I was recently out with the Outdoors Magic team in Munich for the massive outdoor gear expo that is ISPO, and among the abundance of interesting new releases we saw there, there was one thing in particular that stood out to us.

That was the Patagonia Macro Puff, probably the U.S. brand’s biggest launch for 2019 (we’ll have to wait until autumn before it’s on the market). It’s a follow on from the extremely popular Nano Puff and Micro Puff, both of which have made it into our previous Outdoor 100 product guides.

Seeing it at the Patagonia stand, it was instantly noticeable just how much loftier, thicker and just generally burlier this insulated jacket is to the past two. The baffles look bigger and the fill loftier, and the outer shell appears to have a tougher weave.

Patagonia Macro Puff: Technical Details

So what about the actual specs then? Well, the PlumaFill synthetic insulation used for the Micro stays but is used in much bigger quantities with this. There’s 135g of it in the body and 90g in the sides and arms making for a total jacket weight of 420g. By comparison, the Micro Puff weighs 264g.

PlumaFill is a form of synthetic fibre that’s designed to mimic down, trapping air in thousands of tiny pockets to create a lofty and warm feel. If you’re already familiar with PrimaLoft, it’s a lot like that.

And this synthetic fibre, like most of the others versions available, has a big advantage when it comes to wet weather, because unlike standard down, it’s able to provide warmth even when it gets damp. It’s what makes jackets like this so popular for UK climbers and hillwalkers who are used to venturing out in some pretty rough stuff.

Interestingly, the fill is formed into baffles that snake around the jacket’s panels, so there’s essentially just a single continuous chamber used on each arm, on each side on the front of the jacket and across the back. This, we imagine, is an effort to reduce stitching, in turn reducing the risk of heat escaping.