Posted by 
The new, wind resistant fleece hoody from Patagonia is a great addition to the iconic R1 family of mid layer fleeces.
PROS
- Good wind resistance
- Easy to wear with a hardshell
- Well sized chest pocket
CONS
- None
I first came across what is known as hard faced fleece jackets with my Arc’teryx Fortrez which I still own (my youngest son is currently using it). The new Patagonia R1 Techface Hoody is easily as good (if not a little better as it is more wind and shower resistant and is lighter) and has a more minimalist silhouette which means it’s a little more suited to casual/office wear.
The R1 range of mid layers has been a staple of the Patagonia catalogue for years and the R1 Full Zip Hoody is a pretty iconic piece of kit beloved by all outdoor enthusiasts from weekend warriors to gnarly mountain guides. The Patagonia R1 Techface Hoody takes the lightweight, breathable aesthetic and adds a windproof coating to improve the versatility. I have found the jacket to be excellent in all the activities I have been using it for this summer from trail running, cycling to the climbing gym (it’s been a wet start to the summer in the UK this year), hiking and climbing. In each activity it has excelled, it is lightweight, has a great fit – athletic but not too constricting – and the Techface has offered decent wind resistance as well as shedding minor showers and drizzle.
The hood worked really well on damp, drizzly hikes, my head was dry with the combination of a cap + hood.
If you have used an R1 style fleece before the Techface Hoody will feel a little different. It looks and feels more like a lightweight soft-shell jacket than a fleece with the double weave face fabric. The hood is also different (to the R1 Hoody) as it is well sized and helmet friendly, it also has a stiffened peak with a single adjuster at the back. The double weave recycled polyester fabric is 90% recycled and has 10% elastane added to offer 4 way stretch. The DWR is PFC and PFAS free and has, so far, repelled minor showers and a drizzly hike. It’s not going to protect me from a deluge but when I have worn it with an addition lightweight windshell I have been able to get back to the car reasonably dry.
Enjoying sunny, breezy conditions using the R1 Techface Hoody for a speed hiking workout – it is pretty much perfect for this type of activity. The pockets are well placed for access using a hipbelt
Inside, a gridded R1 micro fleece material provides warmth and wicking abilities when the pace quickens. I have generally been wearing the jacket with a t-shirt and the Techface fabric has felt great next to skin with no rubbing or chaffing anywhere and the interior flat lock stitching is low profile and means the jacket is comfortable when wearing a pack. There is enough room in the fit to use it with a longer sleeved winter base layer. The inset sleeves offer a sharp silhouette for casual wear and articulated elbows help when on the crag. I have recently been wearing and reviewing some jackets that have had a half elasticated wrist closure, which I have been disappointed with. So it was a relief that the R1 Techface Hoody has fully elasticated cuffs, which means that sleeves sit on my wrists and do not ride down over my hands. I think, when I get around to it I will have the sleeves shortened professionally to improve the look of the jacket.
The R1 Techface Hoody worked well for climbing, the articulated elbows were particularly useful.
The hood is well sized and has fitted snugly over my climbing helmet, It has a single adjuster at the back so that I have been able to easily adjust it for wearing with a hiking cap and the slightly stiffened peak has helped with that, there is no chinguard as the jacket relies on the soft outer fabric to offer comfort when the hood is fully zipped up. There are also three, zipped pockets: two large hand warmer pockets that are well sited for easy access wearing a pack hip belt or climbing harness, these (as well as the main body zip) and YKK Vislon for no snag zipping and a decent sized chest pocket that is plenty big enough for a larger style phones and small maps. Other finishing touches include a single handed hem cinch with a hidden cord lock, bar tacking on stress points and meshed pockets to help with ventilation. There is also a sewn Patagonia label on the chest, a larger interior one with a hanging loop and a neat reminder to use, repair or hand it along on the inside pocket.
So, in conclusion, the Patagonia R1 Techface Hoody is a great addition to the R1 range, it is lightweight, has decent wind resistance and has some great technical features. The fit is athletic without being too technical which means you can wear it casually as well as for mountain use. The gridded R1 interior is great for wicking sweat away on faced paced activities such as hiking ascents and trail running. As you would expect from Patagonia the responsibility, sustainability and ethical credentials are first class and you can take the jacket to its limits with the confidence that the Patagonia Worn Wear programme can repair it when needed.
The Patagonia R1Techface Hoody comes in 5 colour ways and sizes XS-XXL. The SRP is £200 and it can be purchased 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 