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Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody - Women's Review

A decent all-around down layer for cold climates or standalone jacket for milder weather
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patagonia down sweater hoody for women down jacket review
Credit: Patagonia
Price:  $329 List
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Manufacturer:   Patagonia
By Maggie Nichols ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Feb 21, 2024
62
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#10 of 17
  • Warmth - 30% 6.0
  • Comfort - 30% 6.5
  • Portability - 15% 5.5
  • Weather Resistance - 15% 6.5
  • Breathability - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

The Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody is an enjoyable, middle-of-the-road down jacket with solid coverage and decent performance that's popular and easy to like. It doesn't stand out in any single metric, instead offering average to slightly above-average performance across all of our rating metrics. It has a warmer, balaclava-style hood and a simple yet versatile fit and design that our whole testing team feels good about. It brings lofty mid-layer warmth and protection and is easy to layer under a shell when needed while still holding its own on mild to moderate winter days. Though it's not a knock-out in any particular area, there's still a lot we enjoy about this classic, casual down jacket.
REASONS TO BUY
Good mid-layer
Excellent hood coverage
Simple yet versatile design
Comes with repair patches
REASONS TO AVOID
Not great coverage during movement
Loose cuffs
Mediocre performance
Editor's Note: The Women's Down Jacket review was updated on February 21, 2024, with our latest findings.

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Bottom Line A decent everyday down jacket for cold weather or standalone option for mild climates with decent, if uninspiring, performanceA very warm coat with an exceptionally mobile fit, top-notch adjustability, and an absolute pillow of coziness to wearA high-end jacket without the high-end price tag, this down jacket can take you from the trails to downtown in a pinchA solid and reasonably warm puffy that's more affordable but does come with some flawsSimple and straightforward, this low-loft down jacket packs away small and costs less than most
Rating Categories Patagonia Sweater H... Rab Neutrino Pro -... Marmot Highlander H... REI Co-op 650 - Wom... Wantdo Packable Hoody
Warmth (30%)
6.0
9.5
7.0
5.5
5.0
Comfort (30%)
6.5
10.0
8.5
7.0
5.5
Portability (15%)
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.0
Weather Resistance (15%)
6.5
8.0
5.0
5.0
6.5
Breathability (10%)
6.0
5.0
7.0
7.0
5.0
Specs Patagonia Sweater H... Rab Neutrino Pro -... Marmot Highlander H... REI Co-op 650 - Wom... Wantdo Packable Hoody
Down Fill 800-fill down 800-fill European goose down, hydrophobic Nikwax 700-fill down treated with 'Down Defender' 650-fill down 90% duck down
Responsible Down Standard (RDS) Certified? Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Outer Fabric 100% postconsumer recycled ripstop nylon, DWR finish 20D recycled Pertex Quantum Pro, ripstop 100% Recycled nylon and ripstop Recycled nylon, DWR finish 20D Nylon Taffetta
Weight (Size Small) 12.3 oz 18.5 oz 13.0 oz 9.9 oz 8.8 oz
Hem Type Drop hem (small) Drop hem (large) Straight hem; hip length Drop hem (small); hip length Straight hem; hip length
Fit Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard
Pockets 5; 2 zippered hand, 1 internal zippered chest, 2 internal slip 3; 2 zippered hand, 1 internal zippered chest 3; 2 zippered hand pockets, 1 exterior zippered chest pocket 4; 2 zippered hand, 2 internal slip 4; 2 zippered hand, 2 interior stash pockets with media pass-through
Hood Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Cuff Construction Nylon-bound elastic Elastic and velcro Elastic Elastic Elastic
Adjustment Points Single hem bungee; single back-of-hood-to-brim bungee Dual hem bungees, dual hood bungees, velcro back-of-hood, velcro cuffs Single hem bungee Dual hem bungees None
Stow Option Packs into a pocket with an integrated carabiner loop Packs into an included drawstring stuff sack Packs into a pocket with an integrated carabiner loop No stow option Packs into an included drawstring stuff sack
Features Balaclava-style hood, comes with 2 repair patches Helmet-compatible hood, 2-way zipper, wire-stiffened projected hood brim, twisted sleeve baffles for greater mobility, felt chin guard, large velcro loop at nape of neck N/A N/A N/A

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody is a midweight down jacket with 100% RDS (Responsible Down Standard) certified 800-fill down and a 100% post-consumer recycled ripstop nylon exterior with a DWR finish. It has a trim cut with a slight drop hem, weighs 12.3 ounces, and packs into its own pocket.

Performance Comparison


patagonia down sweater hoody for women down jacket review - the down sweater instantly feels like a familiar friend and is very...
The Down Sweater instantly feels like a familiar friend and is very enjoyable to wear.
Credit: Maggie Nichols


Warmth


The Down Sweater is insulated with good quality 800-fill down. The baffles aren't packed full, leaving this jacket on the thinner side of midweight. On the front section, the baffles are wider for better core warmth, yet narrower on the sides to facilitate mobility and comfort. The hood is quite protective, with one of the tallest chin guards of any model we tested, reaching a true balaclava style. A single bungee on the back lets it tighten against your bare head, or over a climbing helmet or beanie. The cuffs are a bit of a weak point, particularly in the wind, as their elastic bands are quite loose on some testers, and not adjustable. The hem bungee holds well in the wind, but this isn't a long jacket, and it can ride up while you walk with it tightened down against the cold.

patagonia down sweater hoody for women down jacket review - the cuff elastic is rather loose over bare wrists.
The cuff elastic is rather loose over bare wrists.
Credit: Maggie Nichols


Comfort


We enjoy the feeling of wearing the Down Sweater. It has that classic swishy puffy jacket feeling, slightly on the plasticky end of the spectrum, but not uncomfortably so. It's a trim cut (the updated version is slimmer than previous versions, so if you prefer a looser fit or have wider hips, you might want to size up) and average, hip length. It doesn't have any features to stop the sleeves from sliding up your wrists as you raise your arms, but they're a fine length for casual wear. The Down Sweater has five pockets, including two zippered hand pockets and an internal zippered chest pocket, as well as two large internal slip pockets. It also comes with some stick-on repair patches just in case you find yourself tearing or burning an accidental hole in your jacket. And while we noticed this coat sheds a few feathers here and there, it's not so many that we're worried about it.

patagonia down sweater hoody for women down jacket review - we appreciate the extra pockets inside the down sweater.
We appreciate the extra pockets inside the Down Sweater.
Credit: Maggie Nichols


Portability


Weighing 12.3 ounces, the Down Sweater is about average weight for our testing lineup. It feels like a reasonable weight while we were wearing it — lightweight but not ultralight; just in that ballpark of the right weight that we didn't even notice it. It packs into its own chest pocket and has a fabric clip-in loop on one end. The chest pocket zipper is a bit narrow, making it harder to fit the whole jacket through this smaller-than-average opening, but not impossible. It's not the easiest jacket to pack away, but we appreciate its ability to do so.

patagonia down sweater hoody for women down jacket review - it's a bit challenging to stuff into its own pocket, but it's nice...
It's a bit challenging to stuff into its own pocket, but it's nice to have the option.
Credit: Maggie Nichols


Weather Resistance


The narrower baffles that aren't thickly filled prove to be a bit of a weak point when it comes to repelling winds. The cuffs are also somewhat loose and not ideal for extremely blustery winter days. The hood, however, is a strong point, as it offers more coverage than others and has an easily adaptable volume. The recycled ripstop nylon exterior is also treated with a chemical-free DWR finish that helps to repel light precipitation while it lasts.

patagonia down sweater hoody for women down jacket review - the balaclava-style hood of the down sweater offers great protection.
The balaclava-style hood of the Down Sweater offers great protection.
Credit: Maggie Nichols


Breathability


As a midweight jacket that's slightly underfilled, the Down Sweater has reasonably good breathability. It's not one we're excited to go sweat in for high output activities, but it's not awful for those short bursts of heading uphill during a snowshoeing adventure or for some light snow shoveling. It doesn't have any additional features to encourage breathability beyond its overall moderation in insulation.

patagonia down sweater hoody for women down jacket review - this jacket is midweight and has medium breathability.
This jacket is midweight and has medium breathability.
Credit: Maggie Nichols


Should You Buy the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody?


The Down Sweater Hoody is a solid down jacket for various everyday uses. It doesn't stand out in any particular area and isn't the cheapest jacket we tested, but it's also not the most expensive and doesn't score poorly in any particular testing metric. If you're in need a solid mid-weight down jacket in your life and you love how it feels or looks, this one is a decent choice.

patagonia down sweater hoody for women down jacket review - we had no problems layering the down sweater under a shell.
We had no problems layering the Down Sweater under a shell.
Credit: Maggie Nichols


What Other Down Jackets Should You Consider?


While the Patagonia Down Sweater is a pretty good all-around casual jacket, there are a few we prefer more. The Feathered Friends Eos is a great casual jacket that's much warmer, while the Arc'teryx Cerium is a versatile mid-weight jacket that works both around town and on modest winter adventures. If you're looking to save a few bucks while still getting a great everyday puffy, the Rab Microlight Alpine is an excellent mid-weight jacket.

patagonia down sweater hoody for women down jacket review - the down sweater isn't a standout in any of our testing metric, but...
The Down Sweater isn't a standout in any of our testing metric, but is still an enjoyable jacket.
Credit: Maggie Nichols

Maggie Nichols