Patagonia R1 Air Jacket Review: The perfect balance of breathability and warmth for active outdoor activities and autumn/winter mountain climbing. The latest in lightweight, warm, and breathable fleece. [Hands-on Review]

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Gear reviews , recommendations , Patagonia , fleece

Written by Yasushi Hisatomi

For Patagonia, the "mother of fleece," which first created fleece at a time when the only winter clothing available was animal fur sweaters, this revolutionary synthetic winter garment is a special item.

Recently, "active insulation" has been gaining attention as a form of active wear for autumn and winter mountain climbing (Patagonia is, of course, one of the leading manufacturers in this field), but it is important to know that even now, nearly 50 years after its invention, Patagonia continues to evolve its "new fleece" to make it warmer, lighter, more comfortable, and easier to use than ever before.

An evolved fleece. It's a fantastic fleece that can rival the popular active insulation of today, and even surpasses it in overall performance. This is the R1 Air Jacket .

Patagonia's " R1 Series " is synonymous with technical fleece, beloved by mountain athletes around the world, but the " R1 Air " is a new type of fleece that is based on that classic but adapted to a more modern style. I still remember the shock I felt when I first experienced the amazing performance of the original version, which first appeared five years ago.

the R1 Air lineup (for women, a full-zip jacket and crew jacket are available). We've been out in the field to check out what's new and superior about this groundbreaking fleece jacket, as well as what activities and styles it suits, so here's our review.

table of contents

Key Features of the Patagonia R1 Air Jacket
Main Specifications and ratings
Detailed review
Summary: Breathable fleece has revolutionized the way we wear winter clothing, making it a versatile piece of clothing that's perfect not only for today's active outdoor activities, but also for everyday wear.

Key Features of the Patagonia R1 Air Jacket

The Patagonia R1 Air Jacket is a highly insulated, highly breathable technical fleece designed for high-output activities like high-speed mountaineering, trail running, backcountry skiing, and climbing. Made from 100% recycled polyester, the hollow-yarn jacquard fleece retains a high amount of dead air for superior warmth while remaining lightweight. Its zigzag, three-dimensional brushed construction provides exceptional breathability, quick drying, and excellent warmth-per-weight ratio. By efficiently ventilating heat and moisture while retaining a consistent level of warmth, the jacket offers consistent comfort even in stop-and-go conditions in colder temperatures. Other features, including a sophisticated design, a soft feel, a comfortable fit that doesn't restrict movement, and high-positioned hand pockets, combine practicality and functional beauty with a wide range of other features to make the R1 Air Jacket a versatile piece of clothing, whether as a winter midlayer, a standalone outer layer in milder conditions, or everyday wear in the fall and winter. In addition to the jacket type that is making its debut this time, the lineup includes three types to suit different uses: a full-zip hoodie and a crew neck.

Recommended points

High breathability prevents excessive sweating during activities, while also providing high insulation to withstand the cold of winter.
Soft and comfortable to the touch, it's easy to move in and comfortable to wear.
Not too tight, not too loose, with a natural silhouette and sophisticated design that stands out both on the field and in everyday life.
Keeps you warm even when wet
Highly quick-drying
Easy to care for in the washing machine, with careful consideration given to environmental impact and fair working conditions, giving you peace of mind.

Points that interest me

Even in autumn and winter, warm weather (above 10°C) can be a little too hot for some activities.
Low wind resistance
Slightly susceptible to pilling
Chest pocket is small
It would have been better if there was a thumb loop

Main Specifications and ratings

item	R1 Air Jacket
Actual measured weight	340g
color	Dried Vanilla, Pelican, Black, Old Growth Green
size	XS/S/M/L/XL
material	5.7-oz 100% recycled polyester hollow-yarn jacquard fleece. Bluesign® approved. Made in a Fair Trade Certified® factory.
pocket	One zippered pocket on the left chest is ideal for storing small items, and two zippered front pockets minimize bulk.
Outdoor Gearzine Rating
Comfort	★★★★★
Thermal insulation	★★★★☆
It's not stuffy	★★★★★
Ease of movement	★★★★☆
Functionality	★★★☆☆
weight	★★★★☆
Storageability	★★★☆☆
Versatility	★★★★★

Detailed review

Warm and breathable: Fleece's latest answer to active insulation is the perfect balance of insulation and breathability.

Naturally, the most important thing about fleece is its heat retention. However, until now, the emphasis on heat retention has been so great that it has been limited in terms of how easily heat is trapped during activity (i.e., breathability). This wasn't a problem for classic trekking, but for active activities like trail running and fastpacking, the breathability has become insufficient. The rapid spread of active insulation in recent years, which seems to fill this gap, is surely not unrelated to these weaknesses of fleece.

Understanding this background helps us understand the innovative concept behind R1 Air

This jacket overcomes the drawback of conventional fleece, which is its low breathability, while also providing insulation that keeps you warm even in extremely low temperatures - two contradictory elements that are simultaneously achieved at a high level.This is made possible by the unique jacquard fleece fabric used in this jacket, which uses hollow fibers.

Innovative material: hollow-fiber jacquard fleece

the R1 Air 's appeal is its 100% recycled polyester fabric, which is constructed using hollow yarns woven in a three-dimensional zigzag pattern. The combination of these yarns and the zigzag texture creates optimal airflow, creating a unique effect.

First, the hollow fibers trap dead air for warmth, while the brushed zigzag weave pattern traps warm air, achieving high warmth and moisture absorption while keeping weight down. Furthermore, the fine gaps in the zigzag weave on the surface of the fabric create air passages, efficiently releasing heat and moisture generated during intense exercise. Because it's 100% polyester, it dries extremely quickly even when wet, achieving both excellent breathability and quick-drying properties.

For the actual test, we took both the R1 Air and the R1 Jacket to the field and compared them under the same conditions. When we actually put them to the test, we could clearly feel the performance of this fabric, which is unlike anything you'd expect from fleece.

I was carrying my day's gear and hiking in temperatures in the single digits, but the R1 Air , I felt the warmth right away, and it was so warm that I didn't even notice the cold, demonstrating the jacket's excellent heat retention. On the other hand, when I was walking barefoot first thing in the morning, before my body had warmed up, I could feel the outside air with just a little movement, and when the wind blew suddenly, the cold air penetrated my base layer and reached my body, to the point where I started to worry that it might get a little cold.

However, once I started to climb a slightly steeper slope, my worries quickly disappeared. On the contrary, even though my body had been generating a lot of heat from sweating, the breeze that blew over my body cooled me down nicely, and I was able to continue moving around without taking off my jacket. The sweat that I had accumulated on my base layer didn't accumulate to an uncomfortable degree, and it dried without me even noticing.

The zigzag grooves are so thin that the inside is visible, allowing air to flow freely through them.

Comparing it with the R1 Jacket a representative of traditional technical fleece the R1 Air stands out in particular for its "warmth" and "breathability," giving it the impression of being easy to warm up and cool down. In that sense, the R1 Air the R1 Jacket situations where abrasion resistance is important, such as climbing, and for a wide range of other uses . In any case, the two products are designed with different purposes and philosophies, and each has different advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to think of them as products that should be used according to purpose, rather than as an upgrade.

On the other hand, the R1 Air functions in the same way as an active insulation jacket with only the padding exposed, but strictly speaking, the balance between warmth and breathability is milder (not too warm, not too cold) than those jackets. In severe cold, exposed active insulation can often get a little too cold, requiring a shell to be worn, but even in that case, the R1 Air has a wider temperature range in which it can be worn comfortably as an outer layer, and I felt that this balance was good.

High breathability means be careful of winds on ridges

That being said, the R1 Air is a fleece that sacrifices weather resistance to maximize airflow, and because of this high breathability, you can't expect it to provide much warmth in strong winds that blow through ridgelines. If you stand still, your body heat will be lost rapidly, so you need to be careful.

However, in such cases, you can control the airflow by layering it with a windshell like the Houdini Jacket or a rainwear hardshell, and you can still enjoy its inherent high thermal insulation. In this way, it is important to think of this jacket not just as a standalone item, but as part of a layering system.

Comfort: Lightweight and comfortable against the skin, with an ideal fit that is neither too tight nor too loose, allowing for ease of movement.

As I've said before, the R1 Air , like all Patagonia clothing, is technical clothing that meets the latest needs and incorporates cutting-edge functionality. It's also comfortable enough for athletes to wear in extreme situations, but it's also comfortable enough for everyday wear like me. I love how it doesn't cling to the skin, but gently hugs it. It's lighter, softer, and more supple than traditional fleece, and with its exceptional comfort and sophisticated design, it would be a shame to only wear it in the field. Since I received the R1 Air , it's become not only my go-to piece of clothing for the field, but also my favorite cardigan for everyday wear.

The silhouette is described as a "slim fit" like the R1 jacket the R1 Air over the R1 jacket ). Although I didn't actually wear it this time, the crew type has a regular fit, so it is designed with a wider range of situations in mind, from activities to everyday life.

In terms of size, I'm 177cm tall (although usually the small size fits me just fine with my usual Patagonia gear), and the small size on this model was just the right fit. A tighter fit might have been better if I was only planning on wearing it in the field, but considering I wanted to wear it in everyday life as well, the slightly more relaxed medium size felt just right. Neither jacket feels too tight when wearing a base layer underneath, but in terms of ease of layering when wearing a shell on top, the R1 Jacket may be relatively smoother.

I am 176cm tall and weigh 64kg and wear a size M.

The clever three-dimensional cutting and stretchy fabric mean that your body movements are not restricted. However, the R1 jacket , it does not contain elastic threads such as polyurethane, so it is less stretchy than the R1 jacket.

Because it's a jacket, it doesn't offer as much head protection as a hoodie, but the collar is still higher than a regular jacket, so you can stand it up to keep the cold air out. The shoulder seams are offset slightly back to avoid interference with a backpack, so you won't have to worry about them when wearing it while on the move.

The cuffs are made of elastic material only on the palm side for a comfortable feel and a gentle tightening. The hem is also made of elastic material only on the back, achieving a balance between ease of layering, fit, and design.

Other functionality: All-around easy-to-use pockets and meticulous construction with fine adjustments

The backpack is equipped with two zippered hand warmer pockets. They're not placed high enough to allow access even with the backpack's hip belt fastened, but the pockets are kept to a minimum for minimal bulk, so they don't get in the way. They're a nice compromise between being suitable for both activities and everyday use. Putting a lot of small items in a pocket can make it bulky and difficult to walk around, so I personally appreciate the ease of use in everyday use.

However, the small size of the chest pocket really bothered me. I wish it was at least large enough to hold a smartphone. It can only hold the bare essentials like car keys and credit cards, so it's unfortunate that it's useless for storing a smartphone or maps.

There are no problems with durability, but be careful with the brushed fleece surface.

The R1 Air weighs just 340 grams in a size medium, making it extremely lightweight for fleece with comparable warmth. This is due in part to the lightness of materials such as hollow fibers, but also to the minimalist design that carefully selects only the essentials. There are no major concerns about durability, but the brushed fleece outer layer is more likely to get caught on tree branches and bushes (compared to the previous R1 jacket), so care should be taken to prevent pilling and scratches.

Thoughtfully crafted to minimize environmental and social impact

Like many Patagonia products, the R1 Air is designed with the utmost consideration for its environmental and social impact. Its fabric is made from 100% recycled polyester and is bluesign® certified. Furthermore, all garments are sewn in Fair Trade Certified factories, minimizing the environmental impact of the manufacturing process while contributing to improving working conditions for producers. Furthermore, Patagonia offers a lifetime warranty and comprehensive repair service. It also offers comprehensive support services, such as the recently launched "Worn Wear" pre-owned program, to encourage and reward customers' continued use of its products. While it's often overlooked, these efforts to remove various barriers to safeguarding outdoor enthusiasts' continued use of its products are actually important.

Summary: Breathable fleece has revolutionized the way we wear winter clothing, making it a versatile piece of clothing that's perfect not only for today's active outdoor activities, but also for everyday wear.

Patagonia Men's R1 Air Jacket

created by Rinker

¥23,100 2025/11/05

Patagonia official online store

The Patagonia R1 Air Jacket is an excellent technical fleece that deliberately foregoes the "versatility" of traditional fleece to deliver optimal breathability, warmth, and a high level of comfort for more intense cold-season activities. The unique construction of the hollow-fiber jacquard fleece combines lightweight warmth with breathability and quick-drying properties. It's definitely recommended for trail running in autumn and winter, ski touring, climbing approaches, and wearing it over a base layer on fast-paced hikes in cold weather.

However, the basic quality, such as lightness, comfort, durability, and design, was better than expected. The high breathability, which is the "edge" of this model, can be both a strength and a weakness, as mentioned in the main text. Considering this, I personally strongly feel that this fleece has the potential to be fully utilized in a wide range of situations, from regular mountain climbing to light outdoor activities, as well as travel and everyday use in town, depending on how you layer it.

In that sense, this is a piece that we would recommend to all enthusiasts who want to feel the outdoors every day as the weather gets colder.