This vest is my go-to choice for outerwear when it's chilly out. It's light, durable, and the pockets ALWAYS warm my hands quickly thanks to the fleece/tricot liner. Other thoughtful touches are the tricot-lined collar, the interior pocket that is zippered, a front zipper that is designed to never snag the fabric (and indeed, it never does), and a stuff sack. In weather that dips into the 30s and 40s, I'm comfortable with this vest and a long sleeve shirt or two underneath.

As for sizing, I've found consistency to be a bit of an issue. I usually fit a small perfectly in Patagonia stuff, but the first small I got in this vest was a bit smaller than I would have liked. I later got a second one from the fall 2007 collection and it was slightly larger and fit perfectly.

At $145, it's steep like most other Patagonia products. There are probably comparable vests for $15-$45 dollars cheaper that will be serviceable. But one of the main things that made me get this vest is Patagonia's dedication to quality and durability. I'm confident this vest will hold up for years and years. I have more information about Patagonia products on my blog, http://patagoniacommunity.blogspot.com/

I would go to with the Montbell Ultralight, as you said it packs down to nothing, the fill is 800, which is better than this one. It is also $50 cheaper. Both have the lifetime warranty, but the Montbell seems like more warmth for the weight.

I've been in the mood for a vest for a while now, and tried several other brands before settling on this Patty. Gosh. If I believed in reincarnation, I would want to come back as a Patagonia vest so I could make someone this happy. Just buy it.

Decent vest, but was definitely overkill for me. I exchanged it for the down sweater vest which I'm much happier with (really light, compact, warm, etc.). I just didn't feel like this was what I was looking for as it doesn't layer terribly well, and if you want something that thick, you probably need a jacket, not a vest.

Most people think one vest is just like another but, to those of us who live in them, this Patagonia vest is superb. A soft lined collar, smaller elastic arm holes to stop cold air flow, denser down fill where it is needed, and a well-designed fit combine to make this vest one of the best. The collar zips up to just the right height and is just loose enough to add one high-neck layer beneath it. The shell is soft and quiet. The skirt adjustment is in the front and the elastic loops sometimes get in the way of the zipper. This vest is warm but not so warm that I overheat. All in all, a great piece of clothing.

I’m 6ft 2in and this vest was just too short for me which really surprised me because I’ve always had good experiences with Patagonia sizing. It needs another 2in for my height, so if you are 6ft or less than you’ll probably dig it. Also, the collar hits me in my chin every time I bring my head down or turn to look to my side. It’s nice looking but this vest doesn’t fit the bill (for me). Patagonia is a solid brand though. Overall, I highly recommend their clothing. I’m wearing a Patagonia Puffball Vest right now which I’ve owned for over a year now and I love it. The Puffball is not as heavy weight as this vest that I’m writing this review for but it’s pretty warm and fits my height very well.

This is a great down vest, very warm and comfortable. The size runs a little smaller than most other brands, as the large fits me perfectly (I'm 5'10), whereas I may wear a medium with other brands. A+ vest- would recommend to anyone.

I bought this vest for a gift and the recipient initially loved it - it's a beautiful color and a great fit. However, we noticed a tiny frayed spot on the front of the vest during the first wearing where some of the down was coming out. I didn't want to send it back because it was a birthday present, so after a few quick stitches it was OK - but it would have been a pain if I hadn't had any blue thread. A few days later, the zipper stuck, but we were able to repair that as well with a few twists of the placket. Probably isolated incidents but not the usual quality I'd expect from Patagonia.

i'm 6'3" with a long torso and the large fits me well. i wear it under my stretch element and am toasty warm when it's in the teens and over my r1 flash on cold fall days. it packs into a tiny stuff sack and is really light.

I got this vest in black on SAC for a killer deal. This is my first vest ever and I love it. I am a 6' tall 170lb athletic build male and the M fits me perfectly. I ordered a L first because of another review that said they run small, but had to return it. It has some space in the gut, but I think a small would have been too short as this one just covers my belt. The drawstrings allow a snug(er) fit if needed. The fleece handwarmer pockets are awesome and big enough to cover your wrists. This is perfect on those days that a long-sleeve isn't enough, but a coat is too much (40's). I'm amazed how warm it keeps me with the collar (also has cozy fleece) flipped up. The coating on the ripstop causes the water to bead right up and adds a semi-gloss sheen to the shell. All-in-all a great purchase that I would definitely buy again/recommend to a friend.