Patagonia Down Sweater Review Women's

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a woman in the forest wearing a puffer jacket

The Patagonia Down Sweater is a classic all-around down jacket. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Cool weather calls for insulated layers. Puffer jackets serve as the perfect mid-layer or outer-layer and work well on their own or with a cozy fleece worn beneath for added warmth. There are a lot of great jackets out there, but the Patagonia Down Sweater ($279) is one of the most versatile down jackets I’ve ever come across. It’s a mid-weight puffer that is lightweight, packs down small, and looks good to boot.

After four years of living in Hawaii, I now split my time between Oahu and Santa Cruz, California. I’ve become a cold-weather wimp after years of living in the tropics and was in the market for a cozy puffer. I got my hands on the Down Sweater a couple of months ago and have been wearing it regularly for coastal strolls with my pup, hikes through the redwoods, around town, and on a chilly and stormy Big Sur camping trip. So far, it’s served me well.

In our guides to both the Best Women’s Puffer Jackets and Best Men’s Puffer Jackets, the Down Sweater is a standout. For our men’s guide, we awarded it the best mid-weight puffer jacket, and for our women’s guide, it was the runner-up best puffer jacket. Year in and year out (it’s been around since 2008), it’s one of our favorite options for its reliable warmth, packability, and sustainable construction.

Bottom Line: The Patagonia Down Sweater is a sustainably made mid-weight puffer jacket that performs well in a wide range of conditions. The jacket fits true to size, is lightweight, comfortable, and packs down into its own pocket. Although the Down Sweater isn’t fully waterproof, it is treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish that holds up well against mist and light rain.

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Testing the Patagonia Down Sweater

I live in Santa Cruz, California, where the weather rotates through multiple seasons in a day. As such, layers are essential, and a worthy insulated layer is the most important of them all. To put the Patagonia Down Sweater to the test, I spent lots of time wearing it on my sunset walks with my pup, when the fog layer is thick and the air is biting. I also wore the jacket on hikes through the redwoods as well as on a camping and hiking trip in Big Sur. So far, I’m a big fan of the Down Sweater.

Wearing the Down Sweater while camping in Big Sur. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Notable Features

Patagonia Down Sweater ($279)

patagonia jacket

Weight: 10.3 oz
Insulation: Down
Notable Features: Multiple zippered pockets, packs down into the inside pocket, sustainably made

Pros: Made from recycled materials, versatile, lightweight
Cons: Pricey, elastic cuffs fit a tad loose, not waterproof

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Sustainably Made

Patagonia is a company I am proud to support thanks to its strides toward sustainability. The Down Sweater is made in a Fair Trade Certified factory and is constructed from 100% post-consumer recycled nylon fabric made from recycled fishing nets. The jacket is insulated with 100% Responsible Down Standard down, and the durable water repellent (DWR) finish is made without added PFAs. To top it off, the sweater is delivered in recyclable packaging, and Patagonia offers free product repairs should you have any problems down the line.

The Down Sweater packs down into its own pocket for convenient storage. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Lightweight & Packable

Because I often wear down jackets on backpacking trips, day hikes, and during my travels, it’s important to me that my puffer be lightweight and pack down small. Ringing in at 10.3 oz., the Down Sweater is indeed lightweight, making it comfortable to wear and easy to pack. While it isn’t the lightest jacket we’ve tested, it’s well within the range of technical applicability for all but the most demanding use cases. When you aren’t wearing it, the Down Sweater packs down into the interior chest pocket, a feature that makes it easy to stash your jacket (something we think should be a standard feature in all puffers, but surprisingly isn’t).

The full-length zipper allows you to bundle up when it’s chilly and air out when it’s not. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Pockets & Zippers

The Patagonia Down Sweater has a variety of strategically placed pockets and zippers that make it very user-friendly, especially for active endeavors. The jacket has two classic zippered side pockets that are perfect for warming hands or storing essentials and an inner zippered pocket that is great for items that you need accessible when wearing a harness or an outer-layer.

The Down Sweater also has two non-zippered interior pockets – I’m not actually sure if they were intended as pockets but they’re a great place to stash an on-the-go brewski or a pair of gloves. Finally, the Down Sweater has a high-quality full-length zipper that seals in the warmth on cold days or allows some air to pass through when you have it unzipped on warm days.

Pocket beer, anyone? Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Insulation & Warmth

As the name suggests, the Down Sweater is insulated with, well, down. In the name of sustainability, the sweater features 800-fill-power 100% Responsible Down Standard down that is certified by Control Union. Down delivers an incredible warmth-to-weight ratio, and I can vouch that this is true of the Down Sweater. While 800 fill-power isn’t the best of the best (the REI Co-op Magma and Arc’teryx Cerium both boast 850 fill-power), the loft and warmth of the Down Sweater impress. I’d say it’s a medium warmth puffer – it will serve you well in cold weather but not in freezing conditions.

Higher quality down also compresses better, which is true of this jacket. The downside of down is that it doesn’t fare well when wet and takes a long time to dry out. If you’re caught in wet conditions while wearing the Down Sweater, you’ll want to layer a rain jacket over it to ensure it keeps you dry and warm.

To seal in the warmth, the Down Sweater has nylon elastic cuffs paired with an adjustable cord lock at the hem. I opted for the jacket version of the Down Sweater as I’m mostly wearing it in California, but it comes in a hooded version as well.

The Down Sweater fits true to size. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Fit

When it comes to fit and sizing, Patagonia seems to hit the nail on the head every time. The Down Sweater fits perfectly to size, making it safe to order online. I prefer a looser fit for my jackets for comfort and layering, so I decided to size up, and it’s perfectly roomy. For reference, I’m 5’7” and 125 pounds and ordered a women’s medium.

The Down Sweater is a great jacket, but it’s somewhat pricey. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Drawbacks

Price

There aren’t many negative things to say about the Down Sweater other than it’s a touch pricey considering the total package. The Down Sweater will run you $279 for the jacket version, $329 for the hoody, or $229 for the vest. By no means is it overpriced, but considering the REI Co-op Magma features 850 fill-power down for about 20 bucks less, it does feel like you’re paying a little for the Patagonia brand. A good puffer jacket is an investment, and based on my experience with Patagonia’s clothing (and this jacket), it’s a worthy one.

a side view of a woman wearing a puffer coat

The elastic cuffs are a tad roomy. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Elastic Cuffs

This is a small complaint, but worth noting: The elastic cuffs fit a little loose, especially on folks with smaller wrists. They’re not wildly loose but loose enough to let in some airflow, snow, or water. If you’re somewhere that’s not very cold, it will likely be a non-issue for you, but if you’re somewhere extra chilly, having that wrist seal is helpful.

Wet Weather Protection

In a dream world, every insulated outer layer would be fully waterproof, but that isn’t the world’s current reality. Waterproofing adds weight and makes jackets less packable. To bridge the gap, the Down Sweater has a DWR finish that is sufficient when you’re out in dew, mist, or light rain. But in actual rain, a synthetic puffer jacket or at least one with some synthetic fill around high-moisture areas (like the Arc’teryx Cerium) will keep you warmer.

The Down Sweater is one of many great puffer jackets on the market. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

The Competition

Although I’m a big fan of the Patagonia Down Sweater, I’m well aware that there are lots of other great options out there, and I’ve tested loads of them for our guides over the years. The Hikerkind Packable Down Puffer 01 is our top overall puffer jacket pick for women due to its stylish aesthetic and versatility. Not only does it look good, but it performs well in the elements thanks to its water-resistant nylon shell, the 600/800 Responsible Down Standard certified goose fill. A unique feature of the jacket is its stowable insulated hood that’s hidden beneath a structured collar. The downsides? At $348, it’s even pricier than the Down Sweater, and it’s 16.5 ounces to the Down Sweater’s 10.3 ounces.

If you’re looking for something a little warmer, the Rab Mythic Ultra is filled with 8.5 ounces of 900-fill-power down. The down inside the jacket is treated with a Nikwax hydrophobic treatment to improve its performance in wet conditions, and the inner lining features a heat-reflecting material for added warmth. The result is an insanely warm puffer jacket that impressively packs down to the size of 1.5 Nalgene water bottles. Magic.

If you’re looking for something a little less spendy, the REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket is our budget jacket of choice on the women’s side. It’s lightweight, insulated with 650-fill down, has two zippered hand pockets, and is water-resistant and windproof.

The Patagonia Down Sweater is an incredibly versatile puffer jacket. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Final Thoughts

The Patagonia Down Sweater is one of the most versatile puffer jackets on the market. Made from recycled materials, the mid-weight puffer is lightweight, comfortable, and packs down small. Armed with an assortment of zippers and pockets, it’s great for hiking, climbing, travel, backpacking, or simply to wear around town. Although the jacket isn’t fully waterproof, it is treated with a DWR finish that allows it to hold up well in damp conditions. Available in a jacket, hoody, or vest, the Down Sweater has you covered in all conditions.

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This Classic Puffer Jacket Still Wows Us: Patagonia Down Sweater Review