Gear Review: Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody

Trail running in Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon.

Rock climbing in the High Sierras, California. (Picture by Josh Currie)

Backpacking in the North Cascades, Washington.

Backpacking in Gem Lake Wilderness, Washington

Jacket purchased February 2018

If you follow my blog or Instagram you have undoubtably seen me in this jacket a lot of times. This Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody has been with me backpacking, camping, fly fishing, trail running, hiking, skiing, snow shoeing and so much more. I have put this thing through the wringer over many seasons and adventures and I think I’m ready to give a super honest review! Read more below:

What I love:

The durability: This jacket has been in lots of different environments since we’ve moved to the west coast. Scraped while walking through thick underbrush and by unforgiving Pacific Northwest pines, not to mention sliding across rock faces and bumping up against everything… this jacket has held up and doesn’t have a single tear or loose thread. Words cannot describe how much I appreciate the durability of this jacket not just because it saves me time from having to deal with repairs, but because it really demonstrates the quality of the jacket itself. It’s meant to get dirty and to be worn in all kinds of situations.

The fit: I’m a petite female so it’s easy for a jacket (especially a puffy one) to look like a bag on me and swallow me alive. I need something with a little bit of shape and something that isn’t too long or have too long/short of sleeves. This jacket has an incredibly flattering fit while also giving enough room underneath to have a base layer or two.
The thickness: the jacket isn’t too thick and isn’t too thin, it’s just right. When it’s a little bit warmer out I can wear this with no hard shell and a thin base layer underneath and be cozy warm, in the winter I can layer it under a hard shell and have base layers underneath that. Either way, I am never too hot and always comfortable. The coldest day I’ve worn this jacket had a high of 26 degrees and the coldest night was around 20 degrees and I was fine in both settings!
The hood: The hood is perfect and cozy and keeps my head and bottom of my face warm in the cold. Also, if you have to throw on a helmet, the jacket can fit under or over that as well.
The full zipper: My previous Patagonia was a half zip and it got annoying having to take it off over my head over and over, especially with hats and neck warmers in the colder months. The full zip (although I like the quarter zip look better) is much more practical when outdoors and active.

What I don’t love:

The jacket shows dirt really easily but that’s because I selected a light blue color. I think if you buy a darker color it would be a different situation. I wash it all the time and after 3 years of use it seems to have some permanent dirt spots (I personally don’t mind, but that’s something to consider when choosing a color).

Some of the specs from the website:

Durable shell fabric is made of 100% recycled polyester ripstop treated with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish
800-fill-power Advanced Global Traceable Down (goose down certified by NSF International, traced from parent farm to apparel factory to help ensure that the birds are not force-fed or live-plucked)
Contoured fit has a longer-length hem; narrow horizontal quilt lines on side panels
Single-pull adjustable hood; center-front Vislon® zipper has wicking interior storm flap and zipper garage at chin for next-to-skin comfort
Two secure handwarmer pockets have Vislon® zippers and garages; internal zippered chest pocket converts to stuffsack with a carabiner clip-in loop
Comfortable nylon-bound elastic cuffs seal in warmth
Hem adjusts by pulling cord in handwarmer pockets and releases with cord locks at front hem