Patagonia Airshed Pro Pullover Review

The Patagonia Airshed Pro is a unique addition to our running jacket lineup. More of a windshirt than a true jacket, this versatile piece is soft and comfortable enough to be worn as a mid-layer and is warm and weather-resistant enough to be worn as an outer layer in milder conditions. The soft, stretchy material on the sleeves and the hood provides a comfortable performance fit for fast and light activities, and the lightweight construction makes wearing it or stowing it away a breeze.

Performance Comparison

Part of Patagonia's mountain running layering system, the Airshed Pro is a versatile windshirt that can be worn as a mid-layer or an outer layer depending on the conditions.

Breathability

The Airshed Pro provides reasonable breathability, but falls behind other models that have larger mesh panels in strategically placed areas. The Airshed's main body is made from a lightweight 100% nylon stretch taffeta material that is softer than most other jackets in the lineup, and the lower arms and hood are constructed from double-knit Capilene Cool fabric. While the Capilene Cool fabric is certainly lighter and more air permeable than the main body material, we found that even in these areas, the breathability is somewhat limited because of the snug fit that keeps the fabric tightly bunched against your body.

The Capilene Cool fabric in the arms and hood is more breathable than the main body, but the tight fit restricts breathability.

Another interesting addition to the Airshed Pro is the unique double zipper on the front of the shirt. When the main zipper is zipped up all the way, you can open the bottom zipper for extra ventilation while still providing coverage and protection for your shoulders and head. While this is certainly an innovative idea, we found that this zipper doesn't open up wide enough to provide much noticeable ventilation while running.

The unique double zipper provides an opportunity for ventilation, but this was not as effective as we had hoped, since it doesn't create a very big opening.

Weather Resistance

Since the Airshed Pro is designed as a versatile windshirt that can be worn as a mid-layer or an outer layer, the weather resistance doesn't quite stack up to other models designed to provide greater protection. While the main body's 100% nylon stretch taffeta is treated with a Durable Water Repellant (DWR) coating that provides respectable water repellency, the Capilene Cool material on the lower sleeves and hood is completely water permeable.

The Capilene Cool material on the hood and the sleeves is very comfortable but is completely water permeable. As a windshirt designed to be worn with a waterproof shell, this is where this model struggles when compared to other running jackets.

This permeability may not be an issue during light drizzle where larger water droplets don't directly contact the material, but once the real rain begins, those fabric panels will be soaked through pretty quickly. While this reduces the scores of the Airshed Pro in this review, note that Patagonia considers this a windshirt, and its intended use is as part of an overall kit that includes a fully waterproof outer layer.

The main body material is soft and stretchy and provides good wind resistance.

While the Airshed Pro struggles a bit with water-resistance, it is a strong performer for wind resistance with its soft and light nylon taffeta body material.

Comfort and Mobility

With its well-tailored athletic fit and soft, stretchy materials, the Airshed Pro is one of the most comfortable models that we've tested. The main body material is much gentler to the touch than most other jackets we reviewed, the double knit Capilene Cool material on the sleeves and hood is even more luxurious, and the snug fit of these high-end materials seems to hug your body as you move.

The Airshed Pro is one of the most comfortable options that we tested, blurring the line between a shirt and a jacket with its soft, light, and breathable material.

Even the hood is well-fitted and hugs the head closely, eliminating the need to wear a hat or beanie in mildly cold conditions. While there are no cinch cords or adjustable features on the Airshed Pro, it's a tough one to beat if you're looking for the softest, most comfortable materials.

Portability

At a measured 4.5 ounces in a men's size medium, the Airshed Pro packs into a stuff pocket on the back of its hood and can compress down to the size of a small piece of fruit. One of a handful of incredibly light and compressible products in our lineup, packing and unpacking this model is quick and easy, making transitions a breeze. When it's time to stow it away in your pack, you'll hardly know that it's there.

The Airshed Pro weighs in at 4.5 ounces in a men's size Medium and packs into a built-in stuff sack in its own hood.

Features

As a minimalist design with high-end materials and construction, the Airshed Pro is light on extra features in order to save weight, with no pockets or adjustment cords. It does have a reflective logo on the chest for a small dash of nighttime visibility and a two-way zipper, but this is a minimalist design all the way.

This is definitely a minimalist design, with no pockets and very few additional features.

Value

The retail price of the Airshed Pro lands it in the middle of our lineup, which reveals a solid value for a windshirt/jacket. While the soft, comfortable, and high-end materials stand out, so do its limited weather protection and lack of pockets or extra features. For a comfortable windshirt that has the versatility to be a mild-weather outer layer or an extreme-weather mid-layer, this provides a solid value for the runner looking for that specific product. Others looking for a dedicated mid-layer or outer layer may find a better value in other products.

The Airshed Pro provides excellent value for runners or outdoor athletes looking for a high-performance layer who are aware of its limitations as a windshirt.

Conclusion