Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody: better than down
Alpinist digital editor Derek Franz tested the Patagonia Micro Puff jacket and found that the lightweight, synthetic garment outperforms those of similar weights with down… Read More »Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody: better than down

![The author wearing the Patagonia Micro Puff jacket on Prodigal Sun in Zion last October. [Photo] Derek Franz](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xpatagonia-micro-puff-hoody-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.UhwOqyo6Bw.jpg)
![Summit group photo on Langdung (6357m), Nepal, December 20. [Photo] Courtesy Dawa Yangzum Sherpa](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/langdung-first-ascent-1-1-930x620.jpg)
![The author wearing the Grivel Stealth Hardshell helmet on the second-to-last pitch of Prodigal Sun in Zion, October 2017. [Photo] Derek Franz](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/grivel-stealth-hs-helmet-1-1-930x620.jpg)
![Marc-Andre Leclerc on a successful free ascent of El Capitan's Muir Wall (VI 5.13c 900m) with Brette Harrington and Alan Carney in 2015. [Photo] Bradford McArthur](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/leclerc-remembered-1-930x620.jpg)
![Hundreds gather outside the venue for the Royal Robbins Memorial held on March 12 in Modesto, California. [Photo] Derek Franz](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/royal-robbins-memorial-1-930x620.jpg)
![Wading across the Virgin River in Zion with the Lowa Approach Pro Los in hand. [Photo] Derek Franz](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xlowa-approach-pro-lo-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.atGaBZzkx1.jpg)
![David Allfrey, Kieran Brownie and Paul McSorley's route, El Abrazo de la Serpiente (Embrace of the Serpent; V 5.11c R/X 660m), on Cerro Pajarito is shown in red, as seen from Cerro Diablo. [Photo] Paul McSorley](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cerro-pajarito-2-930x620.jpg)
![Billy Westbay, Jim Bridwell and John Long after the first one-day ascent of the Nose in 1975. [Photo] Courtesy of StoneMastersPress](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xwestbay-bridwell-long-533x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.2MSyHGgdsA.jpg)
![The Grit and Rock First Ascent Award recipients this year, in alphabetical order, from top left-to-right, are: Katie Bono, Cecilia Buil, Whitney Clark, Ixchel Foord, Ilana Jesse, Josie McKee, Nina Neverov, Caro North, Alena Panova and Anna Torretta. [Image] Derek Franz](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xgrit-and-rock-award-2018-1.jpg.pagespeed.ic.pWlbZWfLJv.jpg)
![Nanga Parbat (8126m). [Photo] Guilhem Vellut, Wikimedia](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xmazeno-ridge-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.BWgZub9stP.jpg)
![Whitney Clark explores unknown terrain on a peak above Sphinx Lake in Kings Canyon, California. [Photo] Tad McCrea](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xsterling-fusion-nano-ix-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.JkcHlSelYE.jpg)