Very light weight. Keeps you comfortable in many temperature ranges. Has proven to be much more windproof than I would have originally guessed. I mean it is awesome. Look around about every other company has made a jacket that pretty much copies this one. Oh yeah and the shell is made from some recycled materials. Backed by Backcountry's guarantee and Patagonias you really don't have a good reason not to get one. Trust me worth the price but you can easily find a 20% BC code.

This is one of my favorite jackets...Light, warm, and a good looker (have last year's in burnt orange). Love that it compresses into it's own pouch as well. Works great as an outerlayer and if you need a shell, works great and doesn't feel bulky underneath. I'm 5' 10" and thin, the medium fits lwell (as does most Patagonia mediums). I also like that the collar is relatively snug , but not too tight around the neck to keep out the cold and falling snow when fully zipped

I was specifically looking for a down sweater to use underneath my hardshell when skiing. For what its worth, I ski in the mid-Atlantic area where the runs tend to be short, and one of the lifts that I use regularly is very slow and lately has been exposed to very strong winds. This adds up to not a whole lot of body warmth being generated before I am sitting on the lift again. I am 5'10 and weigh 165 pounds. I was specifically looking for something that fit well and provided a good compromise between minimal bulk and maximum warmth. Over the past few years I seem to be colder on the slopes then most of my friends that I ski with, although I am still much warmer in general than my wife.

I narrowed my choices down to the Patagonia Down Sweater and the Marmot Zeus because of the overall high reviews that both have receive, the excellent reputation that both manufacturers have and the lifetime warranty offered by both Patagonia and Marmot. I ordered both items in a size medium so that I could do a side-by-side comparison. The Marmot Zeus is definitely the warmer of these two garments. It clearly has more loft (my wife said I had the Michelin Man look going), and the neck comes up a little higher than the Patagonia Down Sweater. The Patagonia sweater is more form fitting all around, and the sleeves, neck and overall length of the sweater are all shorter than the Marmot Zeus. In fact, my sleeve length is 32/33 in dress shirts and the sleeves on the Marmot Zeus were actually a little long for me. I weighed both jackets, and on my scale the Zeus weighed 438 grams (with tags) and the Patagonia Down Sweater weighed 355 grams (with tags). Both jackets appear to be very well made, and I was impressed with the overall quality of both.. One definite bonus for the Marmot Zeus is the addition of an internal pocket that can be used to keep small food items warm when outside. The Patagonia jacket only has the internal pocket that is intended to be used for stuffing the jacket.

For my purposes, I chose the Patagonia Down Sweater. The main factors that finally drove my decision: 1) less bulk in the arms – I could barely tell that I had this jacket on when wearing a shell, while I felt some restriction in movement when wearing the Zeus under my shell; some of the bulk in the arms is inevitably due to the longer length of the sleeves on the Marmot Zeus; 2) lower neck – the higher neck on the Zeus combined with the tight neck on my shell made the Zeus feel less comfortable.

Despite my choice to go with the Patagonia Down Sweater, the Marmot Zeus is, at MSRP, is a great value, particularly when compared to similar offerings from the North Face and Mountain Hardwear. Honestly, if it weren’t for the fact that I was able to get the Patagonia Down Sweater for the same price as the Marmot Zeus, I probably would have gone with the Marmot Zeus. This would be particularly true if I were not so focused on using this jacket as a mid-layer.

I love this Down Sweater (Jacket) it's super light. I use it to warm up after a long wet run on a cold winter morning.

As so many other have testified, this jacket is super light, super packable and super warm (in relation to the weight and volume).Starts feeling warm in seconds after putting it on top of base layers. Haven't yet found the need to put on any shell on top of down sweater. Also wind and water proof way above my expectations.

This is the most amazing jacket I have ever owned. For the weight, it is the warmest thing in the world. Warmer than the sun! Maybe not that warm, but you get the idea.

I also have the Mountain Hardwear Compressor jacket, which is Primaloft, and this jacket is much warmer and quite a bit lighter. It also compresses more. Just don't buy it and wear it in the rain like all those idiots I see in downtown Seattle wearing their The North Face down jackets, OK?

I've really enjoyed this piece so far. I wouldn't wear it as outerwear if it was going to snow or rain, but its a great layer under a shell on really cold days. I wear it around town in Tahoe and love it for that. Super soft and comfy. I've found that most patagonia jackets run large. I normally wear a L jacket from others (Arcteryx, Marmot), but the M sweater fits me perfectly, expecially for layering. Same with a Patagucci softshell I just got. I'm 5'10" and 175-180.

When the temperature is dropping faster than the Dow Jones on your fall outing I pull on the down sweater. I wear this under a goretex shell. The insulation of the 700 fill down is incrediable. It feels too light when you first put it on at the beginning of the season. I get that "Oh No, I haven't brought enough warm clothes for this trip out" feeling. But within minutes I toasty warm and finding myself thankful for geese. I'm 6'4" 200 lbs and wear an XL. It's definately puffy fit. The whole thing stuffs into a built in pocket about the size of a large grapefruit. The sweater doesn't seem to lose feathers as much as other down jackets I have owned. For colder weather get something 'PUFFY-ER" (I just made up that word.)

This is the jacket I choose most often during our Montana winters. I use it by itself for around town or worn under a breathable shell for low intensity activity on bitter days it's just fine. It's too warm under a shell for higher intensity exercise. I take it on all my backcountry skiing day trips to wear during lunch stops or while "cooling down" after a long climb to a ridge. The reviewer who claimed this isn't any warmer than a layer of heavyweight capilene must have been wearing it while it was soaking wet.

Best down jacket ever. Function, weight, compression, and mad steez on the style tip!

I had my down sweater for 4 years. I just passed it on to my 14 yr. old son, who wears it proudly and keeps telling me how warm, soft and light it is. I wore that thing on his Boy Scout winter camping weekends and it made things so much more bearable. The other Dads used to see me standing around in frigid temps looking warm and comfortable and ask why I wasn't shivering. I would wear a tee shirt or ligt long sleeve cotton shirt underneath and still felt warm. It's light enough to carry in a pack and break out whenever you need to take the chill off. I own every kind of cold weather gear, some of which has cost me an arm and a leg, but I found myself wearing my down sweater all the time. I leave it in my car and probably use it 8 months out of the year. This thing is a no-brainer. It's the best! The guy who said that it's no warmer than capilene never wore this sweater.

This jacket is everything it claims it is: warm, light, packable. The waist has a cinch cord, and there is a zipper flap to keep wind out there, but no adjustable cuffs, just an elastic closure. It looks puffier in the pics than it actually is, keeps a low profile. For anyone out there wondering about the "fill power" of down, the higher the number the better quality it is, meaning it takes less ounces of down to get the same warmth rating. 800-fill is at the top.

My wife and I are Northface buffs, but tried the Patagonia, and we love it. It is so thin, and ridiculously light, yet is very warm. Not bulky at all. You can wear this under a shell, or even a down jacket, and won't feel like your arms are being squeezed to death. The shell is a bit on the thin side, so I get a little worried about tearing it...

Less bulky than the Northface Redpoint. A great addition for those looking for an all-season jacket.

one of the best Patagonia jackets. it is cut well, and super warm, i have two. one for use outdoors (BC skiing, hiking, etc) and one for around town.

Simply put: I won't go out into the backcountry without the Patagonia Down Sweater. It is amazingly warm, incredibly light, and packs down to nothing. If the weather is questionable at all, I throw it in the pack and feel completely equipped for wind, snow, and even light rain (thanks to the DWR). I don't know how I ever did without this essential layer from Patagonia.
My only gripe: I am 6'5" (and hence have a freaky long torso), and have a size large, which fits well, except for the torso length. I wish they had a tall version.

Picked this up and since then it has been my go to jacket when things get a little cooler. Works great over a few lighter under-layers or whatever you have on underneath. Also works an insulating layer under a shell when you need a little extra warmth. Packs down ridiculously small and stuffs down into its inner pocket. Wear it anywhere and it works and gets attention. Highly recommended and one of my favorite pieces.

Very light, packs well, and the insulation is sufficient for most endeavors. The cuffs have stretched out and frayed rather quickly and I prefer waist cinches on both sides to minimize the amount of elastic cord hanging at belt level.

This will be my "go to" puffy for late spring through early fall backpacking, hiking, climbing. Keep my Patagonia down jacket for colder times.

This is my first down jacket, and I could not be happier. It is super light, packs down to the size of a nalgene, fits perfectly under a shell for when it's dumping, and of course, super toasty. Even when it is -10 F with a stiff breeze, all i need to wear under this jacket is a tshirt. It really is that warm. As for durability, I take care of all my gear the best i can, and thankfully have not ripped it yet. The fabric isn't very thick, but what do you expect from such a light jacket? The loft of the down has started to break down from repeated packings, but shaking it seems to restore most of the original loft. Even still, it is soooooo toasty.

I've only had it for two weeks but already been in 14 deg F temps with no problems. Relatively wind proof and EXTREMELY light and packs down to nothing. Nothing even to nikpik on this one.

Great fitting and performing jacket, not too puffy. Use it under your hardshell on cold days. Packs down small. I keep it in the back of my truck to beat the chill during post ski/bike beer. Montbell makes a good one too, but I'd go with Patagonia for their renowned customer service.

The jacket fits like a glove. I love this jacket.

This jacket is warm and very light. I use it under a shell to ski in the Buffalo NY area because you can never really tell what the weather will do here.

What else is there to say, Patagonia is the shizznizzle.
Down sweater warm and packs down nicely
Why are you still reading reviews, buy one now!
You wont be disappointed

I've always worn gear with synthetic material as lining -- hey, if we can land a man on the moon, we can certainly manufacture better stuff than what nature provides, right? -- but I have been truly impressed with this down jacket. Its combination of lightness with warmth is better than anything else like it I own.

Kept me warm through a wide range of temperatures while trekking in Nepal recently. On the extra cold nights, it was completely comfortable to sleep in - the lack of bulk is a definite plus. Very highly recommended!

I recently purchased this jacket and used it at several locations in Summit Co., Colorado. I wore it under a North Face Stretch Ama Dablam on two days, in 15 to 20 degree weather. I also wore it under an Arcteryx Gamma MX soft shell on one day, in 25 to 30 degree weather. Overall, I stayed warm under varying conditions and at the top of several peaks. Size up if you plan to layer. Standing alone, the coat is warm without the bulk of other downs. In my opinion, the only downside is that the draw cord around the waste is designed poorly.

This jacket is really nice, but the sizing is really bad. There is a permanent crease in the arms which doesn't help much when the fit is already boxy. There is a ton of room to layer under it and the length of the jacket is really long. I have the Patagonia R2 fleece jacket in a Medium and it fits perfect. I know that this jacket is considered to be a regular fit, but I definitely either should have went with another jacket like the Mountain Hardwear Nitrous or just downsized to a small, which I do not like to do because I would consider myself a medium usually. So just keep in mind, this is not fitted at all.

Some down jackets are meant for staying warm and looking good when its cold out side, but are too bulky to put in your pack. The Down Sweater is a great piece that you can stuff in its own sack and chuck in your pack. This is the best of both worlds, it is a good looking/functional down jacket that you can use anywhere, anytime. I love it!

I have the half zip down sweater and I love it for backpacking! It's light weight, packs amazingly small and also doubles great as a pillow (A Down Pillow at that).

Only Con: Fabric on the outside is littleweight and can puncture if caught on a sharp tree etc... Just don't bushwack in it and you'll never have a problem.

I just purchased this jacket. I love it. It is super light and warm. And you can get it to fit in the smallest of bags. You cant bet the price for the jacket.

If you hike in the Sierras, buy this jacket now. It's super light, packable and acts as a great pillow. Don't forget, down can be a little sketchy in rain so make sure this isn't your solution for a heavy downpour. The Patagonia Houdini works well as a protector of fine feathers in moderate showers. If you're expecting lots of rain, consider the synthetic option.

As others say, it's super light, super comfy, and super warm. I would never go backpacking or alpine climbing without it. I also love to wear it around town. Some of my friends say I look like the Michelin Man, or like an orange marshmallow. I don't care, though, cause it's so dang comfy.

I'm 6', 170 pounds, and I wear a medium. It's even a little big, so I'd warn you against sizing up from your normal size in order to fit more layers underneath. Unless you want to wear 10 layers underneath.

I love this jacket, but wish the material was a little stronger. It's great how little space it takes in the pack given how cozy it is, but more than once it's stayed in the pack because I was worried about shredding it. On a cool morning in joshua tree I wore it while leading a warm-up climb, which ended up being two grades harder because I had to keep the jacket away from the razor sharp granite. I end up wearing it more in town than in the backcountry.

First, I love this jacket. I'm a fit 6'1" and am pretty happy with the large. X-large felt bulky. Every detail and stitch is excellent. However, after 3-4 months of use the main zipper has essentially had it. Going to return to Patagonia for repair/replacement. Not impressed and have heard others having similar problems with Patagonia zippers.

all is good because it's super light, compresses to unbelievable size for the warmth. But. It's losing down more than any other down jacket I've owned.

Using the The RateSkiGear.Com 100 Point Rating Systemâ„¢, this Patagonia Down Sweater scores 91 out of 100 Possible Points.

Why?

It's the perfect layering piece for those brutally cold days. Actually, you can reduce the numbers of layers due to high loft to weight ratio. The high fill-power of the down makes this unit highly compressable, but it has the loft to keep me from freezing to the bone.

Alone, this is a great "kick-around" piece on the street or in camp.

Dislikes: No hand warmer pockets, however, if your are wearing this under a shell it makes no differance. Very fragile fabric. Tears easily. Remember however, that the fabrics fragility is directly related to its weight, so carry some rip-tape and live with it!

Backcountry.Com's price is very good. I've looked around and most retailers no longer have this piece in stock. BUY IT!

For a more detailed and informative review, visit RateSkiGear.Comâ„¢

I bought this jacket for my guy for a Christmas present. He loves it. He wears all the time. Light enough to go under his shell on cold days to ski and just to throw on to walk the dogs. Looks great. Only thing Patagonia needs to consider is adding pit zips to their down jackets).

It's really not that warm. Yes, it weighs 3/4 lb, and it packs down super small, but it's not much warmer than a heavyweight Capilene layer underneath a shell. That also packs down small, costs 1/4 the price, and weighs less. However, it doesn't block wind, so if you want this as your outerwear (for around town in the 40s, etc) it would be pretty nice. Also, the feathers are constantly poking through, and making little holes all over the jacket. It's okay--not great, but it doesn't totally suck either. I'll just stick with some fleece or heavy long underwear as a layer.

Me likes it alot. I read the reviews and they say its hot.
I put it on and it transforms me to another universe where I can breath underwater and fly through the air. I think it must be filled with magic goose down.