Small and compact packable insulation jackets are one of the best developments in recent years. Thanks to their compact pack size and low weight, they fit into any backpack and you'll be delighted every time you put them on thanks to the cozy extra warmth provided by the fine down. These jackets are a real asset for outdoor sports and the Down Sweater from Patagonia is an excellent representative of its kind.
I've always wanted to have an insulating layer made of high-quality
Down, but the only disadvantage of these jackets - their rather high price level - meant that it took some time for the dream to become reality. And for once, the dream of the egg-laying woolly milk sow was confirmed in reality. For my purposes, the jacket was and is the missing piece of the puzzle in my equipment.
Thanks to the use of high-quality 800 cuin goose down, the jacket weighs just 340 grams and has ideal insulation properties. As a person who is rather insensitive to the cold, I can easily spend long periods outdoors in temperatures around freezing point without shivering, wearing just a T-shirt and the jacket. It's the perfect item for an extra portion of warmth during a short, windy summit rest, in the cold parking lot after a tour, or simply an ideal companion in the cool autumn and winter weather of a big city. Thanks to the wind and water-repellent outer material, even a few drops of rain won't bother you. The jacket in size S (rather large) fits me (1.73 m, 68 kg) perfectly, not too wide and not too tight. The pockets are sensibly arranged (two outer pockets with zippers and an inner mesh pocket), the elasticated cuffs work well and the cut in the neck area, often a problem with outdoor jackets, is also successful.
The high-quality down filling enables maximum compressibility, symbolized by the fact that the jacket can be stored in its own inner pocket, which is otherwise only known from the old rain jackets. In my opinion, however, storing the jacket in the inner pocket is not a sensible option. The best way to use the advantage of good compression is to somehow stuff the jacket into the backpack in order to fill the remaining cavities as efficiently as possible. This won't break the jacket and the filling won't suffer either, chaotic stuffing is generally good for any down filling - be it a sleeping bag or jacket - as the same down is not always compressed in the same way.
In the meantime, the jacket has already been on a few adventures. In the Russian Altai, a Thai fellow traveler was just as happy about the extra portion of warmth as I was on countless ski tours, during evenings and nights in a tent in Mongolia or at Lake Baikal. It now has a few stains from the bike oil, but apart from that there is nothing wrong with it. The zippers still work perfectly and the down still does what it does best: puff up and keep you warm.
Conclusion: If you don't have one yet, you should get one as soon as possible. It doesn't get any better than this.
Go to the manufacturer's product information
The Patagonia Down Sweater on offer at our partner store bergzeit.de
