As you can probably tell, this is a sweater that is designed for colder weather. Not too many of you are going to want to go out on the run in the middle of the summer heat with this sucker on. That is not what it is ideal for. Instead, it is more ideal during fall and winter (and possibly even early spring). This is thanks to the polyester fleece core and fleece interior.

On its own (or when paired with base layering), it will probably keep you warm right around the point where water freezes (32 degrees Fahrenheit). Anything below that and you will be pushing your luck with this sweater (unless you add other layers).

What is rather lovely about it, though, is it will not be unbearably hot during warmer days. Even in 45 to 50-degree heat, this is not going to retain heat as severely as other fleece sweaters out there. As for its style, it will work excellent as an everyday garment (if that is what you want from it).

As was alluded to, the Patagonia Better Sweater is as comfortable as it gets. Most of this can be accredited to the fleece core and lining. As several other users have mentioned, wearing this jacket is like wrapping yourself with a fleece blanket. Yeah, it is that soft and cozy, and that is the beauty of fleece.

Some additional features play a role in superb comfort. First off, this garment is equipped with Raglan sleeves. While you do not need to know the origin of this type of sleeve, you do need to know that it enhances your overall mobility. This ensures that your arms will not be restricted for any physical activities you wish to partake in with this on.

What also helps is the fact that Patagonia engineered this with a flat-seam construction. In addition to reducing the overall bulk of the sweater, this construction also eliminates chafing as a whole. Let’s say that from top to bottom, this bad boy is just flat-out comfortable.

From one right section to the next, there needs to be a lot of praise given to this sweater for its practical design. This is mostly thanks to the design of its pockets. And, even though there are only a few of them integrated that is all that is really needed. The two that stand out the most would have to be the zippered handwarmer pockets.

Arguably, outside of comfort, this would be the best aspect of this sweater. These hand warmers actually serve a few purposes. Firstly, and this is obvious due to their name; they provide a convenient and secure location for your hands when they get a little chilly. Secondly, due to the zippers, they can effectively hold some of your smaller items (or even loose change).

There is also another pocket, and it is located at the chest. While this is also zippered, it is not quite as practical. For anything sizeable, it is going to come off as bulky and somewhat distracting. Oh, and one more thing, the zipper also tends to catch onto the fabric a little too quickly (watch out for that).

The road is about to get a little rockier so just a forewarning there. What you absolutely need to realize is that the Patagonia Better Sweater is meant for layering. Many of you will gather from this that the fit is going to be a bit snug and that is exactly right. But, that is not necessarily the issue here.

Most users agree that the fit is not snug enough to be uncomfortable. The issue comes when you look at the design of the sleeves. Without question, this has been the largest complaint in regard to this garment. They are simply too long and you may find yourself constantly pushing them back up.

It is also not as if you can just order smaller sleeves. In order to do that, you would need to order a smaller size altogether. This would probably end up providing a snugger fit than you would prefer. So, in short, if you find long sleeves a nuisance, you may want to pass on this one.

If there is one thing you can’t rely on, it is that Mother Nature will always play by the rules. As you know, the weather is somewhat unpredictable out there. And, if you are buying a sweater to wear during colder climates, it means you are going to need to account for the wind. It is utterly amazing how much colder it can feel outdoors when the wind is howling.

The ultimate question then becomes; how does this hold up during such conditions? Let’s be frank here; this is not a windbreaker, and it was not designed to be. Without an outer shell, your body is going to feel the wind when it begins to howl. During moderate winds, though, you should be just fine.

However, this is not exactly bad news. Remember, this is suitable for layering. Just slap on a windbreaker jacket over this sweater and you will be ready to rock when the wind wants to come out to play.

Just because you are not going to be wearing this during hotter climates, it does not mean that you can bypass breathability. It is still going to be a factor for you, and the best way to describe the breathability of this particular sweater would be respectable. No, it is not going to blow you away, but that is okay.

Hypothetically, if you wore this in the summer and your body was drenched in sweat, you would probably be dying in this sucker. On the flip side, during hikes and walks on moderately cold and warm days, you should still feel comfortable in this, without the need for a winter hiking jacket. There is also something else that hinders the breathability a tad bit.

As will be further documented, this is not exactly light. It weighs well over a pound, and this extra weight has been noticed by several users who have worn it.

Alright, so the cat was just let out of the bag a little bit ago. Indeed, the Patagonia Better Sweater is massive, and there is no reason to sugarcoat it. It officially clocks in at 1 lb 6.5 oz, but this is going to fluctuate based on the size that you need to buy. This will still give you a pretty good idea of what you can expect, though.

Now, it is also worth mentioning that you may or may not care too much about the extra bulk and weight of this jacket. Being designed for colder weather, it is not as if you need it to be as light as possible. Truthfully, it just comes down to your tolerance level with this sort of thing.

If you want to find out if this will be too heavy, weigh the sweaters and jackets you currently have. If they are around the same weight or even heavier and you find them comfortable, then you should be good to go.

There is something that has not been discussed yet. The Better Sweater has actually been designed for blue-sign approved polyester fleece. Without getting into too much detail, this means that the fabric utilized has endured the highest level of safety possible. This is something Patagonia takes great pride in so we thought it would be worth mentioning.

Now, as for physical durability, there is good news and bad news here. Starting with the good news, the bottom hems and jersey trim at the cuffs add enhanced abrasion resistance. They will hold up quite well to multiple washes and daily usage. However, the same can’t be said about the fabric itself.

Several buyers have had issues with pilling. Some of these same buyers have gotten replacements, but the fact remains that it is an issue. That is not too much of a surprise when you look at the history of fleece. At the same time, it is something that you need to take note of.

It is safe to say that several of you are going to be quite fond of the appeal here. While Patagonia did not necessarily go out on a limb with the colors that they provided to you, they did not need to. Most of the colors are going to be quite suitable for both casual and outdoor settings.

You can tell that Patagonia emphasized these types of settings as they offer this in several standard colors such as gray, black, khaki, and walnut. Most men are going to agree that it is tough to go wrong with a color selection like that. Plus, you can count on this sweater matching virtually anything else you put on for the day.

Looking at the glass half empty, there is a lack of vibrant colors available. For men, this is not sold in blue, red, orange, yellow, green, etc. Whether or not this is a concern comes down to your personal preferences.

The bottom line is there is a lot to love and also a lot to be concerned about regarding the Patagonia Better Sweater. Outside of the sizing issues that users have had, there is no need to worry about it being uncomfortable. That is for sure. So, it is always nice to know that you can take comfort in that. Check also other jackets on the list of best Patagonia jackets.

It’s also going to be quite practical for many different situations too. Due to the well-designed pockets, warm fleece interior, semi-decent breathable core, and its ability to account for more layers, you can wear this in quite a few different climates. But there are also problems.

The sleeves tend to be too long, the fabric has been known to pill, it is quite heavy, and the zipper also gets stuck too quickly. For a sweater jacket that is going to cost you an arm and a leg, these are problems that some of you will not want to deal with.

That is really what this all comes down to; is this worth the price of admission? While you will ultimately have to answer that on your own, there have been several users who have had excellent experiences with the Better Sweater. Just keep that in mind.