Patagonia's new technical fleece "R1 Thermal Full Zip Hoodie" has become too addicted to the mid-layer of tough snowy mountain climbing [Practical Review]
written by Yosuke.C
What is Patagonia's masterpiece? If you ask me, I think the R1 series is always the lineup.
The R1 Thermal series has been released in the fall and winter of 2024 from the R1 series. I was given the opportunity to use the R1 thermal full zip hoodie, so I'll be reviewing it.
For autumn and winter climbing and winter activities in harsher environments, the "heating power" and "breathability" of the middle layer are key points to enjoy in the extreme cold without stress! The R1 Thermal Full Zip Hoodie was a very satisfying middle layer!
table of contents
Main features of the Patagonia R1 Thermal Full Zip Hoodie
The "R1 Thermal" series is the model with the best heat retention of the current R1 series.
The full zip hoodie is a technical fleece that is suitable for activities in the cold, while the highly elastic technostretch fleece is easy to move around and does not feel oppressive. The highly fitted hood doesn't feel stiff even under a helmet, and the balaclava-shaped hood can cover your face. It has a zipper garage, which reduces the discomfort that hits your face when you lift the zipper.
The inside has a microgrid structure, ensuring maximum heat retention while ensuring breathability. Prevents overheating during action.
The full zip structure makes it easy to put on and take off while you are on the move, and the length is designed to be longer, making it difficult to get it on while you are taking it.
There are two pockets on each side of the chest, making it perfect for storing small items that you want to keep warm. The abdominal pockets have been removed and the stomach area is designed to be worn, with a clean design, assuming a harness.
It is equipped with a thumb hole, which has been used only in the "R1 pullover." It keeps the back of your hands warm even in situations where gloves are not needed.
Favorite points
- Excellent heat retention
- Microgrid structure for good sweat removal
- Full zip structure that is easy to put on and take off
- Quick drying that dries quickly even when wet
- It comes with a thumb hole to shut out the cold air and keeps the back of your hand warm
- Balaclava structure hood
Interesting points
- Chest pocket that makes it difficult to open and close the zipper
- It increases heat retention, and heavier
Main Specifications and ratings
| Item name | R1 Thermal Full Zip Hoodie |
|---|---|
weight | M size: 400g (actual measurement) |
| color | Raptor Brown, Smolder Blue, Seabird Grey, Black |
| size | XS, S, M, L, XL |
| Ladies model | Ali |
| material | 6.5 oz recycled polyester 91%/polyurethane flat face technostretch fleece |
| Outdoor Gearzine Review | |
| Comfort | ★★★★☆ |
| Thermal insulation | ★★★★★ |
| Not easily stuffy | ★★★★☆ |
| Breathable | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ease of movement | ★★★★☆ |
| Quick drying | ★★★★★ |
| Durability | ★★★★☆ |
| weight | ★★★☆☆ |
| Practicality in winter mountains | ★★★★★ |
Detailed review
We will tell you about the use of it several times in Yatsugatake and Akadake (2,899m above sea level) in early winter, and Okuchichibu. To be able to feel the performance of the R1 thermal, full zip hoodie as directly as possible, I wore a thin T-shirt (short sleeves) on the first layer, and tested it in a state that touched bare skin.
Excellent heat retention
As is also positioned on the official website, the R1 thermal series has the best heat retention properties among Patagonia's R1 series.
The thickness of the fabric doesn't seem particularly thick, but when I put it on, I was able to experience the high heat retention.
When I wore it on Yatsugatake and Akadake in early winter, the temperature when I started walking was about -5°C. Once you reach the ridge, the temperature is around -10°C and the wind blows occasionally.
My layering was a first layer (short-sleeved T-shirt), an R1 thermal, full zip hoodie, and a hard shell, but this was enough for me while I was on the move.
Fine lattice-like micro-rid grid structure
The secret to its high heat retention is the microgrid structure. This microgrid increases the area that comes into contact with the skin, and also stores dead air in the grid-like area to provide outstanding warmth.
When deciding on layering for outdoor activities, it is important to know how many sheets you need to complete the layering for the expected environment.
Layering can be broadly divided into underlayers, midlayers, and outer layers, but depending on the environment, you may use two or three different pieces of clothing. Layering is simpler if you wear less clothing, but on the other hand, the fact is that it is difficult to deal with the thickness and cold as there are fewer pieces you can take off.
The R1 thermal full zip hoodie is rather simple layering. In other words, this is a recommended wear for those who want to complete the product with little wear.
With its high heat retention, it can be used as a mid-layer during activities, and the surface fabric of the R1 thermal, full zip hoodie is made of a durable fabric that can bounce off a little wind, so in a light breeze environment, you can enjoy comfortable action with just the R1 thermal, full zip hoodie without wearing a shell jacket.
Microgrid structure for good sweat removal
The microgrid structure that provides outstanding heat retention is still not as effective.
Because it has high heat retention, I was concerned about the poor sweat loss, but the good sweat loss while I was taking action was better than I expected, making it difficult to overheat.
Even when the temperature is low, you will sweat while you are still in motion, but the R1 thermal full zip hoodie absorbs sweat and releases moisture from the grooves of the grid, making the balance between heat retention and sweat removal in low temperature environments excellent. This middle layer is perfect for wearing on snowy mountain climbing, backcountry skiing, and snowboarding.
The surface fabric and fine microgrid structure made me a bit of a concern about the breathability, but it didn't get stuffy. The R1 thermal full zip hoodie was designed for use in extremely cold, high mountains, so I feel it is not suitable for use in high temperature environments or in situations where breathability is a priority.
It can be used even when hiking low mountains depending on how you use it
The R1 Thermal Full Zip Hoodie is a technical fleece made for activities in the cold, alpine areas. The heat retention has been improved so that it can withstand extreme cold environments, but what I was concerned about was the feeling of use in low mountains.
I was curious, so I tried using it even on low mountains.
We tested the temperatures around -3°C to 10°C. As the temperature rises, it gets hotter as it acts, but by releasing the zipper, I was fine with it being able to act while still wearing it.
Because of its high heat retention, the R1 thermal, full zip hoodie has the perfect heat retention when you start walking or after a break, and even when you usually wear down during a break, you can wear a shell over the R1 thermal, full zip hoodie (if there's no wind, just the R1 thermal is OK)
What's best about this was the surface material of the R1 thermal, full zip hoodie. The fabric is quite sturdy and can be used without cold if there is a slight wind. Even in low mountains, winds can sometimes blow strong on open ridges and ridges. In such cases, the shell jacket is the place to go, but with the R1 thermal full zip hoodie, you can often do it as is, saving you the trouble of wearing a shell.
The R1 thermal full zip hoodie is not only useful for use in extremely cold alpine areas, but also in low mountains in winter.
Full zip structure that is easy to put on and take off
The R1 thermal, full zip hoodie has a full zip construction, making it easy to put on and take off while you are on the move. I often wear half zip or pullover middle layers due to the weight of the author, but the hat and helmet shift every time I take them off. .
It's really stressful to adjust the hat every time I take off my clothes. . . Full zipper wear does not affect your head when you put on and take off, so considering its practicality, the full zipper structure is convenient.
What's more, the zipper on the R1 thermal, full zip hoodie has a smooth slider and is easy to open and close! The ease of opening and closing the zipper may be a modest part, but once you try it, it's surprisingly easy to wear, so it's important that the slider is smooth.
It's a full zipper, so if you release it, it can release heat, making it easy to regulate your body temperature during your activities.
The chest pocket that makes it difficult to open and close the zipper is a concern
The pockets close to your body are convenient for storing batteries and smartphones that you don't want to cool down. The R1 thermal, full zip hoodie has pockets on both chests, but the zipper on this chest pocket is tough.
The main zipper is easy to open and close, but the zipper in the chest pocket is stiff, so if you try to close it, the fabric is highly elastic, so you can't close it unless you hold it down with one hand. Once you get used to it, you can open and close it with one hand while holding the fabric with your fingers, which is a bit of a concern.
Quick drying that dries quickly even when wet
In addition to the good balance between keeping the heat and sweat away, my favorite point is its high quick-drying properties.
The use of synthetic fabrics that dry easily is also a factor that increases quick drying, but the microgrid structure is also useful here. Air enters the grid to promote drying, so even wet fabrics can dry in a short amount of time.
The steep climb, mixed with rocks and snow, is a severe area. Since he is also wearing crampons, he is more cautious about his actions than usual. After being cautious and tense, my body was sweating more than usual, and by the time I returned to my safe place it would stain. When I touched it, I could tell it was completely wet, but after about 15-20 minutes of wearing it, I stopped feeling wet and was able to experience its high quick drying properties.
It comes with a thumb hole to shut out the cold air and keeps the back of your hand warm
Personally, the moment I saw the R1 thermal full zip hoodie, I was groaning.
The thumbhole, which was previously only installed in the R1 pullover, is now installed in the R1 thermal, full zip hoodie (favorite thumbhole)
The thumb hole keeps the sleeves all the way to the back of your hand even when you remove the gloves, making it warm, and when wearing gloves, it prevents skin exposure and keeps cold air out.
In winter mountains, it is important to prevent skin exposure, so wear with thumb holes is useful.
Balaclava structure hood
The hood of the R1 thermal full zip hoodie has a balaclava structure, and when you close the zipper all the way up, you can keep your face warm.
It's extremely convenient that it's integrated with the clothing, and you can hold it warm when it's cold, and you can quickly take it off if it's hot, and you can keep your head and ears warm when it's hot, so there's a wide variety of options for controlling your body temperature.
The fit is high, so you can feel a little tight due to movement, but the highly elastic fabric makes it less stressful and it's convenient because there's no need to go out of your way to carry a separate balaclava.
Summary: With the R1 thermal, you will solve the problems of middle layers in extremely cold mountains!
There are many things you need in the middle layer of winter, such as heat retention, sweat removal, breathability, and quick drying, so finding the best clothing is extremely difficult.
What's bothering me is how to use the R1 series. This time we introduced the R1 thermal, full zip hoodie, but depending on what you want, the appeal of other R1 series will shine through. For example, there are areas where you can use it in a variety of ways: "R1" if you want to use it all the way through, "R1 Air" if you have a high level of activity and are focused on sweat removal; "R1 Tech Face" if you need durability in your activities on sharp rock surfaces or rocky ridges; and "R1 Thermal" if you have a very cold environment or a situation where you don't have a large amount of activity, so you can use it differently.
The R1 thermal full zip hoodie introduced is a middle layer that has high heat retention, sweat removal, and quick drying properties, making it suitable for activities in harsh environments! There was no need to mention the sam hole or balaclava food!
Wear your R1 thermal, full zip hoodie and head out into the extremely cold winter mountains!
Disclosure: The author received the product in this review and the articles have been created with full independence in accordance with editorial policy.
Please consider paying memberships that allow you to support our website while enjoying limited articles and limited events!
Yosuke
People who act with just one backpack with the motto of "as light as possible" so that they don't get inconvenient.
From spring to autumn, I chase after char deep in the mountains and go fishing in the mountain stream. We walked the mountains in search of spectacular views that cannot be seen from the ground. Camping to be healed by the bonfire. Snowboarding is a floating mountain with a mountain of silver.
A freelance writer who has been enjoying the outdoors for over 20 years and enjoying the outdoors in his own way all year round. Based on my experience writing articles for more than dozens of outdoor web media, I will be sharing my own experiences and tools that I have been using.
