Just what I was looking for
I did quite a bit of research before purchasing this jacket, and decided to go for it just before I left for a series of trips that would all be in cold, winter weather. It didn't take long for me to fall in love with the jacket! I've used this jacket with just a long sleeve dress shirt under it in near freezing temps. I've used it with a Cap 3 baselayer, R1 full zip, then the Nano Puff, then another brand's softshell while snowboarding in the Alps, standing around waiting for trains in Munich with -13 C weather, and walking all around Italy in the snow with blowing wind and -6 C degree temps. The Jacket is incredible both as an outer piece, and as a layering piece. It's thin nature really shows underneath a shell, as it doesn't feel too big or restrictive but provides great warmth. By itself, it really provides nice warmth, wind resistance, and water resistance. Overall I love this layering setup because it offers outstanding breathability, flexibility, and low-profile comfort. I really love the Nano Puff because it packs down very small into it's own check pocket, and is very light. I'm really happy to have gotten the hooded version, as it does an awesome job blocking the wind and precipitation when I need it. The only thing I've noticed is that you need to be careful with the outer material, as it's not too tough. I knew this would be the case, as it's a very lightweight piece. I've caught it on something and noticed a very, very small pull in the material - but it doesn't seem to affect the jacket really, and the material around it shows no further sign of damage, so it really doesn't worry me. Overall, I could not be happier with my purchase.
if you're thinking of getting this jacket - DO IT!
i live in central kentucky and do a five mile bike commute to work several times a day. i needed something warm that would be windproof but not so warm as to overheat me while riding. this is the perfect jacket for that. it completely blocks wind and by itself is good to about 40 degrees. colder than that i add a wool thermal shirt for 40-30 degrees, add a flannel to that for 30-20 degrees. it hasn't gotten colder than that here yet this winter so i'm not sure how well it will do for zero degrees which does happen here occasionally. i also wear this when i hike,, the coldest i've worn it in was 16 degrees, i don't heat up as fast hiking as biking but i was comfortable in it with wool thermal, flannel, longjohns, a wool hat and just fingerless gloves. i've also gone running in this and it was so warm that when i took it off sweat poured out of the sleeves! this is a jacket that i think if i wore a vest underneath i could wear down to zero degrees as long as i was moving. it fits great, the materials are sturdy, it is well made. oh, also the elastic at cuffs and hood is fantastic. it stays tight ot my head while cycling so i don't have to push it out of the way when i'm looking back at traffic and it keeps my head super warm.
Its so light
This jacket is soo good, its so light and thin I wasn't too sure it would be any good when I first got it but oh boy it is. I was climbing in the mountains outside of Sydney all day with the wind getting up then dying down, sun coming out then going away, the jacket was on, off, on, off, up the route, down the route, up the route. It is so handy the way it packs down into the stuff pocket and can be clipped on the back of a harness and the hood is the best thing. The zip goes a nice long way up, which makes the hood a nice neck warmer if you don't want the hood on. I think I might go for something a bit thicker/warmer for Alpine routes where there's snow on the ground and you're not moving (I'm now looking at getting the Patagonia Down jacket) but for a day at the crag its awesome. I also had to ride the bike along the motorway on the way back and would have frozen my nips off if it hadnt been for the nano puff under my bike jacket. The hood came in use here as I hadn't put it up on the way to the mountains but on the way back I was just about warm enough for the full three hours - lovely jubbly!!
A Good Choice...
Nano is a good choice as a lightweight belay jacket. This jacket has traveled with me from walls in Zion to long routes in Red Rock Canyon to Patagonia's Chalten massif. I like its lightweight warmth and its ability to stow in it's inner pocket. The stow pocket has a handy loop that holds the compressed jacket and can easily hang off of my harness. Despite countless pitches (knock on wood) this little strap has yet to be ripped off the jacket. This jacket will likely be my go to layer for rock/alpine adventures for the foreseeable future. I have two qualms with this jacket however. Both have to do with the fact that Patagonia bills this in its description as a belay parka. First is that the hood is not helmet friendly. I can't zip the jacket all the way up with the hood over a climbing helmet. It claims to have an "under the helmet hood." To me this is contrary to the idea of a "belay jacket." The second is that belay jackets are inherently better when they have a split zipper (two pulls). I have had the zipper split once or twice while belaying. A zipper with two pulls can alleviate this problem Overall this is a good insulating layer that is lightweight, compressible and could use a few design tweaks.
JustAnotherClimber at
Patagonia on
03/13/2013
Ideal!
The Nano Puff Hoody has quickly become one of my favorite pieces of outdoor gear of all time. It's relatively light and so it's sweetspot is cool (not cold) weather. It packs down tiny, into crevices in your backpack or wherever you've got just a bit of room remaining. It hugs the body well, cinches up tight and looks good. I returned the Nano Puff pullover for this and am so glad I did. The adjustable drawcord around the waist is far superior than the fixed elastic around the pullover (which had a tendency of riding up my torso). The full zip makes getting into and out of the hoody far easier. The side pockets are so utilitarian (the pullover's lack of pockets was a real pain in the butt). And the red color available for the hoody is far more reasonable than the bright orange of the pullover (which I came to feel was a bit obnoxious). My only critique is that the hoody is a bit tight on the head, much moreso than the rest of the jacket is on the rest of the body. I don't end up using the hoody as a result. Not a big deal really because it's there if I absolutely needed it. Plus, it adds some aesthetic character to have the hoody hanging off the back.
Perfect Jacket
Debated for a while whether to get the Nano pullover, jacket, or hoody. Went for the hoody and haven't regretted it. I've worn it around town and on two recent trips. On a multi-day hike on Catalina Island, it was perfect for wearing at rest stops when it was cool and windy. Also kept me warm while looking at stars on a friend's rooftop deck at night when back in Avalon. On a recent weekend climbing and hiking in J-Tree I basically never took it off. Wore it around camp, while scrambling and bouldering, and while hiking in light drizzle and snow flurries. The hood was especially appreciated in the wind--it cinches up nicely without a drawstring when you zip the jacket up all the way. Although it's not a drawback, be aware that the Nano is not sufficient by itself for below freezing temps. I wore a shell over it and then replaced it with a down jacket on our coldest night in the high desert. I was worried about how it would hold up on a scramble up Rattlesnake Canyon, with rocks and prickly bushes, but despite getting pricked a few times, it seems to have held up well. Overall, the Nano Puff Hoody has more than lived up to the hype, both as a jacket and as an insulating layer.
I want 2 more
Patagonia do not ever stop making these! That's really all that needs to be said, but I will add a few things. For one, I've been wearing this in between freezing and zero temps in both MI and WI and I have full winter coats but in the morning I instinctively prefer this coat when I go to work. It is by nature a bit fragile because it is so lightweight and not a hard shell. Despite that, I only worry that they stop making it at some point because this is a coat I will buy every few years for the rest of my life. It is 100% worth it because of it's deceiving warmth, mad style, 99% windproof, and the lightest most comfortable coat you will ever get. So versatile as a coat but its a phenomenal mid layer too. I've used it snowboarding with just a hoody underneath in 15 degree F temps with 30 mph wind and was plenty warm. I should also add that it has the best hood I've ever seen... all hoods should strive to be like this. DO NOT CHANGE THIS PRODUCT, DO NOT STOP SELLING THIS PRODUCT!!! I want to buy more when the time comes.
GREAT base or jacket
Overall, I'm impressed with this jacket. It's far warmer than I expected and I can barely tell it's on. The hood is nice and snug and moves with my head. It compresses quite well. The overall fit is slim and comfortable. It fits under a shell that non of my others fit under. The pockets are sized very well. I can store gloves/hat keys w/o having it bulge. I was torn between this and the hooded down sweater and went this way because of the wet warmth and so far am very happy. There are only a few reasons it doesn't get 5 stars (very hard to do) 1) the fit is more square than I expected. I'm 6'3'' and 225lb so I got the XL. the shoulders fit great, but it could be brought in around the waist. 2) I would like to see thumb loops or internal sleeve with thumb loops. While the sleeves on this jacket are the best of any I own (freedom to move with out creep) I would like the option to have my hands covered a little. 3) I have gotten my zipper caught twice and it's hard to get out.
Great Winter Jacket; Windsock for a Hood Though
I got this jacket on clearance this spring and have found it to be another great Patagonia product. It is very warm, the pockets are spacious, the adjustments are easy to use, and it looks great. I have used it skiing and around town. It stuffs into the stuff sack that is included, which is handy. I also like the micro-rip stop fabric shell. I found it to be somewhat breathable, compared to my older Nano Puff Vest, which can feel like wearing a plastic bag when you are active and using it as a layer. This, on the other hand, can be a stand alone outer layer and insulation. The biggest problem I have is that the hood acts like a wind sock when I am skiing. It is nice to pull up over my helmet on cold lift rides, but for whatever reason the hood is too big and catches wind as I ski down. I will try to tighten it or tuck it in. That's pretty much the only issue I've had with it. Other than that, another classic standby for colder days.
anti-hypothermia
I'm a fishing guide in Alaska and I purchased the Nano Puff because I'd heard great things about it from other guides. I started wearing it for winter steelhead fishing in Idaho. Fortunately, I was NOT wearing it the day I slipped while wading and went for a swim. Once I got out of the river and back to the truck the Nano Puff was the first dry thing I put on. It felt like I had just been wrapped in an electric blanket! Sooo cozy!
I'm not one to wear a hoody mostly because they restrict movement. The hood on the Nano is comfortable, roomy and does not restrict movement. The jacket is super light weight, is great for layering and can be stuffed into its handy inside zippered pocket when the weather turns. The cuffs are not so tight that they cut off circulation but stay in place while layering into my wading jacket. The zippers (front and pockets)have a adequate zipper pulls attached not only make it easy to operate with cold, stiff hands but also easy to take on and off.