Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Hoody

This jacket is truly a study in craftsmanship by the designers at Patagonia. First of of all, it is INCREDIBLY LIGHTWEIGHT. Every time I go to pick it up, this fact strikes me. I also own the Men's Phantom Jacket by Mountain Hardwear in large, which is also VERY lightweight and 800-fill down, however, this jacket (although the same size i.e. large), is much longer and has a down hood as well, and somehow the Fitz Roy Hoody amazes me more.

It's GREAT as a raincoat, as water and snow just bead and slide right off it. It's incredibly warm outside, and comfortable to wear indoors, which is something I LOVE about 800-fill jackets! The chin piece zips up above your nose depending upon how you wear it (which is neat, especially since it is extremely soft, and fleece lined), so with its down hood drawn tight around your head, and your chin and nose buried inside the warm zipped-up down collar, you can LITERALLY make a TOASTY SKI-MASK out of the jacket, just your eyes peering out (great for aspiring bank robbers! lol).

I suppose if you spent the $350 to buy this jacket, you wouldn't need to rob a bank... wait... or maybe you... would. Regardless, the $350 buys you the best all-around hooded "puffy" I have ever owned. The pockets are lined with amazingly soft fleece (as well as the chin) and keep your hands warm. They zip too, if you are wearing gloves.

There's plenty of storage space too. However, I ordered mine online, and all the product summaries I read about the jacket say that it comes with its own stuff-sack (and it SHOULD, it's SO LIGHTWEIGHT and compressible), however mine came with no such sack (unless the mesh inside pocket is supposed to double as a the jacket's stuff-sack, although none of the summaries make it SOUND that way. I'm calling the company I ordered it through tomorrow to see what the deal is, however stuff-sack OR NOT, this is one STELLAR jacket.

It's long, only if you want it to be, or you can simply cinch it up and wear it right around the waist. The hood is fantastic too! Since it adjusts three ways, you can wear it over your head, cap, wool hat, ski helmet, you name it, and not look like a total dork, as it will conform to that shape!

I ordered mine in blue (which is a really beautiful cobalt colour that matches my car perfectly, although that was TOTALLY unintended!) So, if you drive a blue VW R32, this is the jacket for YOU, and probably blue STi owners too (although Subaru's blue is not quite as dark and deep as VW's... I think.) I like stepping out of a sweet ride with a puffy, down, hooded, warm, waterproof jacket that matches its exterior paint to perfection. It's never happened before (no, I haven't owned a black car and perfectly matched black, puffy jacket also. lol).

Anyway, BUY THIS JACKET... NOW. It truly IS an INSTANT CLASSIC, especially if you compare it with last year's version from Patagonia! Uggggh! One last thing. I have owned this jacket for a week, and NOT ONE feather is sticking through (or has come through) the lining whatsoever!!! I cannot say the same for the 800-fill jackets I owned and have owned from The North Face and Mountain Hardwear.

I have a differently hued blue 800-fill men's Thunder Jacket from The North Face on its way, so I will be the first to review IT, I suppose... I just want my stuff stack. Although worth EVERY penny, for $350, this jacket OUGHT to come with one. Maybe it really does. I'll leave an update about THAT! ;D

Warm, compressible down jacket that's great as a mid-layer or in camp. Ripstop polyester shell is tough as nails!

The Patagonia men's down hoody is a highly breathable, compressible jacket with two zippered handwarmer pockets and one internal mesh pocket the jacket stuffs into. It's great as a mid-layer under a shell when the temps drop below 25°F, or even better as a jacket for those chilly nights and mornings in the backcountry.

The rip-stop polyester fabric is pretty much bomb proof. Not always the most careful hiker, I brushed up against a very sharp rock that should have shredded it.  What appeared to be a small cut in the material didn't go through to the down fill, saving me from a repair job and an ugly patch. Several other brushes with rocks and trees left no marks whatsoever.

There are only two negatives. First, an MSRP of $250 seems pretty steep although you can find them on sale for a lot less if you don't mind a previous season's colors. 

The other issue comes in the form of water resistance. Patagonia says the fabric is treated with a DWR finish, but I got caught in a mild snowstorm without my shell and the jacket soaked all the way through within half an hour.  I've been pretty happy with Patagonia's DWR on other products I own so I'm not sure what the issue was. Nikwax Down Wash solved the problem and gave the jacket the water repellency I expected in the first place.

Overall, I'm extremely satisfied with this jacket and if I'm ever in the market for a replacement, it would be pretty tough to sell me on something other than Patagonia.

Great loft and warmth in even the remotest of environs.

I got this for the coldest reaches of an upcoming Everest Trek. It is exactly what I wanted and I have purchased four jackets/coats in my quest.

I am a woman who is not petite, so I had to go with the men's. I was so afraid the sleeves would be endlessly long like my Mountain Hardwear down sweater. But the sleeves are just right and the elastic is not to loose. The hood's cincher is the BOMB and the fit will accommodate layers under it without getting too tight.

It feels great and I am sooo happy with it!

It performs well in the very cold reaches of Everest Base Camp.

I wore the Fitz Roy down hooded parka during my winter over at South Pole in 2015. I was out walking every night, including our low temp night of -109.1°F. I stayed warm at all times in this parka.

The Fitz Roy is one of the parkas chosen by the United States Antarctic Program for its extreme cold weather pilot program. Meaning you can choose this parka instead of the "Big Red" parka issued by USAP at the Clothing Distribution Center in Christchurch, New Zealand. "Big Red" is extremely warm as well as being bulky and heavy.

The Fitz Roy was my choice to wear on flights in and out of the continent due to its high loft, light weight, and packability. I was out every night in the 2015 winter at Pole when we experienced an ambient temperature of -109.1°F and a wind-chill of -179°F.

This parka has an exceptional warmth, great hood, deep pockets, and perfect length. I highly recommend!

Background

I have been winter mountaineering and AT skiing in California Sierras and Oregon Cascades since the 1960s. Multiple seasons at South Pole since the early 1990s.
I wear it for every flight onto and off the Antarctic continent.