Patagonia NanoAir Light Hybrid Review: It is not cold and does not get stuffy. This is the long-awaited wear for the outdoor winter wear
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
Active Insulation, which uses a new padding that combines breathability and insulation, has been on the market for around ten years and is now a move to replace fleece. As a new winter wear, it has grown to become one of the most vibrant genres in the autumn and winter outdoor apparel market. As a result, recently, various manufacturers have been making a number of unique models with little by little different characteristics depending on the target activities and season.
The Nano Air series is known as Patagonia's popular series, which has quickly entered the popular active insulation system and has pushed forward with the evolution of this genre. One of my personal favorites, the Patagonia NanoAir Light Hybrid , has been upgraded this season.
Below, I would like to summarize the reviews I've tried wearing this new jacket in winter to spring (February to April) and fall (October to November) for backcountry skiing and mountain climbing in 2023, as well as recommended seasons and usage.
table of contents
- Main features of the Patagonia NanoAir Light Hybrid
- Main Specifications and ratings
- Detailed review
- While keeping the important parts warm, the areas you want to get out are explosive ventilation - the perfect balance for moving activities at temperatures below a single digit.
- Light and comfortable to the touch, ideal fit and comfort
- Minimum storage and functions are concentrated to achieve lightness
- Summary: The best balance of "heating and breathing" that all winter mountain enthusiasts have been waiting for
Main features of the Patagonia NanoAir Light Hybrid
The Patagonia NanoAir Light Hybrid (Jacket/Hood) is a lightweight active insulation jacket suitable for wear as a wearer during high-tempo activities at low temperatures. In addition to being insulating enough to prevent heat from escaping from the body, 40 grams full range insulation (padded) is placed on the front of the torso and top of the armpits, while the entire armpit and back are combined with the outstanding ventilation, quick-drying and elastic fleece panels used in the company's R1 Air, making it difficult to get cold and stuffy even during intense winter sweating. The carefully selected features, such as a hoodie type with a high fit and a high hand pocket, take into consideration every detail of practicality in the field, making them ideal for players who want to be lighter, faster and more comfortable in active activities in low temperatures, such as hiking in the middle of winter, running, backcountry skiing, and ice climbing. Hoodie jacket types are available in the lineup.
Recommended points
- Light and comfortable to the touch, easy to move around and comfortable to wear
- Perfect heat retention for high-load activities in the cold season
- Breathable without getting too stuffy even during activities
- Creating calculated pockets that do not interfere with harnesses or backpacks
- A hood with excellent fit (hoodie type)
Points that interest me
- If it gets warmer than 10°C, it becomes slightly hotter when exercising vigorously.
- Durability of shell surface fabric
- It does not have the deodorizing treatment that was the previous model.
Main Specifications and ratings
| item | NanoAir Light Hybrid Jacket | NanoAir Light Hybrid Hoodie |
|---|---|---|
| Actual measured weight | 282g (S size) | 316g (S size) |
| color | Obsidian Plum, Black, Nouveau Green, Shrub Green, Sedge Green (formerly color) | Obsidian Plum, Black, Nouveau Green, Wax Red (formerly color) |
| size | XS/S/M/L/XL | |
| Shell and lining | A 1.6oz, 30 denier, recycled polyester shadow stretch ripstop with excellent breathability. PFC-free DWR processing (durable water-repellent coating without organic fluorine compounds) | |
| Fleece fabric | 5.7 oz recycled polyester 100% jacquard fleece made from hollow fiber | |
| Insulation | 40 grams, full range, 100% polyester (recycled, 93% polyester) | |
| 2 hidden zipper hand warmer pockets | ||
| Outdoor Gearzine Rating | ||
| Comfort | ★★★★★ | |
| Thermal insulation | ★★★☆☆ | |
| It's not stuffy | ★★★★★ | |
| Ease of movement | ★★★★☆ | |
| Functionality | ★★★☆☆ | |
| weight | ★★★★☆ | |
| Storageability | ★★★☆☆ | |
| Winter mountain satisfaction | ★★★★★ | |
Detailed review
While keeping the important parts warm, the areas you want to get out are explosive ventilation - the perfect balance for moving activities at temperatures below a single digit.
Patagonia NanoAir Light Hybrid is a hybrid cold protection jacket made from two different fabrics. The front and arm panels contain 40 grams of full range insulation. This is tuned thinner than the 60 gram full range used in the original Nanoair jacket, which has remained the same since its inception seven years ago, and this model suggests that it intends to improve lightness and breathability for more active situations by reducing insulation, although slightly.
Breathable padding is placed on the front and top of the arms. It also protects the wind just right, making it a great outerwear.
This is a welcome point for many winter runs, beginners in snowy mountains, and BC skiers who have experienced the hope that they could continue wearing them all day long (without taking them off) in the winter, but in reality they were surprisingly hot and ended up taking them off. For those who are more concerned about the heat caused by constantly moving more actively than the cold, this amount of padding is just right. By the way, even so, it is warmer than the company's R1 fleece, so if the temperature reaches around 10°C, it will probably get hotter while you are on the move. In that sense, the season is the best time to start with the actual winter season.
Meanwhile, jacquard fleece with a wave-like three-dimensional pattern is placed on the back and under the armpits. Yes, this is the same fleece that is also used in the Patagonia R1 Air, which was previously praised on our site This is a major evolution from the previous model, which used waffle knit fleece. The knit made of 100% recycled polyester hollow fiber is light, stretchable and moisture-absorbing, and the three-dimensional surface provides excellent ventilation and quick-drying properties, providing better sweat-treatment performance while maintaining lightness.
A zigzag fleece panel that is also used in the R1 Air. The stuffiness of your activities is constantly emanating from here.
Compared to the jacket type, the hoodie type has a slightly larger fleece area located on the back. The intention is to make hoodies that tend to get heat more breathable.
I can't get enough of the feeling of being heated from under my armpits
This combination of "full range" and "R1 air fleece" fabrics actually worked surprisingly well on the field.
I tried carrying my day trip luggage on my backcountry skiing in temperatures around freezing, and climbing with heavy loads of temperatures around single digits to 0°C, and I found that the front of the body and forearms and shoulders were protected, which is easy to sense chills when exposed to the outside air, so I couldn't feel much cold. On the other hand, despite the fact that the body is experiencing a considerable amount of heat, it is clearly felt that the area around the armpit is being cooled by the cold and cold wind, and overall it does not overheat, and as a result, you can continue to act without taking off your clothes. The sweat I had on the base layer was so unbearable that it made me feel uncomfortable, and it dries without me realizing it.
This exquisite balance of heat retention and ventilation is not overheated even if you hike up in the backcountry in a sunny winter.
Especially for activities that involve intense exercise, the lower the temperature, the more comfortable you wear. This balance between sweat removal and heat retention under low temperatures makes this product stand out from other products (but on the other hand, it is not suitable for activities such as relaxing on the slopes or skiing for a relatively long time).
Moderate windproofing and DWR (durable water repellent) ensures that it is safe for certain wind and unexpected rain.
This jacket is not at all expensive protection against wind, rain, snow, etc. However, the outer fabric on the front and shoulders to arms is still prone to rain, and is firmly treated with DWR (durable water-repellent treatment), so in that sense it has minimal weather resistance. This minimum required weather resistance is an important function, especially when using it as an outerwear, so it is important to regularly recover water repellent to ensure that it maintains performance.
As for windproofing, while the fleece part is prone to wind through, the shell part (although it is breathable), it has a one-cushion windproof function to prevent wind. Of course, it's a great help to keep your windproof when it's stopped, but considering the comfort of your actions, this level of windproof is enough, or rather, personally, I felt that it was just right.
The outer fabric of the padding part has a DWR finish. The fabric was purchased and washed once, but it still remained water repellent.
Light and comfortable to the touch, ideal fit and comfort
The ultra-thin, recycled 100% polyester ripstop fabric used on the front and back of the shell part is fluffy, light and supple. Just touching it shows the high quality. I also like the comfortable feel when worn over a short-sleeved T-shirt.
However, this extremely thinness (of course, it is sturdy compared to ordinary fabrics of the same thickness), unfortunately it cannot be expected to be fully durable enough to avoid any attention to rubbing or tearing on the field. Especially when wearing it as an outerwear, you need to be careful not to accidentally get hit by sharp tree branches or rough, hard rock surfaces.
When I put the sleeves on it, I saw that it was a 177cm size, so it was a little long and had a lot of room, so it was a little long. The length on the back is also longer in consideration of wearing a harness.
The width of the body is slim, with the idea of layering it over it and fits the body lines. However, it does not feel cramped at all, and both the soft fleece insulation are stretchy so it does not interfere with body movement. Even if you raise your arms high, the hem is hardly pulled, and the shoulders are slid smoothly. Overall, it's so comfortable that it's hard to say that there are few jackets that are as comfortable as this.
The skillful three-dimensional cutting and the stretchy fabric do not interfere with body movement.
The back of the cuffs are cut long, and elastic material is stretched on the palm. The design is designed with a fit and protection in every detail.
Hood that fits perfectly with your skin
Until now, I have been impressed by the "good food making" with many of Patagonia's products, but the hood of this NanoAir Light Hybrid Hoodie fits perfectly, making it difficult to slip, stuffy, and comfortable. Elastic elastics are placed in the proper positions on both sides to fit the shape of the head and prevent winds.
Even when you shake your head left and right, it follows your face movements and does not block your vision, making it comfortable to use. Moreover, the back of the neck is made of fleece fabric, making it easy to expel hot air from the head, making it extremely well-made, and every detail is thought to be possible (photo below).
Minimum storage and functions are concentrated to achieve lightness
The storage items that come with this jacket are simple front zippers and hand pockets on both sides to warm your hands. I was prepared for this lightness, but there was nothing more than necessary, and there was nothing less than necessary. However, these carefully selected pockets are placed at a high level to allow the harness to be attached, and are hidden zippered and do not make a statement, making it a good impression.
It is clear that instead of putting them in your pocket and walking heavy, it is not intended to be as light as possible with the bare minimum of equipment (but never skimping on the functions left there). However, if you say you want a chest pocket, will you say it's a luxury? Personally, I find that my chest pocket is easy to take out quickly and warms up moderately with body temperature, making it convenient for storing my smartphone or battery, which makes me want to.
Summary: The best balance of "heating and breathing" that all winter mountain enthusiasts have been waiting for
When considering outdoor activities that require intense sweating, such as winter mountain climbing, backcountry skiing, trail running and speed hiking at sub-zero temperatures, and outdoor activities that require repeated stop-and-go in winter when the cold weather is in full swing, the Patagonia NanoAir Light Hybrid is the one that currently meets the most elements I'm looking for as an intermediate piece to wear over a base layer. This jacket reduces the number of times you take off your clothes, which you would expect to see many times during winter activities.
What's even more wonderful is that it works well not only as a mid-layer, but also as an outer layer. As you can see from the photos posted this time, even in early spring, late autumn, and winter, when you are particularly sweating, you can enjoy this one piece on a thin base layer or a short-sleeved T-shirt, making it extremely comfortable to wear.
The winter mountain season is finally beginning. Recommended for all winter mountain enthusiasts who want to constantly attack even in the harsh cold.
Disclosure: The author received the product in this review and the articles have been created with full independence in accordance with editorial policy.
