Patagonia Down Sweater - Men's - 2006 BCS

4 out of 5 is my score for these defects: -shell fabric is super-light, supposedly tough, but it snags and tears so easily. Brushing against a wooden pole at my local market caused a snag. An improved shell would help a lot though add weight -lack of wrist velcro. The fact that there is no velcro closure at the wrist allows wind to blow all up in yo junk. -not a good choice for bushwhacking, biking around town
Now the positive: -admittedly, purchase influenced by the fact that it looks cool -very warm, remarkably so considering its super-light weight. this makes it excellent for hiking, climbing, any winter sport where stopping and staying warm is needed. take it with you to school when it is warm in the morning and freezing at night (incorporates a stuff-sack) -excellent under a shell, fits under my Arc'teryx Gamma MX nicely -feels soooo nice when it's on OVERALL: Hard to beat as a lightweight 800-fill down jacket. THough North Face has some convincing competition for this piece. My 2 cents on Patagonia is that their technical pieces can't even be compared to other brands (Arc'teryx, for a few dollars more, is always better for hard-core technical pieces), but they do do certain things well, especially super-light insulation.

I bought this for my husband for a Rocky Mountain camping trip. But I used it instead, as I got cold during the frigid nights, and the down sweater warmed me up. Don't get it too close to a heat source, though. I brushed the sleeve against the pipes of a wood stove that we had to stoke during the night to keep the canvas tent warm, and the nylon melted and let out precious down feathers. I used duct tape to patch it until I could get it home. As much as I love this down sweater, I don't think it is tough to withstand rough use. I still give it 5 stars, though, as it is WARM.

Great insulating layer. Well constructed - Packs to about the size of a large coconut and weighs about as much as a lemon. Works very well for layering with a shell and fleece but don't expect the extreme warmth of a puffy, heavier down jacket. Great for chilly belays or cold hikes where bulk and weight is unwanted. If you can catch it on sale you will love it even more-

Warm and light ... can use as a jacket except in extremely cold weather < 10F ... compresses into its own stuff sack well

This is the by far the best down liner I have seen so far. I can wear this under my Gore-Tex XCR Jacket with great comfort. It can be worn alone any where. I recommend 100%!!

No, this is not your father's down jacket, but I bought mine somewhat out of nostalgia, it reminding me of my first down jacket in the early 70's. That, and of course, I've supported Yvon Chouinard's efforts since Great Pacific Iron Works days. He's doing some great work and I support anybody who donates profits to the environment. He's done it again with this magnificent garment. So light you barely feel it on. Cozy and warm. Well made. VERY cool and great fabrics. Stuffs super small A real winner. Buy one now. The best.