It’s been about 97 degrees within the past few weeks here in Portland, but Fall is officially coming because Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back at Starbucks. It’s not exactly cold in Oregon yet, but anyone who lives here knows that can change quickly, and life (and weather) moves pretty fast.
That’s why it’s the absolute perfect time for Nathan Sports to announce the launch of their first ever piece of insulated apparel – the BFF Puffer Jacket as well as the BFF Puffer Vest. It won’t be too long before I’ll be pulling my shiny new BFF Jacket out of the closet to drop the kids off at the bus stop or to pack away for a visit to the Oregon Coast.
Looks
The BFF Jacket is absolutely beautiful. “Puffy” jackets are a trend that won’t soon be going away in colder climates, and there are many variations of this style. Some look and feel cheaply made, and often are. Generally those ones aren’t all that warm and fall apart quickly. Others make us feel like Ralphie’s brother in “A Christmas Story,” unable to get our arms down because they are so hard to move in. The BFF is neither of these things. It looks nice and warm and that’s exactly what it is.
Function
What’s the difference between Nathan’s puffy jacket and that of other brands? Well, for one, this one is water resistant, thanks to the Beyond Down Insulation, which is a great alternative to Goose Down. Beyond Down is a featherlike recycled down alternative that is not only eco-friendly, but it’s a loose fill material that won’t clump or lose it’s effectiveness when it gets wet and cold. And is this jacket as warm as it looks? The short answer is YES. The synthetic insulation provides an equivalent of a 600FP down-fill.
As well as being water resistant, it’s also windproof, so this jacket will cover you when you’re exposed to the elements. It’s also soft like a pillow and surprisingly packable unlike many other puffer-style jackets that take up a lot of space when traveling. It weighs less than 1 lb! I can see this jacket stuffing easily in a duffel bag or suitcase for a relay run in the dark or a trip to a colder climate. There are also three warm, fleecy pockets, (2 hand pockets and an interior chest pocket) and all of them have zippers, which means nothing gets lost or falls out.
Construction
The BFF Jacket is made with Pertex Quantum fabrics, which is tightly woven and extremely lightweight yarn. This durable fabric is made from 100% recycled polyester. What this results in is a light and soft fabric that permits the insulation to fully loft. This equates to a jacket that is lightweight but also very warm, so you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other.
Fit
When I put on this jacket, the first thing I noticed is that it’s tightest around the hips where you go to zip it up. This translates to a slightly snugger waistline fit which helps ensure you’ll stay warm. This trim fit is very flattering, as some winter coats look really boxy, which is not the case here. I didn’t have any trouble with the fit, though if you are a woman wider in the hips or with a bit of an apple-shaped body, you might want to take this into consideration when determining your size.
I myself got my true-to-size Medium, which is perfect for me. I wouldn’t want to go any smaller, but it should also be noted that this is a women’s size, not a unisex size. The fit on the women’s BFF Jacket is likely very different from the men’s style.
I did find the jacket roomy through the shoulders, which is great because this is where I prefer the most comfort. There was no trouble moving my arms or getting this jacket over a shirt underneath.
Overall/For Consideration
As with most Nathan products, this jacket was a hit out of the park. The BFF Jacket is squishy and soft in all the right places but also lightweight and warm. How is it possible to be both? I really don’t know, but I’ll take it.
Nathan Sports
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Products & Price:
- BFF Jacket | $Cost
- Shell: 100% Recycled Polyester
- Lining: 100% Polyester
- Fill: 95% Recycled Polyester/5% Down & Feather
Thank you to Nathan for providing us with a test jacket. Please read our transparency page for info on how we do our reviews.
