Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody

Down insulation is one of those little luxuries that has always elicted warm, fuzzy feelings for me. Down jackets have always felt just comfier, warmer, and better than any other insulation that dare challenge its reign atop the iron throne of insulation. One problem: it’s expensive. And it compresses when it gets soaked.

Still, every year it seems like better technology and application of these materials makes down feel less essential.

Specifications

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PlumaFill insulation is a ringer for the soft comfort and fluffy fill of down

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Water repellency and wind protection as well

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9.3 oz

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Patagonia Micro Puff: Down Without Being Down

The Micro Puff Hoody has all the characteristics of a down jacket—extremely light, comfortably cozy, and really warm—without actually being down. The synthetic insulation in the Micro Puff continues working even when it gets wet. The warmth generated by this featherweight jacket truly seems like magic, as if it defies the laws of nature.

I happen to own one of those 5-pound canvas and fleece-lined Carhartt jackets that you see being worn by cowboys and day laborers alike and, I swear, this Carhartt bullshit is literally one-fourth as warm as this 9.3-ounce Micro Puff Hoody while also being 300 times the weight.

And yet, the Micro Puff Hoody is not so warm that you can only wear it in freezing temps. Again, the way it works just seems like magic. I’ve never owned a more versatile jacket—ever.

Essential Multi-pitch Jacket

Along with the Patagonia Houdini, the Micro Puff Hoody is an essential part of my multi-pitch rack. Both the Micro Puff Hoody and the Houdini pack up into their own pockets and can be clipped via a single lightweight carabiner to my rear gear loop on my harness. In my view, these jackets are as essential to any trad adventure as bringing a nut tool.

The jacket isn’t so “techy” that it can only ever be worn on climbs. It’s stylish and versatile, and is just as at home on the north face of the Tre Cime as it is around town.

At nearly $300, however, the jacket ain’t cheap. It means that when you tear that tissue-thin nylon exterior on sharp limestone nubbin, it’ll hurt that much more.