Patagonia’s Iconic Jacket Now Has a Chill New Cousin

The brand’s new Light Gust mid-layer shares much in common with Patagonia’s iconic Nano Puff jacket and two critical differences.

A male model shown from the neck down to mid torso wearing a Patagonia Light Gust Jacket in grey.

By Ben Bowers

Published April 18, 2025

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Baggy fits are back in style, again.

Whether ‘Madam Sandler’ is to blame (or credit) for this shift in menswear is above my pay grade and patience to answer.

Still, the trend’s influence is popping up everywhere, even seemingly at Patagonia.

To be fair, Patagonia was never a brand that swung super hard in any fit direction when it came to fit. And yet, it doesn’t feel conspiratorial to suggest the brand’s new Light Gust Jacket is a clear nod to the changing times.

Following Patagonia’s Classic Mid-Layer Formula

Two male models standing facing front and and side by side. Both is wearing a Patagonia Nano Puff Mid-Layer. Another is wearing Patagonia's newer Light Gust Mid-layer jacket. — Patagonia’s new Light Gust mid-layer has A LOT in common with the brand’s beloved Nano Puff mid-layer, including product shots featuring models with shaved heads.

Here’s how Patagonia describes its new Light Gust Jacket.

“Lightweight, comfortable, and warm, the Light Gust Jacket is an insulated, full-zip staple for mixed weather and traveling light.”

That sure sounds similar to the “Warm, windproof, water-resistant” copy Patagonia uses to summarize its most iconic mid-layers, a.k.a. the Nano Puff.

A close up of the chest pocket on the Patagonia Light Gust Mid-layer. — An external chest pocket is one of the few somewhat obvious details that separates Patagonia’s Light Gust from the Nano Puff. The Light Gusts exterior shell material also features a matte finish and a larger horizontal quilting pattern.

In many ways, it’s the classic Patagonia mid-layer formula, which explains why we’ve created guides to help explain the differences between jackets like the Nano Puff and the Down Sweater Jacket.

But it’s also still pretty uncanny just how much the Nano Puff and the new Light Gust jacket have in common.

Look at this list of similarities:

Their shells and linings are primarily made from recycled materials, though the Nano Puff’s recycled material content is higher.
They both feature a durable water-repellent finish and 60-g synthetic insulation.
They both feature a center front zipper, two hand warmer pockets, elasticized cuffs, and a drawcord-adjustable hem.
They each have a chest pocket, too, though the Nano’s is internal and the Light Gust’s is external.
They’re both made in Fair Trade Certified factories in Vietnam.
Oh, and they cost the exact same amount – $239.

Separated by Two Key Differences

A male model shown facing backwards wearing a Patagonia Light Gust jacket in an olivish green — Patagonia’s Light Gust jacket offers a noticeably more relaxed and looser fit than the Nano Puff, which is very on trend at the moment.

Weight is the biggest technical spec that splits the Light Gust from the Nano Puff.

True to its name, the Nano Puff weighs 337 grams or just under 12 oz. The Light Gust, though still light, seems hefty by comparison, being over 100 grams more at 439 grams, or 15.5 oz.

While we’re confident the Light Gust can squeeze down to a very compressible size, the jacket doesn’t appear to be entirely stuffable inside its chest pocket like the Nano Puff, either.

A male model shown from the neck down and waist up holding up a Patagonia Nano Puff jacket packed and zipped into its own chest pocket. — The Patagonia Light Gust jacket lacks one of the Nano Puff’s coolest tricks. Its chest pocket doesn’t double as an integrated stuff sack. It’s also over 100 grams heavier than the Nano Puff.

On the flip side, the Light Gust looks noticeably roomier in its fit compared to the tighter-hugging Nano Puff and, therefore, seems more in tune with current outerwear trends.

The looser drape, combined with the matte shell finish and larger horizontal quilting squares, makes the jacket feel far less techie, which could give it a slight style advantage in more urban settings.

Before investigating the differences between the two jackets, I might have recklessly speculated that the Light Gust was even poised to become the successor to the Nano Puff for a new generation of consumers.

Given the apparent differences in weight and packability, though, it’s still safe to say that the Nano Puff remains in a class of its own.

But its newer, chiller cousin will definitely cannibalize sales and may even one day become the better-known option among a specific subset of consumers. That’s at least until Adam Sandler becomes uncool again.

Patagonia Light Gust Jacket

About the Author: Ben Bowers is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Gear Patrol. Throughout his tenure in media, Ben has written and reported on everything from consumer tech to whiskey, watches, cars, camping, and personal style. These days, he gets to write less than he’d like to.