Patagonia Nano Puff vs Micro Puff

First of all, these jackets are very similar since they both offer synthetic insulation, so the differences aren't big to say the least. 

But... which one should YOU get? Quick answer:

If you're looking for a stylish & robust, casual outwear that provides above average warmth and high versatility, absolutely go for Nano Puff | from $219.00. If you're specifically looking for something with exceptionally high warmth to weight ratio, and can sacrifice durability, then go for Micro Puff | $175.00.

Because, main differences between these two Patagonia Jackets are:

• Nano Puff is more durable, versatile and looks better (at least to me)
• Micro Puff is a bit warmer and 3.5 oz lighter

You can see their manuals here [PDF Guide - 2019/2020].

I talked to the Patagonia Customer Service myself (screenshots below), made hours of research and laid out what I found about the differences between Patagonia Nano Puff and Micro Puff Jackets.

So, as you see, their five KEY differences that we'll dive deep into are:

• Warmth
  
• Weight
• Durability
• Versatility
• Design

Before we get down to the bolts and nuts of all these elements one by one, one thing I'd like to add is that if you're planning to be physically active inside either of these jackets, then forget about getting either of them since they both offer very low breathability and hence will be sweaty...

And instead, check out either my Patagonia Nano Air vs Puff article or Arcteryx Alpha vs Beta article.

Now that we got that out of the way, let's get to the differences of these jackets.

Warmth

Don't worry, I'm not going to make this post a scientific article, but let me mention one thing. 

Generally speaking, in order to score the warmth ratings of insulated products, Fill Power (FP) term is being used in today's market.

It's the measured loft of down. In other words, it's the end size of the down when it's in rest, e.g. "fully expanded volume".

The higher the FP rating of an insulator, the warmer the inside will be (assuming everything else are equal).

That said...

Patagonia doesn't reveal the FP ratings of their jackets.

Instead, they use standards such as "PlumaFill" or "PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco".

Warmth of PlumaFill is equivalent to around 650 fill. PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco, on the other hand, is equivalent to .62 dry CLO value and roughly corresponds to 500 fill.

So...

PlumaFill insulation of Micro Puff does not only offer better insulation compared to Nano Puff's PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco - but its quantity is ALSO more than Nano Puff (65 grams vs 60 grams).

That said, fill power isn't the end-all be-all. Things like fabric thickness also affect warmth and actually help the Nano warmth catch up with Micro Puff.

Check out this article of mine for more about this.

This means that Micro Puff will offer more warmth, that's certain. But... how warmer it will feel when you're wearing it?

• What's the ULTIMATE result?

Well, according to this chart by Patagonia, Micro Puff is just over Nano when it comes to warmth.

And the rep said:

So... my conclusion is...

Compressibility

This is mostly determined by the thicknesses of sheel and lining fabrics of jackets.

The thinner the fabrics, the more compressible the product will become.

In our case, Nano Puff vs Micro Puff, the difference is that Nano Puff uses 1.4-oz 20-denier for shell and 1.3-oz 22-denier for lining fabrics (both w/ DWR); whereas Micro Puff uses 0.7-oz 10-denier Quantum Perfex w/ DWR for both shell and lining.

The one that Micro Puff uses (Quantum Perfex) is the LIGHTEST that Patagonia uses!

Yes, thinner fabrics are used for Micro Puff - but fabrics of Nano Puff are also quite thin. Also, Micro Puff is filled with a higher FP down and with MORE of it, which roughly balances out the sack sizes.

So...

Weight

On a sidenote - this difference in fabric thicknesses is also the cause of the weight difference between these jackets. 

As a result, Micro Puff sits at 235 g (8.3 oz) compared to Nano Puff's 337 g (11.9 oz). Which is nearly 100 grams (3.5 oz) of extra weight.

Noticeable? For casual purposes, no. For pro-purposes (trekking, climbing etc) can be.

Which means...

On the other hand, there IS a sacrifice made by using this thin fabrics.

Which brings me to my next point...

Durability

Micro Puff is made of thinner fabrics, so it's more fragile compared to Nano Puff.

Again, these jackets aren't THAT different in any of these departments, so obviously Nano Puff isn't quite robust either.

Versatility

If it still isn't obvious by now, Micro Puff is much more of a "Pro" product when you compare it to Nano Puff.

Its advantages such as being 0.5 lighter and being compressed slightly smaller into its own stuff sack would mostly considered essential when it comes to serious outdoor activities.

On the other hand, the advantages of Nano Puff, such as better durability and prettier design are more reasonable trade-offs for most casual outgoings around the neighborhood - especially when you consider the fact that you sacrifice very little (if not noticeable at all!) in weight, packed size and warmth.

​what that's used for As you might see it already, 

Design

Is it just me?

Or does Micro Puff's shoulder reinforcements and wrinkled backside REALLY make it look like kind of... "obsolete" or "stale"?

To me, this is another reason why Nano Puff is a better choice for casual outwear over Micro Puff.

Besides casual outwear, you'd put less importance on the design of the jacket and more on its performance and functionality, so it'd be a better idea to go for Micro Puff in such cases.

Conclusion

So, in short, if your main use is going to be casual, get the Nano Puff. If it's more performance focused (outdoor activities), then go for Micro Puff.

Here's a good video of this comparison made by Ultra Light Gear:

​Check out the review of Nano here:

And the review of Micro here:

Here are the products on Amazon:

Nano:

Patagonia Mens Nano Puff Jkt,...

from $219.00

Buy on Amazon

SALE

Patagonia Women's Nano Puff...

(44)

from $194.99

Buy on Amazon

Micro:

Men's Micro Puff Jacket

(3)

$175.00

Buy on Amazon

Patagonia Women's Micro Puff Hoody...

Currently not available

Buy on Amazon

Patagonia Women's Micro Puff Hoody...

$249.00

Buy on Amazon

I hope this review was helpful for you to understand which synthetic jacket would be the best choice for your needs. Feel free to ask me any questions, provide feedback and I'll be happy to respond in the comment section below if it's within my knowledge.

Thanks a lot for reading. Happy trails.