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The Patagonia Down Sweater is made with recycled materials and 100% traceable down, so if you are an Earth-conscious consumer, this is a plus. Patagonia has a well known and dependable warranty program, which could convince someone to go with the Down Sweater instead of another option because it is a good investment. However, this jacket is expensive, and other jackets give you more for the price.
REASONS TO BUY
Stuffs into pocket
Light and warm
Now made with traceable and ethically harvested down
REASONS TO AVOID
Fabric is not very durable
Hooded Version
Below is our review of the 2014 Down Sweater which has since been updated. We have a much more recent review of the newest Down Sweater Hoody here.. The Hoody uses the same materials and construction as the down sweater, it just has a hood and is more expensive.
The Down Sweater is very similar to other jackets we loved, such as the MontBell Frost Smoke Down Parka - Women's. It comes in a hooded or non-hooded version and stuffs into an interior pocket for easy packing.
Our Analysis and Test Results
A classic lightweight down jacket, the Down Sweater is versatile, stylish, and comfortable, but comes up short in durability. Now made from ethically harvested down and recycled polyester, this is an environmentally friendly option for winter warmth.
Performance Comparison
Trish McGuire sporting the Down Sweater Hoody on Christmas Day summit of Cathedral Peak.
Credit: McKenzie Long
Warmth
Patagonia has redesigned all of their down products to use 100% traceable, ethically harvested down. It is now third party verified that it comes from geese that were never force fed and never live plucked. Still made with high quality 800 fill, it provides an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. This jacket is so light, comfortable, and warm that we used is as our go-to jacket every time we headed out in the cold. We packed in along on a chilly month-long float trip down the Grand Canyon in November, and it became an indispensable piece for camping outside for that length of time.
Weight
The Patagonia Down Sweater weighs in at 11.3 oz, which is one of the lightest jackets. It has zippered hand pockets, which add a little weight. This jacket also comes in a hooded version, which will be little heavier but add warmth and protection.
Water Resistance
The Down sweater is not made with hydrophobic down and does not have any notable water resistant properties. Keep it dry to keep yourself warm.
Compressibility
This jacket stuffs into an interior chest pocket rather than a separate stuff sack. It gets fairly small and is easy to pack and carry.
Style & Fit
The Down Sweater uses sewn-through construction to keep it lightweight. It has a flattering fit and attractive baffles. We like the look of this popular piece.
Durability
After a lot of use, we easily tore a hole in this jacket and was disappointed in its durability, but like everything, it has its tradeoffs. The fabric is light and stuffs easily, which are major plusses of this jacket, but the lightness makes it more fragile. The Down Sweater is made with a recycled polyester material that seems to be slightly less durable than materials of other jackets we tested.
Features
To keep this jacket lightweight, the features included are minimal. However, it has exactly the features we find useful in a light down jacket: 2 hand pockets and an interior chest pocket that doubles as a stow pouch.
Best Application
This jacket is so light and packable it can be used for any kind of outdoor adventure from long backpacking trips to clipping on your harness for a multi-pitch climb. It can be used as a mid-layer or an outer layer. It is also stylish enough and comes in many fun colors so it could be your every day winter jacket.
Value
At $229 for the non-hooded version and $279 for the hooded version, the Down Sweater is average in price for a lightweight 800 fill down jacket. Patagonia guarantees their products with a fantastic warranty, which adds to the value. With a quality promise like this, it makes buying an expensive Patagonia product virtually risk-free.
