Patagonia Pluma Jacket Review

Patagonia has developed new synthetic insulation that combines a high-loft down warmth-to-weight ratio and heavier synthetics’ water resistance.

PlumaFill uses strands of heat-trapping ultrafine filaments to offer the packability and loftiness of down but with the water-resistant properties of modern synthetics. A clever minimal stitching construction keeps the fill stable to prevent shifting and clumping over time.

Features

The Patagonia Pluma Jacket is a clean, no-nonsense alpine shell that delivers rugged durability at a light weight. A three-layer GORE-TEX Pro construction provides a combination of waterproof and breathable protection.

Its 40D exterior shell fabric is seam-taped with a DWR (durable water-repellent) finish and features a 15D microgrid backer to provide next-to-skin comfort. A cinchable hem mitigates vertical migration of elements, and a helmet-compatible fully adjustable hood doesn’t impede peripheral vision.

The Pluma is a lightweight hardshell with many valuable features compared to its competitors. It’s an excellent option for folks looking for a quiver-of-one or those who aren’t sure how much they want to spend on a shell.

It’s worth considering if you’re a big fan of the Patagonia brand and want a quality shell at a reasonable price. It’s also an excellent choice for anyone interested in Bluesign®-approved materials and manufacturing practices. If you aren’t delighted with your purchase, you have 30 calendar days to return it for a full refund.

Design

The Patagonia Pluma Jacket is a clean, no-nonsense alpine shell that delivers rugged durability and performance at a weight of 14.6 ounces. Its lightweight, 3-layer GORE-TEX Pro fabric utilizes Gore Micro Grid Backer technology to provide durable wet weather protection while enhancing breathability.

The 40D exterior shell fabric is seam-taped and has a DWR (durable water-repellent) finish to shed excess moisture. At the same time, the 15D microgrid backer provides next-to-skin comfort and reduces internal abrasion. The jacket’s hood adjusts with a single-pull Cohaesive(tm) embedded cord-lock system that works well with any helmet or bare head.

The jacket features low-profile seams that make wearing a harness or backpack easy, watertight zippers, handwarmer pockets, and an interior right chest pocket. The hem seals out cold drafts and moisture with a drawcord hem that’s easy to adjust.

Weight

The Pluma comes in at a reasonable weight for a backcountry ski jacket. It’s lighter than the Arc’teryx Beta AR and offers some notable features for more than half the price (and a little less than the Patagonia Powslayer).

A reliable partner on snowsports adventures, the Pluma is designed for high-function and casual style in the mountains. The lightweight, durable waterproof/breathable 3-layer GORE-TEX Pro with GORE Micro Grid Backer Technology delivers weather protection you can rely on.

The jacket is also Fair Trade Certified, meaning that the materials used to make it are ethically sourced. It’s an easy choice for anyone looking to support responsible manufacturing while still having a tremendous waterproof shell that will protect them through hours of rain and wind.

Insulation

The Patagonia Pluma Jacket combines premium, warm-when-wet downlike PlumaFill synthetic insulation with a GORE-TEX Pro shell for lightweight protection in cold, damp conditions. It is an excellent choice for climbing, winter hiking, and other activities where you may get wet and need a light and compressible insulating layer.

The PlumaFill insulation is a revolutionary new material replicating the down structure in a continuous, lightweight synthetic insulating fabric. It is the only insulated jacket I’ve seen that has been able to deliver the warmth and packability of down while offering a warm-when-wet performance that synthetic insulation cannot match.