Patagonia Nano Puff vs Micro Puff

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... So check this post out instead in that case.

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 at rest, e.g. "fully expanded volume".

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

​If you're looking for a stylish & robust, casual outwear that provides above average warmth and high versatility, then Nano Puff is probably your jacket. ​If you're specifically looking for something with exceptionally high warmth to weight ratio, then go for Micro. 

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:

Navigate to the product pages here:

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.

My entire review list:

Thanks a lot for reading.

References & Further reading