REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Stylish
Easily compactable
Fleece lined pockets
Great for traveling
REASONS TO AVOID
Feathers escape from seams
Zipper gets stuck
Not super warm
Patagonia Discontinued the Hooded Fiona Parka in 2018
Patagonia Hooded Fiona Parka Review
A great model for carrying you through fall into winter, the Fiona Hooded Parka is an excellent addition to your wardrobe
Credit: Patagonia
Our Verdict
Looking for a jacket that looks great, is lightweight, and can be worn from the fall into the spring? The Patagonia Fiona Hooded Down Parka is just that. Insulated with 600-fill-power down, this above the knee length jacket combines a sleek city look with a sporty mountain vibe. While it's not the best option for rain or big snowstorms, this model handles fall temperatures exceptionally well and can even be worn into winter, as long as temperatures don't drop below freezing. Consider checking out our Editors' Choice award winner, the Canada Goose Kensington Parka if you're looking for something that will keep you warmer in colder temperatures.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
Insulated with 600-fill-power down and coated with a DWR (durable water repellant) layer on the exterior, this jacket is great for in-between seasons when the weather goes from warm to cool every other day. We wouldn't want to get caught in super cold temperatures or snow storms in this jacket, but we did find it great for running errands or taking walks.
Credit: Bevan Waite
Warmth
Despite being insulated with 600-fill-power down, this jacket isn't the warmest we tested, though it did perform well in the right situations. It was warm enough to wear running around town to the supermarket, while heading to the gym, or even to go out for a nice stroll. The down insulation is thin and minimal; when temperatures started dropping near freezing, we noticed that this jacket wasn't as warm or loaded with down like the Marmot Montreaux.
This jacket isn't as lofty or as warm as other coats we tested with the same amount of down. What we did like was how lightweight the jacket was and we didn't even mind carrying it when it got a little too warm on a fall walk!
Credit: Bevan Waite
The above the knee length allowed for extra coverage and warmth, unlike the mid-thigh length of the Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka. Patagonia now offers the Fiona Hooded Down with a fixed hood for extra warmth and protection. The main zipper has a covering that doesn't allow cold air or precipitation to get in. This is a necessary feature when living in cold weather. We found that model that lack this feature enable cold air to sneak in through the teeth of the zipper, like The North Face Metropolis II Parka. While the Metropolis is a warmer jacket, we could still feel some cold air leaking in from the main zipper.
We loved that Patagonia decided to add a hood to the Fiona Down Parka! Our only issue with the hood is that when it's zipped up all the way it tended to lift the jacket off our shoulders. This was a bit frustrating, but it still did a good job at supplying extra warmth on cold days.
Credit: Bevan Waite
We wished that the Fiona Hooded had cuffs on the sleeves. Cuffs would allow for cold air to stay out and warmth to stay in. The double-sided fleece lined pockets were excellent in cold weather. Sometimes small, simple features make a difference in cold weather.
Weather Resistance
While the Fiona is not ideal for rain or heavy snowstorms, the DWR (durable water repellent) finish on the exterior polyester fabric did a decent job of repelling water, though it is not waterproof. When tested in rain or snow, water beaded up and rolled off, but after an extended period, the jacket became saturated. Because this jacket is insulated with down, it's important to not be outside for an extended period of wet weather.
A great jacket for cool fall days, but we didn't stay warm or dry when we got caught in a downpour!
Credit: Bevan Waite
Wearing it outside in wet conditions can compromise the down, which means it might not be as lofty or warm as it could be.
Our Top Pick for Wet Climates, the Patagonia Tres offers three jackets in one. A puffy jacket like the Fiona Hooded Down and a waterproof layer that can be worn; this may be a better option if you live somewhere that tends to see more rain than snow.
Water-resistant, but not waterproof, the exterior fabric is DWR (durable water repellant). We were outside in the rain for less than ten minutes putting groceries in the car and we started to notice the jacket started to get saturated.
Credit: Bevan Waite
Style
If sleek and form-fitting are what you're looking for, the Patagonia Fiona Hooded Parka is that and more. Almost comparable to a "little black dress", this jacket's style is simple, and it looks great with almost anything. It was perfect for wearing out to dinner, or even to the gym. The princess seams on the front and back give the jacket its flattering look.
Simple, sleek, and form-fitting, we really enjoyed how this jacket looked and fit. Besides a couple issues with the hood lifting the jacket off our shoulders, and being a bit tight around the hips, this jacket scores major style points. Perfect when coupled with leggings or even while wearing a nice dress, this jacket has no problems being dressed up or down!
Credit: Bevan Waite
This jacket ran a bit small for our testers. The form-fitting flattering princess seams made the Fiona a bit tight around the hips. We'd recommend ordering a size up if you're worried about that. Besides being form-fitting on our hips, the chest had a little extra material, especially when you take into account how form-fitting the hip area is.
Princess seams on the front and back of the jacket allowed for a flattering, form-fitting look. Keep in mind that these seams did make the jacket a bit tighter around the hips and waist. Consider ordering a size up for a looser fit.
Credit: Bevan Waite
Comfort
A great way to describe this jacket is that it wears like a glove. It runs a little small, but it also felt like we were wearing a lightweight sleeping bag all day. We found ourselves forgetting to take it off when we would come home. Let's just say it was comfortable. It isn't packed with down like the Marmot Montreaux, but it provided a fair amount. Since it isn't loaded with down, it allows for better mobility, which in turn made it more comfortable in certain situations like running errands, walking the dog, going for walks, etc.
We loved how cozy and snug this jacket was. It literally fit like a glove. It's not oozing with down so we found it quite nice for taking walks in. Because it's so lightweight we didn't have any issues taking walks in it on fall days.
Credit: Bevan Waite
Fleece lined pockets add extra warmth, and they also make the jacket a lot more comfortable. We enjoyed sliding our hands into the fleece lined pockets, as opposed to cold nylon or polyester. The Fiona also provides fleece inside the sleeves, right at the wrist. These are comfortable features that we came to appreciate during testing.
Features
The main feature of the Fiona Hooded is its light weight. Weighing in at 1 pound 2 ounces, this jacket can easily be packed into a suitcase for a long weekend, or thrown in the trunk of a car without taking up any space. Like most jackets, there are two interior pockets, one drop pocket and one with a zipper. These pockets are perfect for throwing a cell phone in or keys. The exterior of the jacket has two pockets that are both lined with fleece. We enjoyed using the pockets every chance we had when we were outside.
Fleece lined pockets are always great, and almost should be a necessary feature on winter jackets. We found them delightful on cold days when we would go out for walks.
Credit: Bevan Waite
An innovative and sustainable feature that this jacket offers is 100% recycled down, which consists of duck and goose down reclaimed from down products. It's great to see companies like Patagonia trying to become more sustainable and reusing old garments for new products.
Durability
The main issue we had with this jacket was how often the main zipper got stuck. It felt like every other time we went to zip the jacket, we weren't able to on the first go. There is a material that covers the zipper, which allows the cold air and precipitation to stay out, but it also makes it hard to zip. Lining the zipper up perfectly helped with zipping it and is something to consider.
Double zippers are always a plus. They help with mobility and offer access from both ends. We had an issue with zipping the main zipper. In the picture, look at the covering that goes over the teeth of the zipper. It was a great feature for keeping cold air out, but it did make zipping the coat a bit difficult. Just make sure to take your time when zipping up!
Credit: Bevan Waite
During testing, we noticed that the jacket started to lose some feathers at the seams. While they weren't escaping at an alarming rate, this issue is something to take into account, mainly because this jacket isn't loaded with down. The exterior polyester fabric is thin but is made of ripstop material.
Best Applications
The Fiona is an excellent jacket to transition into winter in, or wear all season! It's so light, and we particularly enjoyed wearing it for trips to the supermarket, or while running errands around town. When we added a thicker layer underneath to the jacket, we were warm enough to wear it outside for a brisk walk, but this isn't a jacket you would want to get stuck in a snow or rain storm while wearing. Check out our Top Pick for Wet Weather, the Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka if you see wet weather in your future, as it's perfect for wet climates.
Perfect for the "in between" seasons such as fall or spring, this jacket was great when we would take sunny walks down to Lake Tahoe or just around the neighborhood. Its stylish look could either be dressed up or dressed down, depending on the occasion.
Credit: Bevan Waite
Value
For $349, this jacket is on the pricey end, considering it's not the warmest or waterproof, BUT - it could be perfect for someone that wants a lightweight stylish jacket that can be worn other seasons besides winter.
Conclusion
This jacket is a great option for a someone looking for a jacket that isn't too heavy, warm, or waterproof. The DWR finish on the exterior of the jacket performed well in light snow or rain, but this jacket is meant more for fairer weather. It's a great going out jacket and is ideal as an around town kind of coat. It certainly is not recommended to wear to a cold outdoor hockey game or in a heavy downpour. We found the simple style went well with almost anything and we loved how lightweight it is.
—
Liz Williamson
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