. As a result, this isn't a jacket we'd recommend for super sweaty endeavors in warmer weather. However, we did wear 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.
Style & Fit
We love the cute color options, complementary color schemes, and overall fit. It's a little boxier than most and has a looser fit, which we appreciate for layering. Our main tester is 5'7, 145-lbs, with an athletic build, wearing a size small. She found this to be true to fit, with a little extra room. There is a tiny bit of constriction in the armpits for her build. However, friends with a more petite build didn't think this was a concern. The arms and torso are about medium length, so those with longer limbs and torso may find the fit to be a tiny bit short.
Value
While this is one of our favorite jackets, the price is high. There are other options in this review that offer a similar level of performance at a much lower price. We noticed that the shell could tear easily if you're not careful. When carrying a snowboard, one of our testers sliced the fabric just after three days of use. For those seeking an almost perfect blend of superior warmth, compression, and weather protection, you might see the value in this jacket. 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 they need for fewer dollars spent.
Conclusion
The DAS is our favorite jacket that features a protective, continuous shell, lofty warmth, and excellent packability. We've tested it while skiing, climbing, backpacking, and lounging over the last year, and it does well in all categories. This jacket comes highly recommended for its excellent versatility that can be used through any season of the year.
— Amber King