Patagonia’s Nano Puff Is Worth the Purchase. Here’s Why.
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Patagonia’s Nano Puff Jacket has a versatile aesthetic that moves seamlessly from on-trail to off, and back again.
With a slim profile and “just right” warmth and breathability, it’s a damn-near-perfect all-season jacket.
While most brands are “working” toward greener manufacturing, Patagonia is blazing the trail with the Nano Puff’s top-to-bottom 100% recycled fabric design.
IF YOU LIVE somewhere without seasons (I’m looking at you, San Diego and Palm Beach), you might not know that there are large swaths of the country where that just isn't the case. But if you live somewhere like Colorado or New England, where every season is not only distinct, but experiencing summer, fall, and winter weather in a single day is not uncommon, then you get what I’m talking about. You know that dressing for such extremes takes talent, finesse, and a carefully chosen wardrobe. You need socks, shirts, and underwear that breathe, keep you warm when it’s cold, and cool when it’s hot—clothing that goes the distance. That’s doubly true when it comes to outerwear like jackets.
SHOP THE NANO PUFF JACKET HERE
That brings me to Patagonia’s Nano Puff Jacket. This staple jacket has been a mainstay for modern outdoorsmen since it debuted in 2009. It’s no surprise. It’s a damn-near-perfect model for everything I look for in a workhorse puffer: A warm (but not too warm), wind-proof, water-resistant, mostly breathable, compressible, slimline puffer jacket that stands on its own as a shoulder season outer layer or can be easily layered up when the cool weather turns legit cold.
Nano Puff Jacket
patagonia.com
$166.99
One of my very first puffer jackets was a Nano Puff, and as a long-time hiker, I was happy to learn the latest iteration hasn’t changed much. That’s because the Nano Puff just works. What has changed in the last 15 years, though, is that Patagonia has doubled down on its commitment to using recycled fabrics. According to Patagonia, the latest Nano Puff uses "lightweight and highly compressible 60-g PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco and 100% postconsumer recycled polyester with P.U.R.E. (Produced Using Reduced Emissions) technology". The shell and lining of the Nano Puff is then "wrapped in a 100% recycled polyester". That's a mouthful of technical phrasing, but the takeaway is that every part of this jacket is made from 100% recycled materials. Plus, the Nano Puff is bluesign-approved and manufactured in a Fair Trade Certified factory, so props to Patagonia on both fronts.
Testing it out on the trail, I fell in love—as much as any grown man can fall in love with a piece of outerwear—all over again with the Nano Puff. It’s not the warmest, the most lightweight, or even the most breathable (some of Patagonia’s more expensive jackets beat the Nano Puff in all of these categories). It never was, and all of that is just fine by me. Instead, it’s an ultra-versatile outer layer that you can easily wear every day in fall, winter, spring, and maybe even summer, depending on your hometown elevation. On that point, Patagonia nailed the design.
Read more: Best Patagonia Jackets
I avoided taking my Nano Puff out for dead-of-winter summit assaults in the Whites (a proper down jacket is best suited for that). But I did test it out on a variety of “everyday” adventures, including digging out my 4Runner from the most recent snowstorm, day hikes along the South Coast of Massachusetts, and cycling during a rare sunny stretch of weather last week. In every situation, the Nano Puff performed flawlessly. I tend to run cold, but I still found the Nano Puff kept me comfortably warm to around 40°F as a standalone outer layer when paired with a modest base layer.
What’s more: The low-profile loft (compared to most hardcore puffers), tasteful stitching, and timeless colorways all translate to a versatile aesthetic. The bulk-free design lacks a hood (although a hooded version is available at a higher cost), and the only real “features” are two generous hand-warmer pockets and an interior zippered chest pocket, which doubles as a stuff sack. But the lack of any Michelin-Man-style bulk means the streamlined Nano Puff moves seamlessly from on-trail to off to more civilized, around-town pursuits. Outside the house, I’ve basically lived in it for the last week. Beyond my out-of-town adventures, I’ve worn it to happy hours, on shopping trips, and strolls on the beach with my girlfriend. In every situation, it felt just right.
Patagonia was among the first—maybe the first—to debut a lightweight puffer with premium synthetic insulation. While dozens of competitors have joined the party since, the Nano Puff has stood the test of time. If you’re looking for one everyday puffer to rule them all—whether coaching your kid’s Little League game in the Fall, day hiking the White Mountains in December, or soaking in bluebird days on the slopes—the Nano Puff has you covered.
SHOP THE NANO PUFF JACKET HERE
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