Patagonia Down Sweater Review
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When I think of the brand I have an impression a bit like I get from American truck brands: no-frills, solid performance, great durability. Patagonia focuses on making great gear with technical features for performance sake. You won’t see a lot of neon colors or features with names you can’t pronounce in the Patagonia catalog – just proven gear with solid tech and great durability.
The Men’s Down Sweater is no exception to the rule. It is a lightweight, 800-fill down jacket meant to be used in super low temps as an insulative layer or an outer layer in most temperature ranges. Its Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish impressed me; I have ultra-lightweight down jackets from other manufacturers and their outer layers always seem so vulnerable- I keep my jacket patches handy because it always seems the slightest brush of the doorway will cause a poof of down escapism. However, the 1.4oz, 22-denier ripstop on the Down Sweater’s outer layer is tear-resistant, and just feels more substantial. The Deluge DWR makes the Down Sweater windproof, and it did seem to shed light rain very well. Patagonia is also known for being great environmental stewards, and this high-performing shell of the Down Sweater is made from 100% recycled polyester.
The Down Sweater is quite compressible, and an inner pocket doubles as a stuff sack which I appreciated, because I tend to lose stuff sacks that are not attached to a jacket. This makes the Down Sweater a nice travel or pack companion because it stows nicely and doubles as a pillow in a pinch. In anticipation of this, Patagonia included a carabiner clip-in loop, so it goes where you go. The whole jacket weighs just 12.1 oz.
The Down Sweater has two standard zippered hand pockets on the outside (zippers are Deluge DWR-coated), nylon-bound elastic cuffs, and a drawcord at the hem to keep the chill out and the warm in. The fit of the Down Sweater is generous, so you may want to try it on before you buy. Keep in mind that you will most likely use it as both an insulating midlayer and an outer layer.
Deluge DWR has a reputation for lasting longer than other DWR finishes, so this all-season workhorse piece will be in your arsenal for years and years.
The Patagonia Men’s Down Sweater comes in sizes XS-XXL, in five colors: Black, Dill (green), Deep Space (navy), Forge Grey, and Alpha Green (shown)
For more information on the Down Sweater and other Patagonia products, visit www.patagonia.com or www.backcountry.com/patagonia.
