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Patagonia Ultralight Down Jacket Review

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Patagonia Ultralight Down Jacket
Credit: Patagonia
Price:  $299 List
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Manufacturer:   Patagonia
By Chris McNamara ⋅ Founder and Editor-in-Chief  ⋅  Jun 19, 2012

Our Analysis

This jacket has been discontinued from Patagonia's lineup.

The Patagonia Ultralight Down Jacket is the hoodless version of the Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoody (that we did a more complete review of). The Down Hoody stood out for being incredibly light and compact and the Down Jacket is even lighter.

How is the Ultralight Down Jacket different than the Ultralight Down Hoody?
The Down Jacket is different:
• Does not have a hood
• $20 less expensive

• 0.8 ounces lighter

Both come in the same colors. Unlike the down hoody, the jacket packs into its own pocket. With the hoody, you need to keep track of an extra stuff sack which is pain.

Compared the super popular Patagonia Down Sweater, the Ultralight Jacket is $80 more expensive, less warm, and likely less durable. For this reason, we think most people will prefer the down sweater. The selling point on the Ultralight is that it is just so compact and arguable more stylish with the smaller baffles. Both jackets use 800-fill down but the down sweater uses more down. The ultralight uses a lighter shell material that has a more glossy finish. In general, we think most of the down sweater jackets have better colors with the more matte finish. But we do like the glossy dark blue ultralight color.

Chris McNamara