Review: Patagonia 800 fill Down Jacket (Holiday Gift Guide)
Living in the Pacific Northwest, a lightweight down jacket is a year round essential. During the Fall months, it will keep you warm on your morning commute. You can also used it as a mid layer under your heavy duty parka or Gore-Tex shell in the frosty Winter months. Courtesy of Patagonia, I’m reviewing the Down Sweater Jacket in Classic Navy. The jacket minimalism design feature 2 exterior zippered pockets & interior chest pocket doubles as a zippered stuff sack with a carabiner clip-in loop. The outer shell is a 100% recycled ripstop with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish.
The jacket uses 800 fill goose down which is as good as it gets. The down quality is what makes this jacket so warm despite its incredibly light weight. It weighs at 13.1 ounces (371 g). Synthetic fiber can not match down’s warmth-to-weight ratio. Over time, down retains its shape and loft while synthetic loses its warm and loft. Down is actually the fluffy undercoating that provides warmth for geese and ducks. Down provides warmth by trapping thousands of tiny air pockets. It’s also breathable which allows unwanted moisture to escape.
Sadly, most people are not aware that down is a byproduct of the food industry and without proper safeguards, the process of harvesting can be very inhumane. Starting this Fall 2014, Patagonia announced to use only 100% traceable down in all of its products. This means all of the down can be traced back to birds that were never force-fed and never live-plucked. The Traceable Down Standard provides the highest assurance of animal welfare in the apparel industry. Patagonia ensure every bird is treated humanely by examining every single link in the down supply chain from auditing the farms to using independent 3rd party inspectors.
Patagonia has a long history of environmental activism and funds many B.C. non-profits including Ecotrust Canada, Fraser Riverkeeper, Georgia Strait Alliance, Coastal First Nations, Living Oceans Society, Raincoast Conservation Foundation and many more. In 2 weeks, Patagonia is opening its first West Coast store on December 10th. The new 3,500 sq. ft. store will be in the heart of Kitsilano at 1994 West 4th Avenue.
Patagonia Vancouver
opening December 10, 2014
1994 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
It’s an excellent balance of lightweight, features, warmth, and value.
The jacket’s DWR finish repels the Vancouver rain quite well.
The jacket easily pack into its own chest pocket.
Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket in Classic Navy with an Orange zipper & interior.
