Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

You Know Winter is on Its Way When Patagonia Releases a Jacket Like This

Even though hurricanes are ravaging the southern part of the country and forest fires are heating up the west, it’s hard to escape the fact that summer is coming to an end and the dreaded dark days of winter are near. What’s the first indicator of that? Not the shortening days and lengthening nights. Not the slow, but steady drop in temperature in the more temperate climes. No. The first indicator is that iconic sportswear company Patagonia has released its new Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody. And when a jacket with this crazy warmth-to-weight ratio appears on the market, the first cold snap isn’t far behind.

The Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody weighs in at a strikingly minimal 9.3 ounces (that’s just a little over a half a pound), but doesn’t skimp on warmth. Packed into that seemingly impossibly low weight is Patagonia’s PlumaFill insulation (100% polyester), which is a lightweight synthetic insulation that affords the same warmth as down, but will go one further and continue trapping body heat even when wet (perfect for the PNW). The exterior shell is made of nylon ripstop Pertex Quantum GL with a waterproof repellent to block light rain, wind, and snow.

Quilted construction of the Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody not only adds stylish and appealing texture to the jacket, but also serves stabilize and maximize the loft and therefore the warmth retention of the innovative Plumafill insulation. The offset pattern of the quilting also prevents the fill from bunching up or sinking to the bottom of the coat, keeping the insulation properties spread equally throughout the coat. The cuffs and hem are elasticized, so no pesky pulling of drawstrings are required to keep warmth in.

Recommended Videos

The best part though? The two hand-warmer pockets with welted zippers, the left of which doubles as a stuff sack to pack the entire jacket into. If you day in the snow gets a little too warm, simply pack the jacket into its own pocket and use the attached carabiner to clip onto your day-pack and you’re ready to continue outdooring in comfort without any excess weight holding you back.

The Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody jacket is on sale now for $299 at Patagonia and comes in four colors: black, forge gray, paintbrush red, and viking blue.

Chase McPeak
Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual
Chase McPeak is the former Lifestyle Editor. Chase regularly appeared on Beards, Booze, and Bacon: The Manual Podcast where…
Cold for 8 days, light to carry, and modular: Dometic’s new cooler changes the game
This modular cooling system might just be your solution for a hot summer
Dometic Recon Cooler

Cold, refreshing drinks are perfect during those hot summer adventures, but it can be challenging to find a great cooler system to bring with you, especially on a multi-day journey. Dometic, an outdoor tech company, has just introduced Recon, a stackable, modular cooling system designed to stay cold for up to eight days.

One of the most exciting aspects of Recon is its compact design. “We’ve all wrestled with coolers that don’t stack or fit. Recon fixes that,” says Josh Militello, President of Segment Mobile Cooling Solutions at Dometic. “It’s cold storage that packs tighter, stacks cleaner, and moves easier. No wasted space. No extras. Just a system built for how people actually roll.”

Read more
Why Spokane is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most underrated outdoor destinations
Spokane is high luxury, but it's interconnected with the outdoors
View from the Numerica Sky Ride in Spokane

I've lived in Washington State for a couple of years now, but I'm still unpacking all of the great places to stay and visit. There's so much to do in the Evergreen state, and during my recent stay in Spokane, I can definitely say that there are a lot of high-end luxury experiences too. From high-end hotels like the Davenport Collection and eateries to some of the best wines in the state, you might be surprised to learn that Spokane is actually a top destination for nature lovers, too. Here's everything you need to know about the wilder side of Spokane and why you should consider coming here during your next vacation.
Outdoorsy things to do in downtown Spokane

This city is a particularly unique place because the town was built around the Spokane River. This is a gorgeous ribbon of blue that's full of waterfalls, eddies, and streams that wind their way through the city. The best place to see this is in downtown Spokane, specifically at the famous Riverfront Park.

Read more
Looking for adventure and culture? This city is the best in the world for urban hiking
Here's the world's #1 city for outdoor lovers
Rio de Janeiro

As an outdoor enthusiast, one of the top things I look for in a travel destination is proximity to the outdoors. I'm certainly not averse to pitching tents, but sometimes it's nice to mix in a bit of urban excitement to my travels. Sports Shoes, a UK running retail brand, just completed a study that analyzed the top urban areas for hikers on break. My personal favorite hiker-friendly city is Seattle, which squeaked in at number 12. The number one spot goes to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

The winner was decided through two primary variables: the number of hikes in the area and the average rating and reviews of those hikes. This was averaged out into a hikeability score out of 100, and the only one to get a perfect score was Rio de Janeiro. With a total of 334 hikes averaging a rating of 4.8 stars, this city is officially the world's number one urban area for hikers.
Top hikes in Rio de Janeiro

Read more