Patagonia Nano Storm Jacket

2011-2012 Patagonia Nano Storm Insulated Jacket 

Weight (size Medium): 620 grams / 22 ounces

FEATURES:

• 2.5-layer nylon ripstop with waterproof/breathable H2No® barrier and Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish
• Lightweight 60-g PrimaLoft One polyester insulation provides excellent warmth and compressibility
• Unique quilt pattern holds insulation in place for durability
• Helmet-compatible, fully-adjustable hood with laminated visor for visibility in bad conditions
• Watertight, coated center-front-zipper
• Self-fabric hook-and-loop cuff closures and dual-adjust drawcord hem
• Pockets: Two hand warmers; one exterior left chest; one internal zippered pocket, one internal drop-in
• Shell: 2.5-layer, 2.6-oz 50-denier 100% nylon ripstop, with a waterproof/breathable H2No® barrier. Insulation: 60-g PrimaLoft® One polyester. Lining: 1.4-oz 22-denier 100% recycled polyester. Shell and lining have a Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish
• Made in Vietnam.

MSRP: $299

Test Locations: Las Leñas, Alta Ski Area, Taos Ski Area, dog park, multiple bars, pretty much everywhere.

Days Skied: 30  / Days Worn: ~90

It could be argued that the Patagonia Nano Storm is kind of a dumb jacket to buy. After all, at an MSRP of $299, you could purchase for roughly the same price the Patagonia Nano Puff mid layer and the Patagonia Torrentshell ($129), wear them alone when appropriate, and combine them whenever the temperature dropped. (The Torrent Shell is Patagonia’s price point, 2.5L rain jacket, and it is a great jacket for the price.) That would be smarter, right?

The only problem with this position is that I really like the Nano Storm Jacket. I highly recommend it, and so do several of our other reviewers.

On our way to Argentina last August, I read Yvon Chouinard’s book, Let My People Go Surfing. It’s a good origins story of Black Diamond and Patagonia, and the Patagonia Nano Storm Jacket perfectly embodies several principles that Chouinard addresses in the chapter called, “Product Design Philosophy.”

While Patagonia obviously makes sport-specific garments for skiing, climbing, etc., Chouinard spends a decent amount of time outlining Patagonia’s interest in manufacturing multipurpose pieces that may be used for skiing, climbing, hiking—one jacket to do everything.

Among the criteria for such pieces: Is it Functional? Is it Multifunctional? (“Why buy two pieces of gear when one will do the work of both?”) Is it Durable? Is it as simple as possible?

While Chouinard’s book was published more than five years ago, he seemed to be describing the 11/12 Nano Storm Jacket that was in my luggage and that I was going to be wearing in Las Leñas.

In describing what he considers to be a “great mountain jacket,” Chouinard writes, “Stonger, lighter, fabrics eliminate the need for ballistics cloth reinforcements at the shoulder and elbows. Newer, more breathable fabrics let us do away with heavy, awkward pit zips once necessary for ventilation. Make the front zipper sufficiently water tight, and you can dispense with the weight and bulk of a protective wind flap.”

The Nano Storm is Patagonia’s most recent attempt to realize this vision.

It is a very capable cold weather jacket for skiing, but it doesn’t have a powder skirt. It’s also cut a bit short, so that it won’t get in the way of a climbing harness. But it does have an excellent, insulated hood that fits beautifully over my Smith Vantage helmet and does not obstruct my peripheral vision at all when it is pulled up over the helmet. (That hood is perfect.)