Tech & Gear Luggage The 10 Best Patagonia Jackets of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Patagonia's top-selling Nano Puff is the ultimate versatile and stylish jacket By Cory Smith Cory Smith Villanova University Cory Smith is a Santa Barbara-based freelance journalist specializing in running, climbing, outdoor and fitness-related content, and gear reviews. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 02/09/23 Share Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. TripSavvy / Nathan Allen Patagonia's purple, orange, and black logo depicting the Fitzroy Massif in Patagonia is synonymous with excellent craftsmanship and rigorous dedication to conserving the planet through environmental and political activism. Considered one of, if not the leading maker of outdoor apparel and gear, their outerwear is worn by some of the world's best athletes in the most extreme weather conditions. Before purchasing your new jacket, the first thing to consider is its intended use and the weather conditions it will face. Is insulation or breathability more important (as more of one means less of the other)? Perhaps you need a fully waterproof model, or just a wind-resistant version will suffice. Lastly, we have found that most Patagonia jackets run large, so if in doubt, size down. These are the best Patagonia jackets currently available on the market. The Rundown Best Overall: Patagonia Nano Puff® Hoody at Backcountry.com Jump to Review Best Fleece: Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody at Backcountry.com Jump to Review Best Budget: Patagonia Diamond Quilted Bomber Hoodie at Backcountry.com Jump to Review Most Packable: Patagonia Men's Hooded Insulated Jacket at Backcountry.com Jump to Review Best Lightweight Insulated: Patagonia DAS Light Hooded Jacket at Backcountry.com Jump to Review Best Insulated for Skiing/Snowboarding: Patagonia Powder Town Jacket at Backcountry.com Jump to Review Best Down: Patagonia Down Sweater Hooded Jacket at Backcountry.com Jump to Review Best Rain Jacket: Patagonia Granite Crest Jacket at Patagonia.com Jump to Review Best Wind Shell: Patagonia Houdini Full-Zip Jacket at Backcountry.com Jump to Review Best for Running: Patagonia Airshed Pro Pullover at Backcountry.com Jump to Review Table of contents Expand Our Picks How We Tested What to Look for When Shopping for a Patagonia Jacket Why Trust TripSavvy Best Overall Patagonia Nano Puff® Hoody 5 Courtesy of Patagonia View On Backcountry.com View On Patagonia.com View On REI What We Like Broad temperature usability Excellent warmth to weight ratio Small pack size What We Don't Like Thin shell can puncture easily The Nano Puff is Patagonia's number-one selling jacket, and rightfully so. Simply put, its versatility and usability are second to none. It's almost an all-season coat for the Western US. The medium-weight 60-g PrimaLoft Gold Insulation is perfect as a standalone jacket in shoulder season or as a mid-layer under a hardshell for days on the snow. The shell is made with a DWR-treated lightweight 100 percent recycled polyester ripstop and is said to be windproof and water-resistant. The Nano Puff provides adequate warmth well into temps in the 30s, but under that, you may want a few layers or something thicker like Patagonia's DAS Hoody (see below). In High Sierra conditions, the Nano Puff had excellent wind protection in downright cold and nasty alpine winds. As for water resistance, well, it's resistant, but certainly not waterproof. That's an important distinction. In drizzle and snowfall, it holds up just fine, but beyond that, moisture starts to penetrate, and things can turn nasty. For warmth, I found it had great range. I was comfortable in it, from just below freezing to mildly chilly California evenings. For bitter cold days at Mammoth, it was my go-to midlayer. If you're like me, you'll reach for this jacket more than any other one in your closet. Price at time of publication: $279 Sizes: S to XXXL | Materials: Recycled polyester (fabric), 60 grams PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco post-consumer polyester (insulation) | Sustainability: Recycled materials, bluesign-certified materials TripSavvy / Nathan Allen Best Fleece Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody Backcountry View On Backcountry.com View On Patagonia.com View On REI What We Like Highly breathable Trim fit Comfortable against the skin What We Don't Like Pills very easily The 11 Best Fleece Jackets for Women of 2023 This one is our favorite of all the Patagonia pieces we've tested. It combines the technical chops of our favorite alpine climbing piece, the classic R1, with the coziness of Patagonia's Better Sweater. Designed for high-output activities, it's a bit airier (hence the "air" namesake) than most fleeces, but if you're moving quickly, you'll welcome its superb breathability. The 100 percent recycled polyester jacquard fleece features a distinctive zigzag pattern that gives the R1 Air better breathability and moisture-wicking capabilities than your typical fleece. Unlike most Patagonia jackets listed here, the fit is athletic and snug, with long sleeves. Of every jacket and fleece in my closet—and I have a ton—the R1 Air gets used the most. I practically live in this fleece. As someone who heats up extremely quickly when moving and gets cold just as quickly once I stop, I always struggle with jackets either being too hot or too cold. The R1 Air's thermal regulation range is phenomenal—the best I've ever tested. It's a perfect medium between warmth and breathability. I wear this walking the dog, hiking into the crag, as a ski mid-layer, and whenever it's chilly out. Being built like a runner, I appreciate the slim fit. It fits snugly against the skin and zips high enough to cover my neck. Price at time of publication: $169 Sizes: S to XXL | Materials: Recycled polyester fleece | Sustainability: Recycled materials, bluesign-certified materials, Fair Trade Sewn TripSavvy / Nathan Allen Best Budget Patagonia Diamond Quilted Bomber Hoodie REI View On Backcountry.com View On Dick's View On REI What We Like Warm Stylish What We Don't Like Shell punctures easily Thinness sacrifices warmth Part bomber jacket, part classic Patagonia down sweater, the Diamond Quilted Bomber Hoodie is a perfect shoulder season all-around casual jacket. This windproof and water-resistant hoodie features 100 percent recycled polyester taffeta with an environmentally friendly PFC-free DWR finish. The insulation is 100 percent polyester, 80-grams Thermogreen with a diamond quilt pattern that not only enhances the jacket’s insulation but also looks great. Elastic cuffs on both hands and along the waist ensure the jacket’s edges stay put, further adding to its heat-trapping ability. Price at time of publication: $179 Sizes: S to XXL | Materials: 50D recycled polyester taffeta (fabric), 80 grams Thermogreen (insulation) | Sustainability: Recycled materials, bluesign-certified materials Most Packable Patagonia Men's Micro Puff Hooded Insulated Jacket Backcountry View On Backcountry.com What We Like Best-in-class weight to warmth Small pack-down size Offered in both hooded and non-hooded What We Don't Like Shell punctures easily Thinness sacrifices warmth The Best Raincoats for Women That Shield You From Storms If you're the type that measures your gear's weight in ounces and size in centimeters, the Patagonia Micro Puff Hooded Jacket is for you. This featherweight, lightly insulated jacket packs down to the size of two soda cans and weighs just 9.3 ounces. The shell is made with ultralight Pertex Quantum 100 percent nylon ripstop with a DWR coating that's mildly windproof and water-resistant. The Micro Puff gets its packability and lightweight stature thanks to synthetic PlumaFill insulation, while the unique off-set checkered stitching pattern keeps the PlumaFill from shifting and creating dead loft spaces. I've had a rocky relationship with this jacket. Hands down, it's the most packable and lightest insulated jacket on the market. This was my go-to layering option for chilly climbing days when pack space was at a premium. What I struggle with is how thin it is. For someone who gets cold when not moving, it didn't provide enough warmth for extended time standing around belaying. If I wasn't layered up, I started to get cold in temperatures under 45 degrees, especially if there was wind. It's worth mentioning I found the sizing to be extremely large. I'm normally a men's small, but extra small fit me perfectly with the Micro Puff. Price at time of publication: $329 Sizes: S to XXL | Materials: Netplus (10D 100 percent recycled nylon ripstop from fishing nets), PFC-free DWR finish (fabric), 65 grams PlumaFill (100 percent recycled polyester) | Sustainability: Recycled and repurposed materials, bluesign-certified materials TripSavvy / Nathan Allen Best Lightweight Insulated Patagonia DAS Light Hooded Jacket Patagonia View On Backcountry.com View On REI What We Like Extremely warm for the weight Weather resistance Two-way zipper What We Don't Like No waist cinch One of the company's best-loved down jackets, Patagonia's DAS Light hooded jacket is with an ultralight nylon ripstop and is infused with a durable water-repellent finish to keep rain and snow from sinking in. It's also made with 65 grams of recycled polyester PlumaFill. It has a zip under its monochromatic snap closures, too, and the two do the double duty of protecting wearers against snow, wind, and rain. There's even an internal pocket for your smartphone, and the hood can be folded into the collar when you don't need it. Sizes for men and women range from extra small to extra large. The DAS Light Hoody did what the Micro Puff could not—keep me warm while still offering superior packability. Once I got this jacket, the Micro Puff never left the closet. Side-by-side, the DAS Light Hoody is a more substantial jacket. It's thicker and also packs down a bit larger, but not to the point of prohibiting me from using it when space is limited. The extra space it took up was well worth the extra warmth it provided. I was pleasantly surprised by its wet weather resistance. I had it out in light snowstorms in Mammoth, and light precipitation didn't penetrate its shell. Price at time of publication: $349 Sizes: XS to XXL | Materials: [face fabric] 10-D 100 percent nylon ripstop Pertex Endurance, PU dry coating, DWR treatment, [lining] 10-D 100 percent nylon ripstop Pertex Quantum, DWR treatment, 65 grams PlumaFill 100 percent recycled polyester | Sustainability: Recycled and repurposed materials, bluesign-certified materials Best Insulated for Skiing/Snowboarding Patagonia Women's Insulated Powder Town Jacket 4.9 REI View On Backcountry.com View On Patagonia.com View On REI Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Weatherproofing 5/5 Warmth 5/5 Design 5/5 Durability 5/5 What We Like Excellent breathability and ventilation Great mobility Lots of pockets for organization What We Don't Like Insulated rather than a shell, making it a bit tougher to dial layering The 9 Best Lightweight Jackets of 2023 A lot about Patagonia's Insulated Powder Town jacket impressed us during testing. It's breathable, warm, and lightweight. Besides taking this on the slopes, we took it running when temperatures dipped into the low 20s and found the breathability and stretch made it an excellent outerlayer, giving us full range of motion without overheating. That mobility is amped from a 100 percent post-consumer recycled polyester two-layer shell with 80 grams of Thermogreen insulation in the body and 40 grams in the sleeves. Patagonia's proprietary PFC-free H2No DWR tops off the jacket, making it fully waterproof. (We also took this out in a proper rainstorm and found it held up well.) Patagonia's thoughtful features and construction also impressed us, particularly all the pockets that help boost organization. Pockets include two zippered hand-warming pockets, a zippered chest pocket, a pass pocket on the forearm, an internal stash pocket for money, and an internal drop-in pocket for goggles or gloves. This jacket also has the typical ski jacket features like an oversized helmet-compatible hood, pit zips for ventilation, and a powder skirt. Price at time of publication: $399 Sizes: XXS to XXL | Materials: 2-Layer 100 percent post-consumer recycled polyester, Thermogreen 100 percent recycled polyester (80 grams in body, 40 grams in sleeves) | Sustainability: Post-consumer recycled shell, recycled insulation, PFC-free DWR treatment TripSavvy / Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm Best Down Patagonia Down Sweater Hooded Jacket Patagonia View On Backcountry.com View On Dick's View On Aphrodite1994.com What We Like Durable shell Great mobility Bomber weatherproof What We Don't Like Baggy arm fit Limited color options If there is ever one winter coat everyone should own, it's a down jacket—also commonly referred to as a puffy. Patagonia's Down Sweater Hooded Jacket is the quintessential puffy. The 20 x 30-denier 100 percent recycled polyester ripstop shell is DWR coated and windproof, and 800-fill goose down is stuffed inside the shell to keep you cozy and warm. An adjustable hem and elastic cuffs add to the jacket's warmth by keeping the heat inside and those pesky drafts out. For easy packing, the jacket stuffs into its chest pocket down to a little smaller than a football. This jacket does everything it should and nothing it shouldn't. It's not fancy; it just works. I'm a finicky person in terms of heat management. If I'm moving, I heat up fast, but once I stop, I get cold just as fast. I found this jacket good to about 30(ish) degrees F standing around. Once the temps dipped below that, I would always default to a beefier puffy like the Fitz Roy or Grade VII Parka. Its upper-temperature range is impressive. In central California, where I live, the nights often dip into the upper 50's. With a T-shirt underneath, this is a perfect jacket for these temperatures. As I've mentioned with other Patagonia jackets, this one fits large, so a size smaller than what I normally wear did the trick. If a down jacket is too large it loses some of its warmth. Price at time of publication: $329 Sizes: XXS to XXXL | Materials: Netplus (10D 100 percent recycled nylon ripstop from fishing nets), PFC-free DWR finish (fabric), 800-fill-power 100 percent virgin goose down | Sustainability: Post-consumer recycled shell, recycled insulation, PFC-free DWR treatment, responsible down certified Best Rain Jacket Patagonia Granite Crest Jacket 5 REI View On Patagonia.com View On REI What We Like Excellent waterproofing with good breathability Pit zips and helmet-compatible hood What We Don't Like Nothing yet There's a ton to love about one of Patagonia's newest rain jackets. During our rain jacket testing, we found it to be one of the most waterproof and breathable of the 15 or so we tested. Patagonia uses a proprietary H2No shell fabric, which is at the top of the market for blocking moisture from coming in and releasing it simultaneously. It also features watertight zippers, pit zips, and an adjustable drawcord at the bottom to cinch down. We like intelligent features like a helmet-compatible hood with a ton of coverage and the ability to pack it into its own pocket. This has been a go-to rain shell for us for about a year now and came in particularly handy during California's deluge of atmospheric rivers in early 2023. Price at time of publication: $279 Sizes: XXS to XXXL | Materials: H2No Performance Standard shell: 3-layer, 3-ounce, 30-denier NetPlus recycled ripstop nylon | Sustainability: Fair Trade Certified sewing, recycled materials Best Wind Shell Patagonia Houdini Full-Zip Jacket Backcountry View On Backcountry.com View On REI What We Like Small packed size Excellent wind protection Durable shell material What We Don't Like Virtually no breathability The Patagonia Houdini was one of the first super lightweight wind shells, and to this day, it’s still one the best. Weighing in at a measly 3.7 ounces and packing down to roughly the size of a baseball, it’s pocket-sized weather protection. The shell is made with a durable featherweight 100 percent recycled nylon ripstop with an adjustable hood. There is one chest pocket that doubles as a stuff sack for stowing. No matter where I’m climbing, odds are you’ll find the Houdini in my pack. I’ll use it as an emergency weather shell or an extra layer when it gets chilly. Due to how light and small it packs down, it’s a no-brainer to throw in the pack. Patagonia pins it as a running shell; however, the breathability is extremely poor. It’s not a jacket I wanted to spend any significant time moving fast in. I’ve tried running with it on, and I always come away drenched with sweat inside. Personally, a better application is for a moderate activity where I don’t heat up, like hiking, or as an oh-shit last resort shell layer when running in high, windy alpine terrain. It’s worth noting two things—for how thin it is, I found it durable as hell, and it also fits true to size. Price at time of publication: $109 Sizes: XS to XXL | Materials: Recycled ripstop nylon | Sustainability: Recycled materials Best for Running Patagonia Airshed Pro Pullover Courtesy of Patagonia View On Backcountry.com View On Patagonia.com What We Like Excellent stretch for good range of motion Good enough breathability Packs down small enough to fit in running vest What We Don't Like Nothing yet If you are looking for a running jacket, we highly recommend the Airshed Pro Pullover. This unique jacket features Patagonia's Ultralightweight Pertex fabric, which we found incredibly lightweight and stretchy, providing excellent range of motion while running. Meanwhile, the sleeves feature the brand's popular Capilene Cool fabric, which helps with venting and off-loading moisture while running. We love the oversized two-way zipper, which makes it easy to put on the jacket or take it off without stopping your run. The hood can help block out rain and wind. But the best feature of this jacket is that it folds into its own pocket pouch and is small enough to fit easily in a running vest. Price at time of publication: $139 Sizes: XS to XXXL | Materials: Ultralightweight Pertex, 100 percent nylon (54 percent recycled) | Sustainability: Recycled materials How We Tested Most of our testers live in California, where we're fortunate enough to test for many conditions, climates, and activities. We spent multiple years testing many jackets found in this roundup. Our testing has included trail running, climbing, skiing, hiking, fly-fishing, cycling, mountain biking, whale watching, dog walks, babysitting nieces and nephews, brewery hopping, house-warming parties, paddleboarding, and kayaking, among many other activities. What to Look for When Shopping for a Patagonia Jacket Intended Activity Before researching jackets, you always want to consider how you’ll be using the jacket. The main question to ask yourself is, “what will I be using it for?” Consider your primary purpose for the jacket—skiing, hiking, running, etc. Most websites, including Backcountry and REI, allow you to filter products by your intended activity, then narrow them down to product type, like jackets in this case. This is a great place to start to ensure the jacket you want is suitable for your intended activities. Weather Protection Once you’ve decided how to use the jacket, you’ll next want to consider what type of weather you’ll encounter. Elements such as snow, rain, wind, and temperature should be considered. You can view what kind of weather protection a jacket is most appropriate for in the details on the product page. Terms such as waterproof, windproof, water-resistant, or wind-resistant will indicate what type of weather protection the jacket is designed for. Material While you don’t need to geek out on the latest fabric technology, it does help to understand the different types of materials used and what kind of weather elements they protect against. The most commonly used material in jackets for waterproofing and windproofing is Gore-Tex. For warmth, Patagonia jackets often utilize Polartech, Primaloft, and PlumaFill. Insulation How much and what type of insulation a jacket has affects how warm a jacket will be. Patagonia mainly uses down and synthetic PlumaFill as insulation. Down is typically warmer than PlumaFill. When choosing an insulated jacket, it’s important to consider how active you will be wearing it. Will you be doing high-output activities like running? Standing around in the cold? Since insulation negatively affects breathability, the more active you are, the less insulated a jacket should be. Breathability Breathability is a term used to describe how much heat can escape through the insulation or shell. The higher output the activity is, the more breathable a jacket should be. If the breathability of a jacket does not match the intended activity, the heat stays trapped in the jacket, and you’ll overheat and retain moisture (sweat) in your base layer. Fit It’s worth noting that in our testing, we found most of the jackets to run large. Unless otherwise stated in the review, a full-size smaller fit is best. We do applaud Patagonia for having a wide range of sizes in most jackets, going from XXS to XXXL. Why Trust TripSavvy Cory Smith is a freelance journalist specializing in running, climbing, outdoor and fitness-related content, and gear review. He’s been an elite-level runner for over 25 years and a full-time running coach since 2014. Many of the jackets included in this review have been tested in multiple climates ranging from California's coast to high alpine conditions in Calfornia's Sierra and Colorado's Rocky Mountains and Midwestern states. Some of the jackets have been used by our writers and editors for many years. The 10 Best Down Jackets to Keep You Warm This Winter Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Continue to 5 of 10 below. Continue to 9 of 10 below.