Posted by 
Built for fast-paced adventures, the new lightweight mid-layer from Patagonia is as breathable as it gets.
PROS
- Lightweight
- The hybrid mix is designed for performance
- Excellent build quality
CONS
- No hood adjustment
- No chest pocket
The Nano-Air range is fully embedded into the Patagonia range of jackets and was one of the first insulated jackets specifically designed for breathability as well as warmth. The style of the jacket (designed to be worn all day if offers warmth as well as wind resistance) was a major improvement on the fleece and windshield option and soon became the ‘go to’ shell for winter climbing. If you look through our archive you will find reviews on several Nano products – a testament to their performance credentials. We reviewed the Nano Air Hybrid vest back in 2018.
The Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid Hoody combines the excellent Nano-Air insulation with the legendary R1 fleece to add extra breathability. The jacket front is full Nano-Air and filled with 40 gram insulation (Patagonia names their own brand insulation FullRange), just enough to be compact and warm without feeling bulky. It fits under a hardshell nicely, this jacket coupled with a decent hardshell will cope with most winter conditions.
The body mapped R1 fleece has been placed in the areas where you would need to vent heat and sweat when wearing a pack: the entire back, the pits and underarms and it even extends into the hood. It is super breathable and very quick to dry, after a half hour’s rest on a steep climb the back of the jacket was dry. The compact nature of the back also means that wearing a lightweight running style pack is super comfortable as there is no rucking and creasing under the back panel. It would be perfect for ski touring in spring conditions.
The R1 fleece worked well when wearing a pack. Looking up at the the day’s objective, Bowfell, Lake District.
In terms of fit, I have been testing a size Medium. Patagonia is generally generous on the sizing and a Medium fit my 40” chest perfectly. The Nano-Air Light Hybrid is more of a ‘performance style’ fit and has been snug with a thicker base layer (I’ve used it with a Smartwool as well as a thinner Helly Hansen top), it would be very snug with a fleece layer underneath but that isn’t what it is designed for. It’s definitely a stay on piece for cooler/damp conditions so you would need to keep that in mind. Back to the fit – I would say true to size, the size Medium fitted around the chest area without restricted movement and the arms are not too long for my below average 175cm height.
The face fabric is ultralight and breathable, if you have used Nano Air jackets before you will know that they outperform many other types of breathable shell fabric. It is genuinely breathable and feels more robust than say Pertex Quantum so I feel that I am happy to use this jacket for climbing in. Although, I’m not sure about thrutching up chimneys and grovelling around on winter mixed climbs. After my recent escapades with thin and light materials, I’m trying to avoid this! That said, I’m happy to use it for cooler days cragging and it will be plenty warm enough to use as a spring/summer belay jacket. The jacket weighed in at 340g on the CGR scales – which is close enough to the stated weight.
The jacket worked well with a harness, it worked well for scrambling on cooler days. Don’t be fooled by the sunny looking weather, there was a very cold wind on this April day.
The jacket has a well sized hood, it is not helmet friendly but will fit under a helmet easily enough (remember it hasn’t been designed for climbing) if needed. The hood has no adjustment other than a partially elasticated trim. It fitted over a cap well enough but did become a problem in windy conditions (of which there have been plenty this winter). It would have been better if the hood was fully elasticated like the Nano Puff Hoody. On the whole, though the hood has worked OK and I understand that the sizing needs to accommodate a variety of head sizes.
The hood worked well, it was better fully zipped up otherwise the wind blew it off.
The Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid Hoody is finished with two, zipped hand warmer pockets (a mesh inner would be nice for a little extra weight), a YKK main zip and partially elasticated wrist trims to help lock in the warmth. There is no hem cinch but the jacket doesn’t need one as it is well fitted at the waist. I’ve been using the hoody all spring for various hiking days, the odd climbing session and cycle commuting to the climbing gym and meetings. It has performed exceptionally well and to top it all off it has been manufactured in a Fair Trade Certified factory – but hey I’m sure I don’t need to spray the ethical credentials of the OG of responsible fashion. Finally, I feel that the the jacket is a ‘proper’ performance item, if you are looking for a casual item then maybe the Nano Puff Hoody will be more your bag.
The Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid Jacket comes in sizes XS – XXL and various colours ( a couple of colours are currently on sale – April 24).
The SRP is £270 and is available directly from Patagonia EU and specialist retailers.
Disclosure – CGR reviewers and writers are never paid to provide a review and the website does not take advertising or link to affiliate sales. We are a bunch of keen climbers and travellers who accept sample products and offer an honest and independent review of the item.
Climbing Gear Reviews 