As winter sets in every year, I am constantly looking for gear and products that will keep me warm and comfortable in the colder months. Gear that will let me stay on the water and fish warm and dry.
Mid-season of this past winter I started doing some research on Patagonia’s Nano Puff pants. I own their Nano Puff Hooded Jacket and am very impressed with the warmth and how lightweight it is. So it makes perfect sense to take a hard look at the Nano Puff pants as my next purchase to staying completely warm while being on the water fishing. I have always trusted the Patagonia name in the ethical development and quality of their products. I read reviews of the pants on their website, and they were really all pretty good. I sometimes just skip past all the best reviews scanning for the reviews that are not that great to keep a balance. To my astonishment out of the 10-12 reviews, there was none. Nothing to tell me the Nano puff pants were not worth the retail price of $179.00. I am a big proponent of buying the very best products I can afford. I hate buying fly fishing gear that is cheaper and wears out or breaks after a few times of use and then having to buy another one because I went the cheap route.
So let’s just jump into the specifications of the Patagonia Nano Puff Pants.
- The shell is made out of 100% recycled polyester. With their durable water repellent. DWR
- The seat material is made 100% nylon Taslan, also with the durable water repellent.
- The insulation is 60-g Primaloft Gold Insulation Eco, 100% polyester with 55% post-consumer recycled material.
- The fabric is certified as Blue design approved.
- Gray in color
As I inspected them at Three Rivers Flyshop in Eagle Idaho, I instantly saw they were just like my Nano Puff jacket in color and in stitching style. I purchased them and was excited to hit the water, which I did right after I left the fly shop. So after wearing them last late winter, early spring, and late fall of this year, I feel I have put them to the full test.
Opportunities to improve:
- When you are putting your waders on over the Nano Puff Pants, the leg portion of the pants will ride up, making them feel uncomfortable in the waders. I think they could use heel straps to keep them from riding up. I ended up just tucking them into my wading socks to prevent them from sliding up.
- For me, I don’t love the look of the seat of the pants with the nylon Taslan. I think the pants would have looked better with the whole design being the same, but nylon Taslan is a woven fabric that is more durable.
What I LOVE about the Nano Puff Pants:
- The pants matched the style of my Nano Puff jacket, and I felt quite stylish after a day of fishing and would routinely grab a bite to eat after fishing in the jacket and pants.
- The actual weight of the pants is very light and thin.
- They fit comfortably under my waders and did not restrict any movement.
- They did not make me look as I had a large number of layers under my waders.
- The pants were very warm. Sometimes almost too warm.
- The stitching has not come undone or has not started to fray after nearly a year of use.
- Easy to wash and take care of in my washing machine.
- I liked that they have a small elastic band in the waist with a button and zipper for ease of getting on and off.
- Packed down very small for traveling to fish.
- I use them not just for layering when I am fly fishing but for any of my base layerings from duck hunting to snowboarding.
My personal overview:
At a retail price of $179.00, I was hoping these pants would last a few seasons and keep me comfortable and warm in all cold conditions. They have definitely done that and had lived up to the Patagonia name. I would recommend these pants to anyone who is looking to improve their base layering. They are light, warm, and nicely designed. They feel good on, and I love that most of the materials are all recycled. They have met and blown past my expectations for a good pair of wading pants.
