Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody Jacket Review
The new Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody is an interesting jacket, priced at £220. Despite offering enhanced insulation over older models, it only adds a modest few grams of weight, which immediately raises questions about just how far into winter the Nano Puff can realistically go. As luck would have it, snow, relentless rain and the arrival of Storm Goretti gave us the perfect conditions to find out.
Design & Versatility
100% recycled fabrics; yes, the whole thing, and you absolutely wouldn’t know from which fabrics this refers - sort of the whole point here! It's a testament to what Patagonia is trying to do as a brand for sustainability. Also, this jacket carries a low carbon footprint, not just because of its recycled materials but also in how it's made, with the 60-g PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco, made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester, using a process that’s gentler on the environment.
Its styling is fairly unchanged, with a sharp cut, a drawcord-adjustable hem that sits above the waist, and the brick quilting pattern adding subtle texture and depth, catching the light in just the right way on darker, overcast days. The shades are black, burnished red, endless blue and our graze green.
Practicality is well judged too. The two front zippered pockets are generously sized and make a perfect place to keep your hands warm on cold walks, while the internal zippered pocket is a nicely secure place to include wallet and keys. There’s enough padding from the lining to avoid items in the pockets irritating when you walk, and all three pockets have enough room for even the largest devices, including something the size of an iPhone 17 Pro Max, without feeling tight or awkward.
Versatility shows up in day-to-day usage. Walks through nettle-heavy hedgerows and the inevitable scrapes against trees and bushes haven’t caused any ripping or visible damage. The recycled ripstop shell and reinforced panels feel far tougher than the jacket’s weight suggests, meaning you can wear it constantly without constantly worrying about snagging or tearing the fabric. The hood deserves a quiet mention too. It keeps your head warm and dry, and crucially it doesn’t flap or blow off in gusty conditions thanks to the way the jacket zips up and secures closely around the head without feeling restrictive.
Comfort
Its style feels as equally at home on a long country walk through drizzle and downpours as it does during everyday errands like nipping into the supermarket. That’s largely because it never feels intrusive when worn. You don’t get that constant urge to take it off and on as you move between indoors and out. It sits lightly on the body and quickly disappears into the background.
It’s a slightly strange jacket to throw on when temperatures hover around 0°C, and that’s meant as a compliment. The surprise comes from the fit and weight. It’s impressively lightweight, yet it delivers insulation you’d normally associate with something bulkier. There’s nothing flimsy about how it looks or feels when worn though; it still carries a sense of substance and structure without ever feeling dense or anchored to your body.
That lightness pays off in movement. You can bend, reach and stay active almost as freely as you would in a summer jacket, making outdoor jobs around the garden or a winter stroll feel effortless rather than encumbered. And despite that freedom, you’re still well protected by the 60-gram PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco with P.U.R.E. technology, representing the latest evolution of Patagonia’s synthetic insulation. In real-world use, it holds onto warmth impressively well, even when damp. The biting wind we’ve been facing in recent weeks simply doesn’t cut through, keeping the cold from settling against your body even when conditions turn properly wintry. It performed so well in low temperatures that we even kept it on while cutting up fallen trees in the aftermath of Storm Goretti, a good test of both warmth and freedom of movement when you’re doing physical activities outdoors.
Verdict
With the new Nano Puff Hoody, Patagonia shows most clearly that you don’t need to leave home wrapped in a sleeping bag. By designing a jacket around effective insulation, 100% recycled materials and a fixation on lightness, they’ve created something genuinely wearable. Sure, it’s not a jacket for Arctic expeditions, but for the UK it’s impressively well-rounded - perfect for both the autumn and the depths of winter when temperatures hover around freezing and storms sweep across the country, keeping you warm, dry, comfortable and free to move without restriction.
