Patagonia Nano Puff Pullover (2010)

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Blame genetics or an intrinsic wimpiness, but I am always cold. Always. On sunny days in April I’ll wear two down jackets to hike uphill. I try to be tough, or layer until I can hardly bend over, but I’m always on the lookout for something that can keep my core temperature up. And I refuse to wear any clothes that have a battery or any kind of electrical system. On my first truly bitter ski day of this season I layered the Patagonia Nano Puff Pullover under my shell. Filled with super-light Primaloft One, it weighs eight ounces and feels about as thick as a T-shirt, so I was surprised at how toasty I felt. I even broke a sweat digging a pit. When the bluebird morning turned into a chilly, grey afternoon I kept taking laps instead of heading to the bar. While riding up the lift at the end of the day the dude sitting next to me shivered and pulled up his hood. “I’m getting cold,” he said. Me, not so much. Pros: Warm! Also, light and synthetic so you don’t have to worry about a feather storm if you rip it. Cons: The sleeves are a bit short for my monkey arms, and the elastic around the bottom causes it to ride up a bit. [$150; patagonia.com] -Heather Hansman