Can Patagonia Outdo Arc’Teryx with a Beefy Big Brother to the Legendary Nano Puff?

The spiritual successor to the defunct Macro Puff has arrived, and this beefy insulated coat is ready to go toe-to-toe with the best of them.

Black Patagonia quilted jacket with a front zipper and zippered chest pocket. The jacket has a rectangular stitched pattern and the Patagonia logo on the left chest.Patagonia

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Patagonia’s Nano Puff jacket, which was just recently updated, is among the brand’s best offerings, bar none. However, it does have its limitations. While it’s pretty cozy, it sacrifices potential warmth in favor of lightness and packability.

For those seeking something with the same styling and some of the same features, but in a more robust and cold-conquering package (winter is coming), the brand now has an answer. The Patagonia Hi-Loft Nano Puff Hoody is the beefy older brother you’ve been waiting for.

Men's insulated jacket in two shades of blue with a quilted pattern on the body and hood. It features a front zipper, a zippered chest pocket on the left side, and two zippered hand pockets. The jacket has a hood and is worn with a black beanie. The front view shows the Patagonia logo on the chest pocket, and the back view highlights the quilted design extending across the back and hood.
The Patagonia Hi-Loft Nano Puff Hoody is designed for harsh winters and bad weather.
Patagonia

A fire inside

The similarities between this new Nano Puff jacket and its slimmer sibling are many. For instance, this one has the same iconic brick-like quilting pattern, designed to keep the insulation in place and prevent it from bunching up.

This jacket also maintains the same external fabric construction. It’s made from 100-percent recycled polyester ripstop with a DWR finish to stave off rainfall and other elements.

The Hi-Loft Nano Puff Hoody is undoubtedly dead-of-winter capable and tough.

However, there are also some significant differences. This jacket, for instance, boasts a combination of 170-g and 200-g PrimaLoft Silver Insulation Eco, making it much warmer than its slender brethren.

It also has some outdoorsy upgrades, like a hood that can go over a helmet (for skiing, snowboarding and climbing purposes), an interior storm flap, a zipper garage and zippered handwarmer pockets.

Finally, one of the most significant differences is this jacket’s shoulder and cuff overlays, which add a ton of durability where you need it most. The Hi-Loft Nano Puff Hoody is undoubtedly dead-of-winter capable and tough.

Man wearing a blue quilted jacket with a hood and a black beanie, shown in profile against a plain light beige background.
The quilted exterior is stuffed with 170-g and 200-g PrimaLoft Silver Insulation Eco.
Patagonia

Taking aim at Arc’Teryx?

While many folks might see the Hi-Loft Nano Puff Hoody and think it fills in the space left by the now-defunct Patagonia Macro Puff, that might not be entirely correct.

Yes, this jacket fills in the slot left behind, sort of. However, it’s also heavier and more rugged than the Macro Puff. If I had to compare it to another jacket, it might be one made by Arc’Teryx: the Atom SV.

Whether this is a hint that Patagonia is going after one of its higher-end rivals remains to be seen, but the evidence is mounting.

That’s not just blind speculation, either. The jackets share many similar features, including thick, winterized insulation, a helmet-compatible hood, wind- and water-resistant exteriors, and so on. They even both boast eco-friendly materials in their construction.

While they’re stylistically very different, they largely serve the same overall purpose — they’re even in a similar price range. Whether this is a hint that Patagonia is going after one of its higher-end rivals remains to be seen, but the evidence is mounting.

Two insulated hooded jackets with quilted front panels and zippered pockets, one in shades of gray and the other in olive green. Both jackets feature a full front zipper and a small chest pocket with a zipper.
This jacket is available in four colorways across seven sizes.
Patagonia

Available now

The Patagonia Hi-Loft Nano Puff Hoody is now available on the brand’s site for $329.

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