Patagonia Hi-Loft Down Sweater Full Zip Hoody Review

Active Gear Review is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

If you are a lover of the Down Sweater Full Zip Hoody, then you should check out Patagonia’s newest down offering, the Hi-Loft Down Sweater Hoody. The Hi-Loft is a warmer, slightly more burly, version of Patagonia’s classic Down Sweater collection. The Hi-Loft is available as a simple sweater or a hoody version, both for men and women. I have been testing out the women’s hoody version and have been loving it so far.

The Hi-Loft Down Sweater Hoody has larger channels than the standard Down Sweater; these channels are packed with 800-fill-down. The channels feature ample quilting to help keep the down in place in each specific area. The loft of this jacket is indeed higher than the Down Sweater, but not so lofty that would make this jacket uncomfortable or constricting for outdoor pursuits or difficult to layer.

The goose down in the Hi-Loft Down Sweater Hoody is covered by a durable ripstop nylon that is composed from recycled fibers (think soda bottles and previously unusable fabric). The shell is then covered by Patagonia’s own Deluge DWR (durable water repellant) to provide some water resistance to the elements. No matter how tough a ripstop nylon claims to be, I always have a hard time avoiding the immanent snag or tear. So far so good with this jacket, but I am sure that within a few more months of use I will have a spot or two to patch up. I feel that this comes with the territory of owning a light-weight down jacket.

If you are a person that gets cold easily, then this jacket is for you, as you can layer a shell over-top easily or place a few layers underneath with some room to spare. This jacket would be suited perfectly for cold belays, skiing the down after a hard skin up the mountain, or other pursuits that don’t ramp up your heart rate too much. If you are doing a high intensity activity, this jacket would be a bit too much. However, it would make a perfect jacket to toss in your pack to provide some much needed insulation and warming after you are done with your activity or as an emergency layer.

The Hi-Loft Down Sweater comes with its’ own stuff sack. It takes a matter of 30 seconds to stuff the jacket into the stuff sack. Once inside, the stuff sack measures about 8 inches long and 4.5 inches across; making the jacket a pretty small package. The outside of the stuff sack also features a loop to help clip the jacket via carabiner to your bag, etc. The Hi-Loft Down Sweater also will not weigh down your pack, as it weighs a mere 14.6 ounces, while the Down Sweater weighs in at 14 ounces. Therefore, this jacket would be great for winter travels due to its’ lightweight and portability.

The Hi-Loft Down Sweater Hoody, as it names suggest, has a low-profile hood to help keep the elements out and your heat in. The hood is adjustable with a rear pull cord and the high rise of the collar allows for a snug fit. I was unable to fit a helmet underneath this hood, which was not a huge deal for me, but just an FYI for those skiers and climbers. Additional features include two hand-warmer pockets, as well as an internal zip pocket on the left side. Elastic cuffs and a single pull cord on the right hip/hem allow you to seal out the wind and cold.

The Hi-Loft Down Sweater Hoody is available in 4 colors: Light Balsamic (purple above), Curaco (the teal color above), Maraschino (the pink/red hue), and your basic Black. With the exception of black, the other colors have different lining colors to add a pop of color and flare. The jacket is available in sizes XS to XL. The jacket features a center back drop of approximately 24 inches (for size small) and keeps the top of your hips and rear well covered. If I raise my arms above my head the jacket keeps my torso covered with some room to spare. As you can see, this jacket has a lot to offer and is worth checking out this winter season.

MSRP $279 for both Men’s and Women’s  For more information on the Hi-Loft Down Sweater Full Zip Hoody and other Patagonia gear, visit www.patagonia.com or www.rei.com/patagonia.