Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Review
Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Review
On a recent trip to Nepal, I spent a week trekking up to Annapurna base camp and was in need of a jacket that would allow me to be active but warm in a colder climate.
After much searching, I came across the Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody and decided to put it through its paces in the highest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas.
Along with the steep terrain and varying temperatures I was carrying a 15 kg pack so it had all the essentials for testing the three main areas;
Warmth
Breathability
Mechanical stretch
So here it is :
First impressions
Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Review
Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Review
Well, straight away it's pleasing to the eye. But not only is it aesthetically pleasing Patagonia designed the Nano-Air Hoody with adventure in mind.With its synthetic insulation and a nylon outer and inner shell, it weighs in at an impressive 385g.
So it is lightweight but with a warmth, you would expect from a much heavier jacket. This jacket was designed to be used in colder climates while being active and that is exactly where it excels.
Its smart design has incorporated a variety of clever stitching to allow for maximum support but flexibility.
As an example, the side panels have a block stitch design to allowing support while wearing a pack but a more open design on the lower arms and back sections to allow for easier movement.
Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Review
I used it as an outer layer with only a t-shirt underneath and found that even down close to zero degrees Celsius I was still nice and warm and while active it provided great breathability and comfort.
Again the small details of the jacket are impressive and all add up to its overall quality.
The pockets are neatly hidden away but accessible and the top pockets worked great with my backpack.The drawstrings were easy to use and allowed for a tight fit at the waist if needed.
Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Review
And the cuffs were tight but flexible to allow for gloves or to be pushed up the forearm
Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Review
Conclusions
It is incredibly warm for its size, flexible and also breathable.So It is an excellent choice for a range of mountain activities and has become very popular with hikers, mountaineers, rock climbers and any cold climate adventurists.
I was very impressed with the build quality as every aspect of this jacket is extremely well thought out.From the glove-friendly zips to the streamlined pockets and intelligent stitching this jacket screams quality.Its comfort over long day trekking was exceptional and the only real negative was when I was running in it.
It just was too warm! and could not release the moisture quick enough.
But that was running with a 3kg pack up a very steep hill on a 20-degree day, So not a jacket for the summer trail runner.
However, if you spend time in the mountains and in colder climates then this jacket is definitely one to consider.
I didn't use the hood while I was away but it accommodates a helmet if required and the zip has a nice soft inner lining at the chin to allow soft contact with the skin.
The jacket holds up well to light rain and snow and for the wetter conditions, you can combine it with a light waterproof outer jacket to give a full all weather solution.
I am looking forward to winter where I can take the jacket out on the cold trails and mountains
.Click Here for more info on the Nano-Air® Hoody from Patagonia
Until next time Happy Running!
Douglas
Before you go, Here is a moment I captured from Annapurna Base Camp.
I hope you enjoy!