Updates to the Nano-Air
Patagonia revised the Nano-Air this year, now using 87% recycled materials for this hoody. The jacket material has been updated with the intention of providing a softer feel and to prevent pilling of the fabric. Additionally, the Nano-Air is now Fair Trade Certified sewn and the fabric is Bluesign approved. Below, compare the latest version (left) to the model we tested (right).
The rest of this review still tells our account of the previous version, but we're testing the updated model now and will release our findings when we're done!
Hands-On Review of the Nano-Air Hoody
The Patagonia Nano-Air is a breathable and mobile jacket that regulates heat through a wide range of temperatures.
Offering great breathability, mobility, and functionality, this jacket is perfect for all sorts of outdoor recreation!
Warmth
Featuring 60 g/m2 of Fullrange insulation and a 20-D Nylon ripstop fully mobile fabric shell the Nano Air provides decent warmth (with a singular layer) from the mid-30s to the high 50s. While the jacket provides warmth sufficient for the Fall and Spring, it won't keep you warm when temps dip into the negatives without many layers or a shell; this is inherent in most breathable layers.
The hood provides additional warmth, but there are not additional cinches for a more precise fit.
The multiple layers of breathable fabric and the "skin tight fit" provides a wide range of thermoregulation with helpful features including two hemline pull strings and new elastic gusseted wrist cuffs. Additionally, the full hood has articulated collar zips just below the chin to keep the jacket close to your body, ultimately keeping you warmer when it gets super "brrrrr" outside. That said, even though the helmet-compatible hood is stretchy and fits nicely around the face, it would have been nice to have a pull-string to provide a more precise fit.
The two hemline pulls keeps warmth in when it gets cold outside.
While testing in Northern Ontario during a polar vortex, it kept us warm into the mid-30s with a decent base-layer but required quite a bit of extra layering when temperatures dipped into the double negative digits. However, the Nano-Air can still be used in frigid temperatures, but it functions better as a mid-layer in these conditions.
The Nano Air is a soft-shell contender that moves with the body.
Weight & Compression
Weighing in at 11.82 oz, this jacket feels light to wear (hence the name), but it's not the lightest option out there. It does not feature a stow-away system, and the mobile, soft face fabric makes this one of the least compressible jackets tested. It's great for wearing but not the best for stowing away. That said, when hiking and climbing with it, it was fine to stuff into a pack or put away for the day. However, it simply isn't as lightweight or compressible in comparison to other quilted competitors.
This jacket does not have its own stow away system, but it does roll into its hood easily.
Weather Resistance
While this soft jacket is soft to the touch, we are surprised by its ability to protect from mother nature's wrath. The DWR finish does a great job to combat a light rain and cleans easily while the new heavier face fabric does a better job then it used to at cutting the wind then it did in the last model. That said, it's not as weather resistant as our top performers, but it did better than other breathable contenders.
Water resistance
For all you Patagucci-loving mamas out there, the DWR finish combats not only light rainstorms but also the occasional baby spit up. It's easy to clean up and keeps a light rain out, though an additional shell is required for a full-blown rainstorm. At first, we thought that the face fabric would absorb more water given its soft materials; we were pleasantly surprised during our shower tests when it didn't absorb much water as other loftier competitors and dried quickly. We also notice that the new shell provides better water resistance than the past model. Overall, we were pretty stoked that the Nano Air is relatively water resistant (but not waterproof!).
The Nano Air kept us warm during ice climbing days and dry on long winter runs. It is the highest quality mobile fabric design in our testing pool.
This hoody lost points when it came to wind resistance; unsurprisingly, its porous fabric and insulation won it a Top Pick in the past. When we stood on top of a mountain in the San Juan range and welcomed a frigid storm with open arms, we were unhappy to find that we were freezing! The wind cut right through the ultra-breathable shell, right down and through the mid-weight base layer, we wore underneath. That said, if you pair the Nano Air with a windbreaker or shell, you will have an exceptionally versatile system with better wind resistance. But if you are stuck in a windstorm without anything other layers - be ready to shiver.
Comfort & Coziness
As one of the most comfortable jackets in this review, we can't boast enough about the soft and mobile face fabric in addition to the cozy (and easy to layer) lining. While it's not the coziest jacket out there, it's top notch. With several technical features that make it a go-to option for wear around town and in the mountains, our testers truly love this piece. What do we love? The large zippered hand warming pockets, the outer and inner breast pocket, helmet compatible hood (no adjustable pull strings though), and double adjustable hemline.
The pockets are soft and roomy enough for hands and basic items like keys or a phone.
The updated Nano Air has gusseted wrists, making it more comfortable than older models. Wear it as a mid layer during frigid weather or with a wind jacket underneath it. The fabric stretches and conforms to fit over it all, upping its comfort points.
Breathability
In the past, this jacket has earned a Top Pick for Breathability. Yes, you can run, ski, hike, and play in this jacket - while staying dry and warm. The 1.5 oz nylon ripstop outer shell and the 5nylon plain weave liner work together to promote a wide range of thermoregulation. Moisture passes easily from the inside to the outside, without giving up full weather resistance. We tested this jacket while hiking, backcountry skiing, and generally hiking uphill. In all cases, it dumped heat well and kept us warm when we decided to stop for a snack. Take it with you on your next outdoor adventure.
The new Nano Air features a shell that is a bit heavier and not quite as breathable as its last model. However, the differences are minuscule and additional weather resistance is present as a result!
Style & Fit
This jacket is flattering with a cute and stylish flair. Our female friends 'ooh-ed' and 'aww-ed' over its cute colors, feminine stitching patterns, and stretchy fit. While the cut is a little boxy and short, many of our female testers liked the brick-cut stitching pattern on the sides of the jacket, that creates an appealing and flattering slimming look. The vertical lines are simple and flattering while the color options are cute and stylish.
A look at the brick patterning underarm.
When it comes to fit, many of our shorter to medium length testers thought the arms and torso were just right with the length of the jacket being shorter than most. However, the arms were a little short for our tallest testers. The fabric is stretchy and form-fitting as well. For those with bumps that you might want to hide, or for those with a little more bust, consider ordering a size up for a little extra fabric. Overall, this is a cute jacket that we enjoyed wearing pretty much everywhere.
A look at the style and fit of this jacket.
Colors this year include turquoise, camo-blue, pink, and black.
Best Applications
The Nano Air combines breathability and mobility into a stylish little package. We love to wear it during the Fall, Spring, and Winter for different purposes. In the Winter, it's a wonderful mid-layer during the coldest days and offers high performance for sports like ice climbing, cross-country skiing, and cold winter running. In the Spring, Summer, and Fall, this is a go-to piece for wear around town, hiking, climbing, biking and more. The mobile fabric is perfect for long alpine missions or rock climbing on colder days; however, because it's not the most weather resistant option out there, a shell makes it a little more versatile. It wasn't a top choice for backpacking simply because it doesn't compress as small as other contenders. Overall, it's a versatile option with some different applications that extend from aerobic missions in the winter to hang out sessions in the Spring.
Value
Even though it features magnificent craftsmanship, we think the price is a little high. For $299, you can get a jacket that offers better performance at a lower price. That said, this coat is backed by Patagonia's 100% lifetime guarantee. Overall, we have a hard time recommending this product to our friends on a budget.
Also look at the stitching of your jacket. This Nano Air showed some stitching fly-aways. Other products like the Arc'teryx jackets did not have these problems.
Conclusion
The Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody is a lightweight jacket that boasts fantastic mobility and breathability. While it doesn't earn a Top Pick, it still features marvelous versatility and breathability.
