Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody review: A sustainable synthetic jacket that still delivers

Patagonia built the Nano Puff Hoody for climbers, but like many of the brand’s best designs, it has escaped its original niche. What started life as a lightweight, weather-resistant synthetic insulation layer for vertical environments has become one of those jackets I reach for almost without thinking whenever I step outside.

Over the past few months, I’ve worn the Nano Puff across a mix of winter walking, coastal rambles and damp woodland hikes. Forest of Dean in January. Misty, drizzly Cheddar in November. Windy North Somerseta and cold, wet South Wales in December, and it never once felt out of place. In fact, it rarely felt noticeable at all, which is exactly what a good midlayer should do.

Paired with Patagonia’s R1 Air Jacket underneath, the Nano Puff proved almost uncannily well judged for 1–3ºC, stop-start winter conditions. I was neither cold nor overheating, even when the weather couldn’t quite decide what it wanted to be. That balance of breathability and insulation is where this jacket really earns its reputation.

The soft mathematics of warmth

Patagonia uses 60g PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco, made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester (obviously) with an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. Crucially, the insulation still performs when damp. Walking through light drizzle and mist, the jacket never developed the clammy, collapsing feel that cheaper synthetics often do.

The recycled polyester shell has a DWR finish made without intentionally added PFAS, and while this isn’t a waterproof jacket by any stretch, it sheds light moisture well enough for short spells of drizzle. More importantly, it dries quickly and never feels fragile.

Patagonia’s signature brick quilting and horizontal side panels stabilise the insulation and help the jacket sit neatly under a shell. Worn beneath a waterproof, the Nano Puff almost disappears, adding warmth without bulk or stiffness.

Forest paths and quiet systems thinking

One thing that became increasingly clear during my testing is that Patagonia designs with an ecosystem in mind. The Nano Puff doesn’t feel like a standalone hero product; it feels like part of a system. Layered with the R1 Air, the combination was so well balanced that I barely thought about temperature management at all.

In the Forest of Dean, where cold air pockets, shaded trails and brief climbs constantly shift your thermal needs, I never needed to unzip aggressively or stop to swap layers. The breathability of both pieces worked in harmony, creating a setup that felt more considered than accidental.

If Patagonia doesn’t officially design its products as an ecosystem, it certainly behaves like it does.

Pockets, packability and polite design

The Nano Puff is incredibly lightweight and packs into its own internal chest pocket, complete with a reinforced carabiner loop. Once packed, it slips easily into a rucksack or even a large jacket pocket. This is a jacket you bring 'just in case' and then end up wearing all day.

Two zippered handwarmer pockets provide enough storage for gloves, keys or a phone, and the zips feel robust without being stiff. The internal storm flap behind the main zipper and the soft zipper garage at the chin are small touches, but they make a noticeable difference during longer walks.

It’s also thin enough to wear comfortably under a shell, which keeps its role as a true midlayer intact.

Hoods, compromises and climbing DNA

The hood is where the Nano Puff reveals its climbing heritage, as well as its limitations. It’s helmet-compatible and fits neatly, but it isn’t adjustable. In calm conditions, it’s perfectly fine, but in the biting wind, it doesn’t seal as well as I’d like.

Compared to something like Arc’teryx’s Atom Hoody, the Nano Puff’s hood feels less protective. It also benefits from a more confidence-inspiring DWR treatment in sustained wet weather, too.

However, the Atom lacks Patagonia’s green credentials and doesn’t pack down quite as small, making this more of a philosophical choice than a purely technical one.

The Nano Puff’s drawcord-adjustable hem helps seal in warmth, but I’d welcome just a little more overall adjustability for harsher, more exposed environments.

Walking around Cheddar Gorge in light rain and mist highlighted why synthetic insulation still has a place in modern layering systems. The Nano Puff never lost its loft, never felt heavy, and never became uncomfortable. It simply carried on doing its job.

In cold coastal wind in North Somerset, it blocked just enough airflow without turning into a sweat trap. In South Wales rain, it behaved exactly as expected: not waterproof, but impressively resilient.

The magic jacket, demystified

Patagonia calls the Nano Puff the “magic jacket”, and while that might sound like marketing bravado, it isn’t entirely wrong. The magic isn’t in any single headline feature. It’s in how little you think about it once it’s on.

It’s light. It’s warm. It breathes. It packs small. It layers beautifully. It’s responsibly made, Fair Trade Certified, and built almost entirely from recycled materials. And most importantly, it works across a huge range of outdoor pursuits without ever feeling specialised.

I wish the hood were more adjustable. I wish it offered slightly better wind sealing in truly hostile conditions. But as a midlayer for real-world outdoor use, it’s hard to fault.

If you’re after a high-quality, responsibly made midlayer that quietly gets everything right, the Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody hits all the right notes, and then politely steps out of the spotlight.

At the time of writing, the Nano Puff Hoodie retails for around £240 in the UK, $279 in the US, and approximately €280 in Europe. Head over to Patagonia for more info.