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Patagonia Hyper Puff Hoody

Loftiest synthetic

Brand: Patagonia Gear Reviews

Model: Hyper Puff


Our take 

This ultrapackable jacket was our go-to when space was at a premium and wet weather was in the forecast. The Hyper Puff features expandable, accordion-shaped synthetic insulation that quickly popped back to full loft no matter how much we squished it down in our packs. When the fill regained its shape, we were ready for the cold. “I took it everywhere, and despite its relative lack of bulk, it kept me warm no matter how cold things got,” says our tester who used it in -15°F temps while ski touring in British Columbia, as well as belaying ice climbs in damp Alaskan weather. Tradeoff: The thin, weight-saving Pertex Quantum face fabric suffered noticeable wear and tear across a season of skiing and climbing.

The details 

Testers packed this jacket down to less than 2 liters—better than average for a synthetic jacket of this warmth—in its stuffsack. One of our lankier testers dug the fit of the long sleeves, with stretchy wrist cuffs that sit back under the insulation. While the shell fabric isn’t particularly stretchy, a generous cut in the shoulders and torso enhances mobility.

Trail cred 

“I loved the butt-covering back hem for keeping snow out of my pants,” said one tester after an Alaska excursion. “The hood is well-designed, too, with a drawstring that kept it snug in high winds.” patagonia.com

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