Nano Puff vs Down Sweater: Latter is warmer in dry areas

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Down Sweater is revised for FW23, and the information given in this article is only applicable to this most recent version.

The main highlight in this revision is in the fill weight - it's increased from 104 to 150 grams. A pretty big difference. Number of internal drop-in pockets has also been increased from 1 to 2.

The new FW23 Down Sweater (Men's - Women's).

If you're stuck between getting either a Down Sweater or a Nano Puff, then making up your mind should be rather easy. Because, the Down Sweater is a down jacket (duh), whereas the Nano Puff is a synthetic insulated jacket.

This means that these two are oriented towards completely different best uses.

Down Sweater is warmer than the Nano Puff (see temperature ratings below), but only consider it for dry areas, because under precipitation it won't only soak water but it'll also lose its insulating power.

Nano Puff, on the other hand, is more weather resistant, lighter and more packable than the Down Sweater.

If you're not planning to perform high output activities with these jackets...

Then I'd absolutely get the Down Sweater for dry areas. A stunning jacket. For damp areas, Nano Puff would certainly be better than the Down Sweater, but even a better option would be the Micro Puff here. See Nano Puff vs Micro Puff article if you'd like to read more about this.

If you're planning to perform high output activities less than, say, once every two weeks with these jackets...

Then I'd get the Nano Puff even if it offers mediocre breathability because it certainly is more suitable than the Down Sweater in this regard. It's also better than the Micro Puff since the face fabric of Micro Puff is extremely fragile, unlike Nano Puff's burly face fabric.

If you're planning to perform high output activities more than, say, once every two weeks with these jackets...

Then forget about these jackets because none of them would cut it. Consider getting a DAS Light Hoody (Men's - Women's) or a Nano Air (Men's - Women's) instead.

Latest on the blog:

#A sidenote here: Patagonia.com's Web Specials discounts are GOOOLLLDDD. Highly recommend you to check it out before you buy.

Links:

Warmth

Check out the chart below for more information.

Related Data Set: Temperature ratings of Patagonia jackets

Name	Est. Temp (F/C)	Review	Pit venting?	Stuffs into itself?	Two way zipper?	Type	Activity	Fit	Weight
Arc'teryx Alpha (Men's - Women's)	-18/-28	Review	No	Yes	Yes	Down	Climbing	Regular	805 g / 1 lb 12.4 oz
Feathered Friends Khumbu	-17/-27		No	Yes	No	Down	All Round	Regular	960 g / 2 lb 2 oz
Arc'teryx Ceres SV (Men's - Women's)	-15/-26	Review	No	Yes	Yes	Down	All Round	Regular	880 g / 1 lb 15 oz
Mountain Equipment K7 (Men's)	-13/-25		No	Yes	Yes	Down	All Round	Regular	820 g / 1 lb 13 oz
Rab Positron Pro (Men's)	-13/-25		No	Yes	Yes	Down	All Round	Regular	740 g / 1 lb 10 oz
Arc'teryx Therme SV (Men's)	-11/-24	Review	No	No	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Regular	1.072 kg / 2 lb 5.8 oz
Patagonia Grade VII (Men's)	-11/-24		No	No	Yes	Down	Around Town	Regular	743 g / 1 lb 10.1 oz
Arc'teryx Firebee AR (Men's - Women's)	-10/-23	Review	No	Yes	Yes	Down	All Round	Regular	680 g / 1 lb 8 oz
Mountain Equipment Exo (Men's)	-10/-23		No	Yes	Yes	Down	All Round	Regular	770 g / 1 lb 11.2 oz
Arc'teryx Thorsen (Men's)	-7/-22	Review	No	No	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Regular	1.1 kg / 2 lb 5.4 oz
Patagonia Frozen Range (Men's - Women's)	-6/-21	Review	No	No	No	Parka	Around Town	Regular	1.253 kg / 2 lb 12.2 oz
Mountain Equipment Li. Ec. (Men's - Women's)	-5/-20		No	No	Yes	Down	All Round	Regular	822 g / 1 lb 13 oz
Arc'teryx Patera Long (Women's)	-2/-19		No	No	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Regular	1.1 kg / 2 lb 6.8 oz
Rab Neutrino Pro (Men's - Women's)	-2/-19		No	Yes	Yes	Down	All Round	Regular	585 g / 1 lb 8.6 oz
Arc'teryx Dually Belay (Men's)	0/-18	Review	No	Yes	Yes	Synthetic	Around Town	Regular	705 g / 1 lb 9 oz
Arc'teryx Centrale (Women's)	0/-18	Review	No	No	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Regular	885 g / 1 lb 15.2 oz
Arc'teryx Camosun (Men's)	0/-18	Review	No	No	No	Parka	Around Town	Trim	960 g / 2 lb 1.9 oz
Arc'teryx Cerium SV (Men's)	0/-18	Review	No	Yes	No	Down	All Round	Regular	415 g / 14.6 oz
Arc'teryx Revet (Men's)	2/-17		No	No	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Regular	755 g / 1 lb 10.6 oz
Arc'teryx Piedmont (Men's)	3/-16		No	Yes	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Regular	515 g / 1 lb 2.2 oz
Arc'teryx Fission SV (Men's - Women's)	3/-16	Review	No	No	Yes	Synthetic	All Round	Regular	890 g / 1 lb 15.4 oz
Arc'teryx Alpha Lightweight (Men's)	3/-16		No	Yes	Yes	Down	Climbing	Regular	540 g / 1 lb 3 oz
Outdoor Research Sup. Alp. (Men's - Women's)	3/-16		No	No	Yes	Down	All Round	Regular	825 g / 1 lb 13.1 oz
Arc'teryx Alessa Long (Women's)	3/-16		No	No	No	Parka	Around Town	Regular	1.015 kg / 2 lb 3.8 oz
Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 (Men's - Women's)	3/-16	Review	No	No	No	Parka	Around Town	Regular	1.307 kg / 2 lb 14.1 oz
Arc'teryx Radsten Parka (Men's)	3/-16		No	No	No	Parka	Around Town	Regular	745 g / 1 lb 10.3 oz
Rab Electron Pro (Men's - Women's)	5/-15		No	Yes	Yes	Down	All Round	Regular	525 g / 1 lb 2.5 oz
Arc'teryx Therme Parka (Men's)	5/-15	Review	No	No	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Regular	991 g / 2 lb 3 oz
Arc'teryx Macai (Men's)	5/-15	Review	Yes, zips	No	No	Down	Ski/Snowboard	Regular	1 kg / 2 lb 4 oz
Arc'teryx Nuclei SV (Men's)	5/-15	Review	No	Yes	Yes	Synthetic	Climbing	Regular	600 g / 1 lb 5.2 oz
Patagonia DAS Parka (Men's)	5/-15		No	Yes	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Regular	555 g / 1lb 3.6 oz
Arc'teryx Patera (Women's)	5/-15	Review	No	No	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Trim	867 g / 1 lb 14.6 oz
Black Diamond Access Down (Men's - Women's)	7/-14		No	Yes	Yes	Down	All Round	Regular	442 g / 15.6 oz
Arc'teryx Kappa (Men's)	7/-14	Review	No	No	Yes	Synthetic	All Round	Regular	755 g / 1 lb 10.6 oz
Arc'teryx Prema Down Coat (Women's)	7/-14		No	No	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Regular	794 g / 1 lb 12 oz
Arc'teryx Radsten Insulated (Men's)	7/-14		No	No	No	Parka	Around Town	Regular	715 g / 1 lb 9.2 oz
Rab Microlight Alpine (Men's - Women's)	7/-14		No	Yes	No	Down	All Round	Regular	466 g / 1 lb 0.5 oz
Arc'teryx Thorium (Men's - Women's)	7/-14	Review	No	Yes	Yes	Down	All Round	Regular	517 g / 1 lb 2.2 oz
Feathered Friends Eos	8/-13		No	Yes	No	Down	All Round	Regular	306 g / 10.8 oz
Arc'teryx Thorium AR (Men's - Women's)	8/-13	Review	No	Yes	No	Down	All Round	Regular	490 g / 1 lb 1.3 oz
Patagonia Macro Puff (Men's - Women's)	8/-13	Review	No	No	No	Synthetic	All Round	Regular	435 g / 15.3 oz
Arc'teryx Macai LT (Men's)	8/-13		Yes, zips	No	No	Down	Ski/Snowboard	Regular	855 g / 1 lb 14.2 oz
Arc'teryx Seyla (Women's)	8/-13		No	No	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Regular	507 g / 1 lb. 1.9 oz.
Patagonia Fitz Roy (Men's - Women's)	8/-13		No	Yes	No	Down	All Round	Regular	632 g / 1lb 6.3 oz
Arc'teryx Koda (Men's)	8/-13		No	No	No	Parka	Around Town	Regular	720 g / 1 lb 9.4 oz
Patagonia Vosque 3-in-1 (Women's)	10/-12	Review	No	No	No	Parka	Around Town	Regular	1.360 kg / 3 lb
Patagonia City Storm Down (Men's - Women's)	12/-11		No	Yes	No	Parka	All Round	Regular	468 g / 16.5 oz
Patagonia Jackson Glacier (Men's - Women's)	12/-11	Review	No	No	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Regular	880 g / 1 lb 15 oz
Arc'teryx Sensa (Women's)	14/-10		No	No	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Relaxed	785 g / 1 lb 11.7 oz
Patagonia Hi Loft Down (Men's - Women's)	14/-10	Review	No	Yes	No	Down	All Round	Regular	540 g / 1 lb 3 oz
REI Magma 850 Hoodie 2.0 (Men's - Women's)	14/-10		No	Yes	No	Down	All Round	Regular	340 g / 13.75 oz
Arc'teryx Beta Insulated Coat (Women's)	16/-9	Review	No	No	Yes	Synthetic	Around Town	Regular	600 g / 1 lb 5.2 oz
Arc'teryx Atom AR (Men's - Women's)	18/-8	Review	Yes, mesh	No	No	Synthetic	All Round	Regular	475 g / 1 lb
Patagonia Downdrift (Men's - Women's)	18/-8		No	No	No	Down	Around Town	Regular	1.014 kg / 2 lb 3.8 oz
Arc'teryx Magnus (Men's)	19/-7		No	No	No	Parka	Around Town	Regular	690 g / 1 lb 8.3 oz
Arc'teryx Agrium (Men's - Women's)	21/-6		No	Yes	No	Down	All Round	Regular	365 g / 12.9 oz
Patagonia AlpLight Down (Men's - Women's)	21/-6		No	Yes	No	Down	All Round	Slim	270 g / 9.5 oz
Arc'teryx Beta Insulated (Men's - Women's)	21/-6	Review	Yes, zips	No	Yes	Synthetic	All Round	Regular	680 g / 1 lb 8 oz
Patagonia Topley (Men's)	23/-5		No	No	Yes	Down	All Round	Regular	1.133 kg / 2 lb 8 oz
Arc'teryx Alpha IS (Men's)	23/-5		No	Yes	Yes	Synthetic	Climbing	Regular	610 g / 1 lb 5.5 oz
Rab Xenon 2.0 (Men's - Women's)	23/-5		No	Yes	Yes	Synthetic	All Round	Regular	385 g / 13.6 oz
Patagonia Down Sweater (Men's - Women's)	23/-5	Review	No	Yes	No	Down	All Round	Regular	428 g / 15.1 oz
Arc'teryx Ralle Parka (Men's)	25/-4		No	No	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Regular	735 g / 1 lb 9.9 oz
Patagonia Silent Down (Men's - Women's)	26/-3	Review	No	No	No	Down	Around Town	Regular	585 g / 1 lb 4.7 oz
Arc'teryx Therme Insulated (Men's)	26/-3	Review	No	No	No	Synthetic	Around Town	Regular	960 g / 2 lb 1.9 oz
Arc'teryx Cerium (Men's - Women's)	26/-3		No	Yes	No	Down	All Round	Trim	335 g / 11.8 oz
Mountain Hardwear GW/2 (Men's - Women's)	28/-2		No	Yes	No	Down	All Round	Trim	250 g / 8.8 oz
Arc'teryx Cerium LT (Men's - Women's)	28/-2	Review	No	Yes	No	Down	All Round	Trim	305 g / 10.8 oz
Arc'teryx Nuclei FL (Men's - Women's)	32/0	Review	No	Yes	No	Synthetic	Climbing	Trim	325 g / 11.5 oz
Patagonia DAS Light (Men's - Women's)	34/1		No	Yes	Yes	Synthetic	Climbing	Regular	320 g / 11.3 oz
Patagonia Micro Puff (Men's - Women's)	36/2	Review	No	Yes	No	Synthetic	All Round	Trim	298 g / 10.5 oz
Patagonia Isthmus (Men's)	36/2		No	No	No	Parka	Around Town	Regular	895 g / 1 lb 15.6 oz
Arc'teryx Proton LT (Men's - Women's)	37/3	Review	No	No	No	Synthetic	Climbing	Trim	375 g / 13.2 oz
Patagonia Nano Puff (Men's - Women's)	37/3	Review	No	Yes	No	Synthetic	All Round	Regular	363 g / 12.8 oz
Arc'teryx Norvan SL Ins. (Men's - Women's)	39/4		No	Yes	No	Synthetic	Running	Trim	270 g / 9.5 oz
Patagonia Nano Air (Men's - Women's)	41/5	Review	No	No	No	Synthetic	All Round	Trim	318 g / 11.2 oz
Arc'teryx Atom LT (Men's - Women's)	43/6	Review	Yes, mesh	No	No	Synthetic	All Round	Trim	375 g / 13.2 oz
Arc'teryx Cerium SL (Men's - Women's)	43/6	Review	No	Yes	No	Down	All Round	Trim	215 g / 7.6 oz
Arc'teryx Proton Hybrid (Men's - Women's)	46/8	Review	No	No	No	Synthetic	All Round	Trim	365 g / 12.9 oz
Arc'teryx Proton FL (Men's)	48/9	Review	No	No	No	Synthetic	Climbing	Trim	323 g / 11.4 oz
Arc'teryx Atom SL (Men's - Women's)	52/11	Review	Yes, mesh	No	No	Synthetic	All Round	Trim	245 g / 8.6 oz
REI Stormhenge Hybrid (Men's - Women's)	Testing		Yes, zips	No	No	Down	All Round	Regular	900 g / 1 lb 15.75 oz
Arc'teryx Monitor Insulated (Women's)	Testing		No	No	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Oversized	645 g / 1 lb 6.8 oz
Arc'teryx Coelle (Women's)	Testing		No	No	Yes	Parka	Around Town	Regular	460 g / 1 lb 0.2 oz

These are the approximate lowest temperatures you can wear each jacket without feeling uncomfortably cold, assuming:

you only have a shirt under and no shell over,
during daily use (strolls, power walks etc at most - no high output activities),
with just a little bit wind,
and in dry weather.

Read more about this chart here in my Insulated Outerwear Temperature Ratings Guide. Also my Best Patagonia Jackets post.

If you think you run warmer or colder than the average person, then shift temperature ranges accordingly.

Lastly - make sure to check out Patagonia.com Web Specials before you buy.

Nano Puff (Men's - Women's - see image) will preserve its insulating power even when wet.

What about when it's rainy, humid, snowy, wet, and/or damp?

As I explained earlier, warmth of Down Sweater will suffer significantly when it gets wet.

The down inside the Down Sweater provides warmth by heating the air it had trapped among its vacant spots. When the down gets soaked, these spots are no longer as large (or even exist - depending on the liquid intensity).

This causes the Down Sweater to lose its insulating power.

The Nano Puff, on the other hand, provides warmth via synthetic insulation instead of down. It successfully mimics the heating capability of down, and on top of that, it doesn't lose its insulating power when it gets wet either, although it comes with its own disadvantages and downsides:

The more often you stuff the Nano Puff into its own sack, the quicker it'll get old and in the long run (say, 3-4 years), it'll eventually lose its insulating power. The Down Sweater, on the other hand, can provide the very same warmth for decades.

If a fair amount of days are damp AND colder than 30 - 40 deg F's (0 - 5 deg C's) where you live, then Nano Puff wouldn't cut it. I'd recommend you to get something superior like the Arc'teryx's Fission SV. Or a Parka, such as Camosun, Therme or Thorsen.

Weather Resistance

Down Sweater is less water resistant than the Nano Puff because of the vulnerability of its down insulation.

Yes, both of these jackets are coated with DWR, which does help with preventing the rain drops from getting soaked into the internal surface of the Down Sweater, but doesn't help so much with its warmth.

What is DWR by the way?

DWR is a coating.

It's basically sprayed on to the surface of these jackets as a finish. It stands for Durable Water Repellent - which means that water will be repelled under wet conditions instead of soaking into the fabric.

DWR also decreases dry time.

It's a good thing these jackets are coated in DWR, but pay attention to the fact that DWR is a coating - meaning that it will wear off over time.

Which is why you might want to invest in a DWR spray such as this one for after treatment.

As you see, there's a strong correlation between FP x FW and temperature ratings, but not more than, say, 80%. I explained why this happens here in this post of mine.

So, once the fill of Down Sweater gets wet - its warmth will drop significantly and DWR doesn't change that dramatically.

They are, however, comparable in terms of wind resistance and both do a pretty good job in that manner.

Durability

Outer face of the Nano Puff (1.4-oz 20-denier for shell and 1.3-oz 22-denier for lining) is more robust than the Down Sweater (1.4-oz 20x30-denier in shell and 1.4-oz 20-denier in lining).

It still isn't anywhere near Arc'teryx's Atom AR as I laid out in this post, but I'd still classify it as a durable hoody.

Breathability

These jackets aren't made using advanced breathable membranes, and they aren't equipped with pit zips (or mesh panels) either - so I'd recommend you to absolutely forget about getting these jackets if breathability is one of your expectations.

They aren't designed to breathe anyway and hence both are worse than average.

Style

Down Sweater looks prettier to me. But I certainly get the hype around Micro and Nano Puff jackets.

Stuff Sacks

Some sites may claim that the Down Sweater doesn't pack into its own pocket - but it does.

It's packed a little larger than the Nano Puff - but the difference is minimal as you see here. It's still tiny.

Conclusion

Out in dry weather, the Down Sweater is noticeably warmer than the Nano Puff, but it might be a superior option due to its higher durability. It, however, loses its insulating capability significantly when it gets wet, so Nano Puff could be a better choice for damp areas.

Links:

Here's a good video review of Nano Puff:

And of the Down Sweater: