Patagonia Better Sweater Fleece Jacket - Men's
A cozy staple in the city or the backcountry, this Patagonia jacket is made of soft, sweater-knit fleece. Wear it alone or under a shell for added warmth anytime there's a chill in the air.
Key Details
- Made from warm, soft, long-lasting 100% recycled polyester knit fleece
- Fleece is dyed with a low-impact process that significantly reduces the use of dyestuffs, energy and water compared to conventional dyeing methods
- Full-length zipper with a zip-through, stand-up collar and a kissing-welt zipper garage
- Raglan sleeves offer mobility and pack-wearing comfort
- 2 zippered, welt handwarmer pockets; 1 vertically zippered left-chest security pocket that holds a phone or audio device
- Soft, shape-holding trim at the cuffs and hem resists abrasion
- Flatseam construction reduces bulk and helps eliminate seam chafe
- Regular fit
- Machine wash warm; do not bleach; tumble dry low
- Fair trade certification promotes safe working conditions and sustainable livelihoods
Imported.
View the Patagonia Better Sweater Product LineView all Patagonia Men's Fleece Jackets| Best Use | Casual |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Recycled polyester knit fleece (bluesign approved) |
| Fleece Weight | Medium |
| Warmth | Warmer |
| Hood | No |
| Back Length | Hip-length |
| Back Length (in.) | Unavailable |
| Gender | Men's |
| Weight | 1 lb. 6.5 oz. |
| Sustainability | Contains recycled materials Fair Trade Certified™ factory Product meets the bluesign® criteria |
| XXS | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL | XXXL | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest | 33 | 35 | 37 | 40 | 44 | 47 | 50 | 56 | |||||||||||||
| Sleeve Length | 30 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | |||||||||||||
| Waist | 26 | 28 | 29-30 | 31-33 | 34-36 | 37-40 | 42-44 | 49 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 39 | 41 | 43 | 45 |
| Hip | 32 | 34 | 36 | 39 | 43 | 46 | 49 | 55 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 45 | 47 | 49 | 51 |
| Inseam | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
Sizing Notes
Measurements are stated in inches unless otherwise indicated.
Inseam varies depending on style.
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Better Sweater-Confirmed
Important to understand that I am the guy who does way too much analysis before I buy gear over $100. In the case of the better sweater I deliberated for a good six months before splurging and I am down right giddy. Function and Fit are perfect For getting out in it when there is a chill in the air or a layer is needed for colder conditions. Style easily transitions to the business casual setting of my office as well and it has become my go to for travel. Quality is solid, Comfort is like butter, and while I feel a little like Mr. Rogers when I put it on , I’m good with that! Very happy with my purchase and zero second guessing on my decision.
A solid meh.
The jacket looks nice and feels great. Worn inside or under a wind proof shell it’s awesome. The big problem is that it has zero windblocking on its own. If there is any breeze at all it blows right through, sucking all of your warmth away. Even if there isn’t a breeze, if you’re moving above a slow walking pace you’ll produce enough breeze to make this almost useless for keeping you warm. Going hiking? On a bike ride? Forget the “better sweater”. The knit is wide open. A cotton sweatshirt has more wind protection. Patagonia is an “outdoor” company. I didn’t expect one of their staple items to be basically an indoor fashion piece.
Fabric started pilling in a few months
Bought on May 29 2023 at REI Hillsboro. I was looking for a fleece like this with a nice finish because I wear it indoors. By November the exterior surface is pilling badly at the sides where I put my hand into the pockets. I also have a 5+ year old REI brand "sweater type" smooth finish fleece that is worn out, but it has NO pilling. Very disappointed in this Patagonia jacket.
Cozy but mine is larger than advertised
The sweater is as others describe; cozy, warm and nicely constructed. No complaints there. I was surprised to see others describe the fit as running small. I would have said the opposite. I am 5'10", 150 lbs with a 32" sleeve length and found the size small to be pretty roomy in the torso, while the sleeves are at least 2" longer than the advertised 32" and are fairly baggy from the forearm area to the ends. I have to tuck the sleeve ends up inside the sleeve or they extend down to my knuckles. So, seems like sizing may be inconsistent. I'd suggest trying it in the store before buying so you know what you're getting.
Made a great gift
Purchased as a holiday gift for my boyfriend. He is about 6 feet tall with average build, and the size L is a great fit (he mentioned that sleeve length is often an issue, but the sleeves on this jacket were long enough without the jacket being too loose in the torso). It looks very nice on and is a solid choice for the nighttime during "winter" here in Southern California. Zip pockets are a key feature and are what caused me to choose this version over the quarter zip. We plan to test it on a day hike that's on the chillier side. I would repurchase in another color, or in the same color for myself.
Really comfortable, but not what I wanted.
It really is a great sweater! But I would not use it as an only layer, or even as an outer layer if you layer up. As an only sweater, it’s great on calm chill days. The moment there is wind, it no longer keeps you warm. That being said said it’s really comfortable! Paring this with a wind breaker would be awesome. If I wanted to wear this as an outer layer, it’s a bit difficult as the sleeves slim down towards the hands. I wanted to keep this sweater, I really did, but instead I will be returning it as I wanted some sort of wind block. Again I know it wasn’t a wind breaker, but I was expecting it to at least hold up to light winds.
Arm Sizing Way Off
I have previously purchased this same fleece in black and another in blue in the same xxxl size. This time, the arms are at least 6 inches past the tips of my fingers. The arms are also so wide I could almost fit a bowling ball through them. It’s disappointing because I’ll have to spend $30-$40 to have a tailor correct this production error. I’ve never had this kind of issue with Patagonia, though I have with other higher priced brands. I suggest either trying this on and buying in store, or being prepared to return it. The material, though very nice, has changed from past years and isn’t quite as nice. Still the best, but not as great.
Good material but hard to layer
The jacket runs somewhat slim in my opinion. Maybe it's just a quality control issue. When I'm wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt, the jacket is great. If I'm wearing anything long-sleeved, the jacket is insanely tough to put on since the material doesn't slide easily over the inner shirt. Also, the forearms are kind of tight if you have a long-sleeved shirt underneath, especially something like a flannel. I would try it on in-store first.
doesn't last
For some reason, the basic windproof fleece from 10-20 years ago is now gone, and there's no adequate replacement on the market. The "Better Sweater" initially feels comfortable, fits well, has decent insulation, and at least a tiny bit of wind protection (not much). But it doesn't last. In less than a year, it has pilled so badly that it's now an "at home" or "in the wilderness" jacket only, not suitable for wearing in public. I'm very disappointed.
Impulse purchase for the win(d)
I hadn't intended to purchase this fleece. I wanted to check the fit of a new rainshell. I'm a 44 tall, and just about everything except the REI rainshell bound up under my armpits. So my wife snagged the Patagonia I slipped it on to check layering in the store and was immediately sold. It felt soft as merlino. Under my shell in a driving Oregon coastal rain, winds gusting to 30, I was cheery-comfy warm, without sweating rivers.