Here’s more proof, along with the new Patagonia Gore-Tex shell jackets, that Patagonia is going back to its roots as a leader in alpine outerwear: the Fall 2011 Patagonia offering expands the Ultralight Down collection to include an Ultralight Down Jacket and an Ultralight Down Hoody. Building upon the success of the Ultralight Down Shirt originally introduced earlier this year, these jackets are truly technical layers, marrying the highest-quality insulating material available (800-fill goose down) with a thermally-efficient cut and a durable, ultralight fabric. Who says minimalists can’t be warm?
You may recall that the Ultralight Down Shirt was one of our Staff Picks for Spring; it returns for fall with two new colors.
Both warmer and lighter than the venerable Patagonia Nano Puff collection (which utilizes PrimaLoft synthetic insulation for high performance in mixed or wet conditions), the new Ultralight Down Jacket and Ultralight Down Hoody are some of the lightest alpine insulation pieces ever made, with the highest warmth-to-weight ratio possible. With their slim fit, both the Jacket and the Hoody fit easily beneath a hardshell, adding a tremendous amount of insulating protection without the bulk of other down jackets.
Here’s what some of our first Patagonia Ultralight Down customers have said in rockcreek.com product reviews:
“No longer does a nice down jacket have to be associated with the Michelin man…. it [packs down] riduculously small.” – Chad from Chattanooga
“This is a great jacket alone or as a layer for any cold weather condition.” — Tony from Knoxville
“Patagonia has created a winner here with this light, warm compressible down jacket. You’ll want to have it with you all the time like a little security blanket.” — Anonymous from Chattanooga
Patagonia, with the Patagonia Ultralight Down jackets, is setting a new standard in lofted insulation. The amount of body heat this thin little jacket retains is almost unbelievable, and it’s absolutely viable as outerwear for shoulder-season belays or sunny winter days in moderate climes. On the other end of the spectrum, you could pair one of these with, say, a Patagonia Capilene base layer and Patagonia Super Alpine jacket for outdoor activities in frigid, absolutely brutal conditions. No other down jacket is this versatile.
The following Patagonia Ultralight Down jackets are available at Rock/Creek:
- Patagonia Ultralight Down Jacket (men’s)
- Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoody (men’s)
- Patagonia Ultralight Down Shirt (men’s)
- Patagonia Ultralight Down Jacket (women’s – online only!)
- Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoody (women’s – online only!)
- Patagonia Ultralight Down Shirt (women’s – online only!)
Men’s Patagonia Ultralight Down jackets are available in our stores and online, while the women’s versions are online-only. Supplies of this jacket are fairly limited, so don’t wait until the last minute to order yours before cold weather hits!
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