Patagonia Nano Air Hoody - Women's Review

The Patagonia Nano Air is a lightweight jacket with a fitted hood and a slim cut. Its exterior is comprised of stretchy 100% polyester and it has an elastic, nonadjustable hem and three total pockets; two zippered handwarmer pockets and an external zippered chest pocket, which it packs into.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

Constructed as a lightweight jacket, the Nano Air has a surprising amount of insulation that provides standalone warmth on cool days. In the winter, we needed to layer it under a shell, as the 60 grams of insulation weren't enough to keep us warm on truly cold days or while standing still. That said, it offers the warmth that we want when we're on the move hiking or climbing up hills and mountains.

Comfort

We love the soft, flexible feel of this jacket. It is lighter, more breathable, and just feels so good to slip on. The stretchy face fabric articulates nicely with even the grabbiest of midlayers, making it very easy to put over or under other insulative pieces. The hood is helmet-compatible, warm, and light, but lacks cinch cords for a specific fit. There are two hand pockets, which are large enough for our needs, but not as big as those on some other jackets. There is also an external chest pocket. We liked the subtly tapered wrist that easily fits underneath a glove.

Weather Resistance

The lightweight and thin design of the Nano Air Hoody offers a surprising amount of protection from the elements. We found the 60 gram FullRange stretch polyester construction quite durable and not as porous as you might expect for a mobile, breathable jacket. It does a solid job cutting down the wind, but this thinner design just can't fully block the wind like a thicker jacket can. While skiing and hiking, we also discovered that the Nano Air offers mild water resistance. During our lab testing, while some water eventually seeped into the insulation, none made it through to the inside of the jacket. Only through the zippers did the water leak through to our underlayers.

Weight and Compressibility

The Nano Air is quite light and offers a decent amount of compression. The size Small we tested weighs just 10.8 ounces and packs down to the size of a small book. It stuffs easily into its zippered chest pocket with a carabiner loop for hanging it wherever you please. While it's not the most compressible option out there, it's not difficult to stuff into your pack.

Breathability

The Nano Air offers some excellent breathability. On a warm fall day, we hiked uphill on a backcountry ski tour while wearing this jacket. It wasn't until after the first two runs when temperatures really started to heat up that we finally felt the need to take it off. While a few other jackets we tested have even better breathability, the thin construction and pockets that double as ventilation make this a great stop n' go layer. It kept us warm when we stood still and cool when we were on the move.

Should You Buy the Patagonia Nano Air Hoody?

The Nano Air is soft and comfortable, lightweight and portable, and breathable. Yet it's not the best at any of these things, nor is it the best combination of these traits that we've tested. And it's one of the most expensive models in our lineup. Perhaps its fit is perfect for you, but we think there are better options that offer even more of these features for a lower cost.

What Other Insulated Jackets Should You Consider?

The Patagonia Nano Air isn't the warmest option out there, but this low-weight contender is cute, comfortable, and breathable. It's a great midlayer when it gets super cold outside, and works well on its own on mild days. The Arc'teryx Atom is another midlayer that offers better warmth, even more comfort and weather protection, and more breathability for less than the Nano Air. And if you're after the most breathable model that can regulate your temperature even on mid-winter runs and cross-country ski days, check out the seriously breathable Ortovox Piz Boè.