The Patagonia Hi-Loft Nano Puff Hoody Review

Every November, I go to a climbing festival in southern Illinois. While the weather is often beautiful during the day, at night, the temps drop quickly, and I’m frequently left shivering in my lightweight puffer. This year, however, I came better prepared, with Patagonia’s Hi-Loft Nano Puff Hoody.

This jacket takes the brand’s classic Nano Puff design and beefs it up with more body-mapped synthetic insulation and more durable fabric. This is the burlier big brother, built for colder conditions and true winter weather. With it, I can stay toasty on those chilly Illinois nights even when they dip into the low 30s.

I tested the Hi-Loft Nano Puff on several climbing and camping trips in southern Illinois, in cold temperatures and conditions. I also wore it on cold, windy days in St. Louis when I walked my dogs in the park in temperatures in the mid-20s.

In short: The Patagonia Hi-Loft Nano Puff ($330) is a synthetic insulated jacket that uses PrimaLoft Silver and Patagonia’s Nano Puff quilting. The insulation is body-mapped to provide warmth where you need it and greater mobility. It’s windproof and waterproof, with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating. It isn’t the lightest or most packable jacket, but it’s a high-quality piece of winter gear that’s warm and useful for different activities.

Check out our guide to the Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets.

Patagonia Hi-Loft Nano Puff Hoody

Materials & Construction

The Hi-Loft comes with 200 g of PrimaLoft Silver Insulation Eco in the hood, front, and back. Then, there are 170 g of insulation under the arms and on the sides. Supposedly, this is meant to increase mobility. It also reduces the jacket’s overall weight somewhat.

Compared to the standard Nano Puff, which has just 60 g of insulation throughout, this is a notably heavier and warmer jacket. The women’s version weighs 24.6 ounces (the men’s, 26.8 ounces). Stacked up against those on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Insulated Jackets, this would be the heaviest on the list.

Most of the jacket has the standard Nano Puff brick quilting made from recycled polyester. On the yoke, shoulders, and outer sleeves, there’s a thicker layer of this fabric for extra durability. The outer fabric has a DWR finish, and the Patagonia site claims there are “no intentionally added PFAS.”

There are three exterior zip-up pockets (two hip pockets for the hands, one on the chest). Inside, there are two dump pockets on either side of the waist. Those are great for gloves, hats, or even ski skins if you’re backcountry skiing. The center zipper is a two-way zipper with a wicking interior storm flap.

It’s available in women’s sizes from XXS to XXL, and XS to XXXL for men.

The Hi-Loft Nano Puff: In the Field

Camping & Daily Use

On chilly November and December nights when I was car camping, the Hi-Loft kept me cozy. With a base layer and thin fleece inside, I stayed plenty warm in temps that dipped into the low 20s. Of course, since it’s synthetic insulation, if you were to get caught in an unexpected rainstorm, the Hi-Loft jacket would still keep you warm, unlike traditional down.

St. Louis isn’t known for the worst winters, but every now and then, we get a doozy of a snowstorm, and bristling wind makes it even worse. As someone whose dog demands a walk no matter the weather, I was grateful for the Hi-Loft during one of these cold snaps. It fended off the biting winds and kept my body heat trapped close to my body.

The hood and high reach of the zipper made it so that very little of my face was exposed to the cold. While not a lightweight puffer, it is more streamlined and makes me look less like a giant marshmallow compared to my L.L.Bean parka.

Helmet Compatibility & Two-Way Zipper

I wore this jacket while belaying on a cold November day in Illinois. Patagonia says that the hood is helmet-compatible, and I tested that out. While the hood fits over a climbing helmet, wearing it with the jacket fully zipped up restricts your range of motion a bit.

Since the jacket goes all the way up to just below the mouth, it’s a little hard to look up and move your neck around. The collar had to be unzipped for full range of movement. The hood would likewise fit over ski or bike helmets.

The two-way zipper was a nice touch. Since the jacket extends past the hip, without the two-way zipper, it would’ve been hard to keep it zipped and out of the way of my harness and belay device. However, the two-way zipper allowed me to unzip up to my waist, enabling me to keep my hands accessible while the rest of me was covered.

Storage

The external zippered pockets are quite large. The chest pocket is big enough to fit an iPhone and a wallet, and the side pockets can fit a small book. The side pockets are also lined with a soft tricot fabric. That helps to keep your hands warm (especially if you forget your gloves).

The non-zippered internal pockets could be used for gloves, a hat, a dog’s leash or harness, or even ski skins if you’re touring. You could even put a water bottle in them. (Pro tip: Fill it with warm water to jack up the jacket’s heat.)

These dump pockets are on the smallish side, so I’d worry that more valuable items could fall out. But for larger items like the ones above, they’re great.

Durability

I’ve had a Nano Puff for years, and have ripped several holes and snagged many loose threads. After months of wear, none of that has happened to the Hi-Loft.

The only damage this jacket has incurred is small burn holes from a campfire I apparently got too close to, which no jacket could’ve escaped from unscathed. The extra fabric on the shoulders and arms really shields the most vulnerable parts of the jacket and adds a thick layer of protection.

Drawbacks

As a bulky jacket with thick fabric, the Hi-Loft is not the most breathable. It doesn’t take much activity in it before you’re sweating and ready to take it off. If you want a jacket for active wear, the standard Nano Puff is likely a better option.

As a hefty synthetic insulated jacket, it’s not very compressible, either. This is not the kind of jacket that stuffs into its own pocket for easy storage. It easily took about a quarter of my 40L Black Hole Duffel Bag when packing for a trip. Its significant weight could also be a turn-off for some people.

I also wish the brand had made the cuffs differently. It’s an extremely thin piece of elastic that gets swallowed up by the jacket’s insulation. They didn’t stay put very well, and I found that made it easy for cold air to get in. As someone with small hands, I constantly had to push the sleeves back up to keep mine accessible, since there’s no adjustability or drawstring.

A Note on Price

The Hi-Loft Nano Puff Hoody retails for $330; the original Nano Puff Hoody costs $290. Comparing the Hi-Loft to the original, for an extra $40, you really get a lot of bang for your buck. The original is a comparatively light jacket and more of a travel-friendly or active layer than a standalone winter jacket.

Who Is the Hi-Loft Nano Puff Hoody For?

This is not the jacket for ultralight hikers. At 24.6 ounces, it’s far heavier than some of our favorite down jacket picks like Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody (17 ounces) or Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket (13 ounces). I would consider the Hi-Loft more of a winter coat than an active puffer — in that context, it’s worth its weight in warmth.

While very warm, the jacket’s bulk means it’s not very compressible, either. That makes it a great fit for car camping, everyday wear, or for very cold outdoor adventuring. However, it’s not ideal for backpacking, ski touring, or other high-output aerobic activities where weight matters.

If you are in the market for a winter coat for the day-to-day that can be worn around town or in outdoor settings, the Hi-Loft is a solid pick. It delivers on warmth and is designed with a durability that should last you for decades.