Patagonia improves its most advanced puffy ever to stand up to even wetter conditions. Meet the Micro Puff Storm.
With Patagonia’s release of the Micro Puff Hoody in September 2017, it launched its patented PlumaFill insulation into the limelight. The company touted the synthetic down alternative as the key to making the Micro Puff Hoody its lightest, most compressible jacket ever.
As winter advanced, early reports of the Micro Puff Hoody’s performance proved enthusiastically positive. Fast forward to 2018, and Patagonia has delivered a one-two punch, launching the Micro Puff Storm this August. This time around, the brand gave the belay parka a waterproof-breathable exterior.
We’ve been testing a sample for two weeks to provide this first look. We’ll update this article as testing continues.
In short: The Micro Puff Storm (women’s and men’s) is more substantial, warmer, and waterproof, just like a belay jacket should be. It’s well thought-out, designed with climbers in mind, and adds all-weather durability to the already stout Micro Puff family. But as with all things Patagonia, it both outperforms and out-prices the competition, running a stitch under $500.
Micro Puff Storm: Proper Belay Parka Features
The Micro Puff Storm’s outer fabric uses Patagonia’s two-layer H2No Performance Standard Shell. This fabric has, in past tests, proven reliably waterproof. The shell is also DWR-treated and seam sealed.
Meanwhile, the Pertex Quantum inner liner and discontinuous, patent-pending stitching mimic the original Micro Puff Hoody. The jacket has double zipper pulls, facilitating access to the belay device, and a pair of sizeable internal mesh dump pockets that are perfect for drying gloves and carrying spares.