Patagonia DAS Light Hoody - Women's Review

The Patagonia DAS Light Hoody is a warm, lightweight synthetic jacket that offers excellent weather protection without feeling bulky. It has a relaxed fit, a long drop hem, and a large hood that easily fits over a helmet or a beanie. The exterior is made with thin 10D Pertex Quantum and recycled ripstop nylon, with PlumaFill synthetic insulation to help trap warmth. There are two zippered hand pockets, a zippered chest pocket, and an internal stash pocket. Compared to previous version we've tested, this season's jacket packs better into the stuff pocket (in the hand pocket), and the exterior is less fragile. It packs a whole lot more warmth and protection than its 11-ounce weight might suggest.

Warmth

The DAS Light Hoody is one of the warmest jackets in our lineup, which we were impressed by, considering how little it weighs. Through plenty of sub-zero days spent running errands, on backcountry tours, and during snowy hikes, it's reliably warm and comfortable. The lofty, down-like PlumaFill insulation traps plenty of warm air without feeling overly bulky, and it continues to insulate even when it gets wet. It's an easy jacket to throw on during a cool fall evening in the mountains, but it has enough warmth to wear over a fleece and base layer when winter rolls around. If you live in a colder place or a mountain town, this jacket is a great winter companion.

The baffle-free, tightly woven exterior does a great job blocking cold gusts, which makes a noticeable difference when temperatures really drop. The oversized, full-coverage hood fits comfortably over a ski or climbing helmet, and there's an adjustment in the back to help tighten it down if you are wearing it without any headgear. The extra-long drop hem provides extra coverage for the backside (which is always vulnerable to being cold for women).

Comfort

One of our favorite things about the DAS Light is how lofty and light it feels, without looking too bulky. It doesn't have any fleece-lined panels or extra plush features like some of the other jackets we tested, but the generous insulation gives it an incredibly cozy, almost pillow-like feel. The relaxed fit is another big draw for us, especially when we're wearing multiple layers underneath. There's plenty of room through the shoulders, arms, and torso, so we never felt like the jacket was squeezing us or restricting our movement. The two hand pockets are extremely roomy, and the large chest pocket provides plenty of space for storing smaller items. The drop pocket inside provides more storage for extra warm things, like a beanie or a pair of glove.

The smooth fabric makes the DAS Light particularly easy to pull on over other clothing. Even when we had a thick fleece underneath, we didn't have any trouble sliding it on or moving around comfortably. The generously sized hood is a bit too large to fit snugly underneath a helmet, but the rear adjustment helps keep it from feeling overly loose when worn on its own. The cuffs and hem have a simple design that helps keep drafts out without adding much bulk. Patagonia added a drawcord around the hem in the latest version of this jacket, making it even more comfortable on particularly windy days. This latest version makes an already incredible jacket even better, with the ability to fully seal out cold gusts and adjust the fit.

Weather Resistance

The DAS Light Hoody is one of our favorite jackets when the weather takes a turn for the worse. The exterior does an excellent job blocking wind and shedding precipitation, and we pulled it on whenever we had to head out into cold, stormy conditions. The internally sewn partial baffles help keep insulation in place and trap heat, without creating any weak points on the exterior of the jacket. “I'm constantly impressed with how the DAS Light holds up in wet, cold weather,” said our lead tester. In our controlled water tests, the DAS Light performed better than most other jackets.

While the DAS Light performed exceptionally well through several particularly wet snowstorms and rainy days, the outer fabric eventually becomes saturated in a real downpour. It's not a rain jacket, but we were still impressed that moisture never made it through to our layers underneath when we got stuck in a late fall rainstorm. Equally impressive is its ability to block wind. Although we'd still bring a waterproof shell for prolonged rain, the DAS Light provides some of the best wet weather protection.

Everyday Versatility

The DAS Light Hoody is highly capable. We wore it as a belay jacket, while mountaineering, and when ski touring, and we loved it. However, it doesn't necessarily look like it's only built for the mountains. It pairs just as well with jeans and a thick fleece as well as it does with ski pants. It's really easy to layer under, thanks to the slick interior fabric and generous fit. It's a great jack-ette of all trades if you live in a place with harsh winters.

The DAS Light has an exceptional warmth to weight ratio, and is good for most cold days of the winter and fall. However, it can be overkill on days with milder temperatures, or significant afternoon warmups. And while we love its top-tier performance in many metrics, this is a lot of jacket if you're just looking for something warm to wear for around town.

Breathability

The DAS Light is excellent at keeping warmth in, but that means it isn't particularly good at letting excess heat escape. The protective outer shell and lofty insulation make it one of the less breathable jackets in our lineup. It gets warm pretty quickly during uphill efforts, especially when the sun comes out or temperatures start to rise.

That said, it does fairly well, considering how warm and protective it is, and the Pertex Quantum is much more breathable than other membranes, like Gore-Tex. During a particularly cold ski tour, we were able to keep it on the entire time without getting uncomfortable. For low-output activities or really cold conditions, its limited breathability isn't an issue at all. But if you're looking for something to wear while working up a sweat in mild cold, we'd recommend a lighter jacket with stretchy, breathable panels or a thinner softshell-style construction instead.

Should You Buy the Patagonia DAS Light Hoody?

The Patagonia DAS Light Hoody is one of our favorite insulated jackets for cold weather adventures. We love how much insulation it provides without feeling overly heavy or bulky, and its roomy fit makes it easy to throw on over other layers. The biggest downside is the price, which is higher than many of the other jackets in our lineup. If you spend a lot of time in the mountains and need a warm, protective layer that doesn't take up much space, we think the DAS Light is worth the investment. For more casual use, there are plenty of less expensive jackets that'll get the job done.

What Other Women's Insulated Jackets Should You Consider?

If you like the unrestrictive fit of the Patagonia DAS Light Hoody but want something more breathable for cardio, check out the Arc'teryx Atom. It's thinner and less warm, but its stretchy side panels make it much more comfortable for hiking uphill, climbing, and other cardio. It's also easy to layer underneath a shell when the weather gets colder. For a more affordable option that still provides plenty of warmth and wet weather protection, we like the Columbia Heavenly Hoody. It's a lot heavier and doesn't pack down nearly as small, but its cozy construction and protective exterior make it a great choice for everyday winter wear.