Patagonia Nano Storm Jacket Review

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Following in the footsteps of the Nano Puff, Patagonia has come out with the Nano Storm this season.  I have been wearing the standard Nano Puff for about a year now and it has been a go to lightweight insulated jacket for a number of activities.  I have worn it as my baselayer while skiing and snowshoeing because it isn’t too bulky and it adds tremendous warmth.  So to add a jacket to this line that combines the warm and comfort of the original Nano Puff, and the durability and waterproofness of the Storm Jacket is just natural.

I’ve been testing this jacket while skiing at Breckenridge and Keystone, winter hiking up the Pikes Peak Trail and other Colorado 14’ers, and snowshoeing in the amazing early season snow Colorado has been getting.  In my opinion, the Nano Storm Jacket does best while hiking and snowshoeing.  The Nano Puff Storm offered plenty of warmth on uphill hikes, sometimes a little too warm to the point where I had to completely unzip the jacket.  This is pretty typical on ascents where you are gaining a few thousand feet in elevation and you are getting your heart rate moving. On the descents, I typically would zip up the jacket because I was not creating as much body heat.  Temperatures in which I tested the jacket ranged between 15-30 degrees Fahrenheit while hiking and snowshoeing.  While testing this jacket out for skiing, I found the jacket to move with my body well, but I felt the jacket was an inch or two short at the bottom.  I have worn Patagonia products in the past and a medium has always fit well except for the Storm Nano Jacket.  I think if I had a size large for skiing, the Nano Puff Storm would be a perfect option for most weather scenarios.  As for sizing, I am 6’0 and 175lbs, so size accordingly.

As for the features of the jacket, here are my opinions of what I liked and thought could be improved.  For insulation in the Nano Storm Jacket, Patagonia uses a synthetic material called Primoloft which is a down alternative.  And while down is incredibly warm, Primoloft is a nice alternative that does not bulk out a lot and it is incredibly light, not to mention it is super warm.  By having an insulation that packs down super small, I found it easy to stash the jacket in my pack when the temperatures started to rise while hiking.  For when you want to define the elements, you can always throw on the helmet compatible hood whether you are skiing or hiking.  The hood also has Primoloft insulation in it, not all hoods have insulation so I was impressed.  There are 3 pockets on the outside of the jacket, two side pockets that are fleece lined and one chest pocket. All outside pockets come with water resistant zippers.  The inside pockets include one mesh pocket that is big enough to fit a set of ski goggles or other large item and there is also one zippered inner chest pocket that can fit a camera or cell phone.

The cuffs of the jacket are best combined with gloves or mittens that have a gauntlet.  This is because the cuff is a little narrow and I found it pretty hard to stow the sleeve of my gloves inside the cuff.  I personally like the look and feel of my gloves being able to tuck inside my cuffs.  The Nano Storm comes with a cinch cord on the bottom of the jacket, but since the jacket fit a little short, I found the jacket to hike up a little too high and I would sometimes get snow up my back.  As mentioned previously, sizing up should fix this problem.

The Patagonia Nano Storm Jacket retails for $299 which is a pretty good price for a waterproof insulated jacket.  For more information on the Nano Storm Jacket and other Patagonia products, please visit www.patagonia.com.

Details

• 2.5-layer nylon ripstop fabric with a waterproof/breathable H2No® barrier and Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish
• Lightweight 60-g PrimaLoft® One polyester insulation provides excellent warmth and compressibility
• Unique quilt pattern holds insulation in place promoting durability and longevity
• Helmet-compatible, fully-adjustable hood with laminated visor for great visibility in bad conditions
• Watertight, coated center-front zippers treated with a Deluge® DWR finish
• Pockets: two handwarmers, one left chest; one internal zippered pocket, one drop-in
• Self-fabric hook-and-loop cuff closures seal out the elements and keep you dry; dual-adjust drawcord hem keeps drafts out and warmth in
• Shell: 2.5-layer, 2.6-oz 50-denier 100% nylon ripstop with a waterproof/breathable H2No® barrier. Insulation: 60-g PrimaLoft® One polyester. Lining: 1.4-oz 22-denier 100% recycled polyester. Shell and lining have a Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish
• 652 g (1 lb 7 oz)
• Made in Vietnam.