Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody Review 2024

Last Updated on 27/08/2023

Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody Review

In this Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody review, I share my honest feedback and experience after wearing this jacket for over a year. I have put this jacket through its paces and can honestly say that it is one of my best purchases from last year.

This review of the Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody comes after 13 months of testing and was purchased with my own money 7 days before a 12-day thru-hike. It has been tested in all seasons of the year with temperatures from -8° Celcius up to around 20° Celcius in rain and wind. I have brushed through spruce trees and the occasional thorn bush and come out unscathed – which was one of my main worries before buying this superlight jacket.

Specifications

Let’s start with the specs of this jacket which have been taken from the Patagonia website:

SHELL: 0.8-oz 10-denier Pertex® Quantum 100% nylon ripstop with a DWR finish
LINING: 0.8-oz 10-denier Pertex® Quantum 100% nylon ripstop with a DWR treatment
INSULATION: 65-g PlumaFill 100% recycled polyester
WEIGHT: 264 g / 9.3 oz
FEATURES: Brick quilting pattern with a horizontal quilt, Center-front zipper has wicking interior storm flap and zipper garage at the chin, Two zippered handwarmer pockets, Under-the-helmet hood construction

First Thoughts

The reason I bought this jacket was its weight, plain and simple. But even though I knew it was light I was blown away by just how lightweight this jacket is. I have never held anything like this before and still to this day it impresses me. The jacket feels fairly thin at first but as soon as you put it on you can feel the advanced insulation doing its thing.

When I checked myself out in the mirror I was very happy with the fit. The sleeves are perfect, the length is just right, and it is neither baggy nor tight which is ideal for layering. Straight away I knew I was happy with my purchase and threw the labels in the bin.

Warmth

To try and describe the warmth of this jacket I will explain how it feels in different types of weather and season of the year. In spring and autumn, the jacket is perfect to wear through the day just to take the edge off. On an evening is when you really appreciate the warmth which is enough on its own or if it gets really cold can be paired with a rain jacket on top or a hooded base layer underneath.

In summer the jacket is ideal for cooler evenings and can be stuffed inside its own pocket for easy storage and portability. In winter when temperatures drop below freezing, this jacket is perfect for hiking and climbing because it keeps you warm without overheating you.

The fabric does block about 85% of wind but it can get through on a blustery day so a shell jacket is a good addition to the Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody. The jacket holds up to rain pretty well and even when it gets soaked through you hardly notice a change in how warm it feels. It is best if you can keep the jacket as dry as possible though as it is only water-resistant.

Weight

The Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody weighs just 9.3 oz in a size large which is ridiculously light for a synthetically insulated jacket. You can get even lighter jackets like the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer but they are all made from down insulation.

This has to be one of the most lightweight synthetic jackets out there at the moment and it is perfect for hiking and camping. Why does it matter if the insulation is synthetic? Because down insulation is known to insulate poorly once it gets wet and synthetic insulation keeps on working whether it is wet or not. So the fact that it is synthetic and more lightweight than most down jackets makes this a stand-out product for me.

Pack Size

This jacket will pack inside its own pockets and packs down to around the size of a coconut. You can really stuff this into a packed rucksack without worrying about compressing the insulation as it instantly fluffs back up when you are wearing it.

If you are not sure whether you need a jacket or not then something as lightweight as the Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody is perfect because it packs down so small it doesn’t matter whether you use it or not. It will fit in the side pockets of some backpacks it is so compact.

Breathability

To fully test the jacket breathability for this Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody review I decided to go for a quick 2km jog to see what would happen. I was fully expecting to start sweating and turn back after a few hundred yards but to my surprise, even though I got hot I felt the jacket did breathe surprisingly well.

I have worn this jacket on a long-distance hike with a backpack on when at the top of some summits as well as on lousy weather days. I can honestly say that it breathes very well because it is so thin and is ideal to wear while moving.

That isn’t to say that I didn’t sweat because I did It’s just that I never felt like the jacket was making me sweaty and would let just the right amount of breeze through the open zips.

Durability

Durability was my main concern when reviewing the Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody as the outer shell fabric is 10 dernier which is quite thin. I have been very impressed with it so far and my confidence is slowly building in that I no longer take much care when pushing through thick brush.

When I first got the jacket I was very careful not to let it rub against anything however I did wear it underneath a big backpack which can sometimes damage the fabric at the back. Thankfully though, the material shows no signs of wear the backpack sat and has no snags after being worn a lot to walk the dogs as well as camp and hike.

Waterproofing

The Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody is not waterproof however it is pretty water-resistant. There is a DWR treatment on the outer shell which generally beads off the water in short rain showers but under sustained rainfall, the jacket will soak through. The good news is that it will still keep you warm though unlike down which has not been hydrophobically treated that will cease to be effective if it gets wet.

I would not be afraid to wear this jacket in the rain but I prefer to wear a waterproof shell over the top which offers the best protection. The Plumafill down is designed to be used in rain and is superior to hydrophobic down if soaked through.

Windproofing

The windproofing of this jacket is much like waterproofing in that it will work a bit until the wind gets too strong. Mild breezes and cold gusts of wind will not bother you when wearing this jacket however a sustained icy cold wind will often be felt. Again, you can combine it with an outer shell that will block the wind so that your insulation can focus on keeping you warm.

Fit

I would say I have an average build, 5 feet 10 inches tall, and about 185 lbs which means I usually get a size medium or large depending on the brand. I went with large and am very happy with how it looks and feels. The sleeves are the perfect length and don’t pinch under the armpits when stretching. It is neither baggy nor tight around the chest or waist and the length is just right so that you don’t have to adjust it whatsoever when you are wearing it.

Pockets

The Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody has two handwarmer pockets on the outside which both have zips to secure your valuables. On the inside, you have two open-top pockets to keep your gloves, a map, or a snack. The minimalistic style of this jacket works so well for hiking because you never really want to be carrying anything in your pockets anyway. The external pockets are all you really need to keep your hands warm and maybe keep your phone.

Hood

The hood is an under the helmet style which fits amazing well without the need for any adjustment. At first, I felt it was lacking some adjustable features but actually I think they got the hood just right and it doesn’t matter what shape your head is, it just fits. It never flops over your eyes in the wind and it keeps your body heat in just like a wooly hat you might wear for hiking.

Zips

Like any reputable outdoor clothing manufacturer, Patagino uses premium YKK zips for this jacket which is world-renowned to be the absolute best. I have not had any issues whatsoever with the zips. No jams, sticking or finding the zip opening from the bottom while I am wearing it. So nothing to report here other than they are good quality and well made.

UPDATE: I have had the fabric gets caught in the zip once or twice but it is easy to forcibly pull out or retrace your steps. I have not seen any damage caused by this and it is rare that it happens.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I love this jacket as much as the day it arrived and if it ever does succumb to any damage I will probably replace it with the exact same jacket. What stood out as good or bad in this Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody review?

The Good

The best things about this jacket are its weight and warmth. It is so light you can take it anywhere and save a lot of weight from your backpack. It is also the perfect insulative warmth that you can layer with other clothes so you can control your temperature much easier. For summer spring and autumn it can be worn on its own and because it is made from synthetic filling, it will keep you warm even if wet.

The Bad

If we had to force ourselves to mention any bad things, one might be the lack of adjustment on the hood, sleeves, or hem. I don’t think it really needs it but a small external chest pocket might be useful for keys or cash if we were to be picky. Other than that we can’t really say anything bad about it.