R1 Patagonia 's signature items, and has been immensely popular with climbers, hikers, snow sports enthusiasts, and all manner of outdoor enthusiasts since its introduction in 1999. R1 jacket which has the longest history among the series , has undergone a long-awaited full renewal this season.
Terra Via Pack, a backpack that can be transformed into a full-fledged hiking backpack for day trips and even overnight stays in a tent, has also been updated. Incidentally, this season also the Terra Via Pants, (review to be completed at a later date), and there are a ton of updates to items that mountaineers and hikers can't miss. It's an exciting start to the season.
So this time, I was able to try out the Men's R1 Jacket the Terra Via Pack 36L which has many features suitable for hiking, such as lightness, breathability, comfortable carrying, and smart storage, on a day hike in the field, so I would like to quickly review my impressions.
table of contents
- R1 Jacket: Key Features
- R1 Jacket: Detailed Review
- TerraVia Pack 36L: Key Features
- TerraVia Pack 36L: Detailed Review
- Breathable mesh back panel, shoulder straps and hip belt
- Comfortable fit, ample cushioning, and built-in frame for comfortable carrying
- A variety of storage options that are both easy to use and spacious
- Summary: A lightweight and comfortable backpack with many features to help you avoid stress during the hot season
R1 Jacket: Key Features
The R1 Jacket is a technical fleece designed to be a lightweight, breathable, and compact regulator. Its hybrid construction combines lightweight Polartec Power Grid fabric in the torso and shoulders to elbows with Capilene Thermal Weight base layer fabric in the sides and cuffs, delivering maximum comfort with minimal weight. The stretchy fabric allows for easy movement, and the center-front zipper features a zipper garage at the chin for reduced discomfort. The chest pocket and left and right hand pockets feature mesh interiors for ventilation, and offset shoulder seams reduce discomfort when wearing a backpack. While still providing room for a base layer, its slim design won't get in the way of layering, making this a versatile mid-layer fleece suitable for a variety of activities.
Favorite points
- Excellent balance of breathability and warmth
- Sweat-wicking and quick-drying
- Lightweight and stretchy for unrestricted movement and exceptional comfort
- The mesh pockets provide ventilation
Points of concern
- Durability of thin areas
Main specifications and evaluation
| item | Patagonia Men's R1 Jacket |
|---|---|
| Actual weight | 338.5g (medium size) |
| color | Graze Green, Black, Utility Blue |
| size | XS / S / M / L / XL |
| Fabric material |
|
| One zippered chest pocket and two zippered handwarmer pockets | |
| Reference price (as of April 2025) |
￥24,200 (tax included) |
| Outdoor Gearzine Review | |
| Comfort | ★★★★☆ |
| Heat retention | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ease of movement | ★★★★★ |
| Breathable and quick-drying | ★★★★☆ |
| weight | ★★★★☆ |
| Ease of layering | ★★★★★ |
| versatility | ★★★★★ |
| Suitable activities | Great for hiking, mountain climbing, climbing, trail running, backcountry skiing, and other outdoor activities that require lightness and mobility |
R1 Jacket: Detailed Review
Excellent balance of breathability and heat retention
The R1 Jacket is an all-around model in the R1 series lineup. Polartec Power Grid is placed on the torso and shoulders to provide moderate warmth to the core of the body, while the armpits, stomach, and cuffs are made of fabric used in the Capilene Thermal Weight series, creating a hybrid structure that enhances breathability.
Polartec Power Grid is placed from the torso to the elbows where warmth is important, and Capilene Thermal Weight fabric is placed from the armpits to the sides and cuffs where breathability is important
In field tests, I didn't experience any overheating even during long periods of sweating. The grid grooves promote ventilation while sweating, and the thinner fabric in areas like the underarms, where sweat tends to accumulate, increases breathability, allowing me to wear it for long periods of time without feeling uncomfortable
Although the thin fabric improves breathability, durability is a bit of a concern. Thin fabric means it may be damaged by abrasion and rubbing
Capilene Thermal Weight fabric is thin enough to see through while still retaining warmth
Open pockets promote ventilation through ventilation effect
The chest and abdominal pockets both have mesh interiors, which can be opened to provide ventilation and allow for more efficient ventilation and heat release. The R1 Jacket is already highly breathable, but this ventilation effect is even greater in situations where you are doing more physical activity.
Although opening the pockets makes it impossible to put anything in them, the effect was significant. During the test, I was in an environment with a temperature of 0 to 5°C for just under 5 hours, and I was able to wear it for the entire time without feeling uncomfortable due to stuffiness
Opening the pockets provides ventilation. There is one chest pocket and two hand warmer pockets
Before you know it, you'll be dry with exceptional breathability and quick-drying properties
The R1 Jacket is also excellent at wicking sweat and drying quickly. When you're out and about, you inevitably sweat, especially on your back where you're carrying a backpack, but with fabrics that don't absorb sweat, that sweat accumulates and is difficult to dry. The R1 Jacket , on the other hand, uses fabric that dries quickly, and the grid structure of the jacket's grooves allows sweat to spread naturally across the fabric, as shown in the photo below, and before you know it, it's dry and swiftly.
When I took off my backpack during a break, it was stained with sweat, but it dried in no time
The grid-structured lining allows sweat to wick away easily, so there's no sweat sloshing back in, and it doesn't feel sticky or sticky, making it extremely comfortable
Due to its thin, lightweight, and highly breathable design, don't expect excessive warmth or wind resistance
The R1 Jacket certainly an all-around , but as a mid-layer it's a thin, breathable active fleece, so you should be careful not to expect it to provide warmth when hiking in harsh environments such as snowy mountains. Because it lets wind through easily, your body will get cold in windy places like ridges, so I felt that wind-resistant clothing would be more useful for activities that require a lot of movement and involve long periods of activity in strong winds.
However, in this case, layering it with a shell jacket will allow you to move around comfortably in a wider variety of environments, so conversely, it can also be said to be highly versatile
Stretchy and unrestricted movement for exceptional comfort
The R1 Jacket designed to fit snugly against your body , but its slim fit means it won't get in the way of layers, and it's highly stretchable, so even when you lift your arms or stretch, it feels like you're wearing a base layer.
It fits snugly to the body without restricting movement at all. The stretchy and flexible fabric makes it comfortable to wear
The full zip makes it easy to put on and take off, and there's a zipper garage at the chin so the zipper isn't an issue. While tight-fitting clothing around the neck keeps you warm, it can sometimes feel uncomfortable, which is something I don't like. The R1 Jacket 's fit around the neck is just right; it's not too tight, but not too loose either.
Summary: An all-around regulator with excellent heat retention, breathability, quick drying, comfort, and lightness
There are many requirements for a mid-layer, and it can be difficult to find the best layering garment
The R1 Jacket is comfortable to wear, with a good balance of warmth and breathability, preventing overheating while on the move, and quick-drying if it gets wet from sweat. On top of that, it's lightweight, making it a garment we can confidently recommend as a mid-layer fleece for use from early spring to early fall.
TerraVia Pack 36L: Key Features
The TerraVia Pack 36L is a lightweight, comfortable, and spacious backpack for a wide range of hikes, from day trips to multi-day routes. The shoulder straps, hip belt, and back are highly breathable, and the internal frame improves stability when carrying heavy loads and distributes the load evenly, reducing strain. The hydration-compatible main compartment expands easily with a rope-top closure, while the front pocket offers both durability and storage, deep power mesh side pockets provide secure storage, and pole attachments and hip belt pockets provide smart storage with minimalist design. A rain cover is included as standard in the lower pocket of the backpack.
Favorite points
- Breathable mesh back panel, shoulder straps and hip belt
- Comfortable fit and ample cushioning
- The internal frame provides good balance when worn
- Expandable with roll-top closure
- By using the side compression, it can be used without stress from day trips to camping
- Details in various places that make you feel "ease of use" while on the move
- Front pocket is more durable than mesh
Points of concern
- The shoulder and waist padding is not too thick, making it suitable for UL and fast packing
- The back length cannot be adjusted
Main specifications and evaluation
| Item Name | Patagonia Terra Via Pack 36L |
|---|---|
| capacity | 36L |
| weight | 1066g |
| material |
|
| Women's model | common |
| size | S size (61 x 30 x 23 cm), M size (65 x 30 x 23 cm), L size (69 x 30 x 23 cm) |
| Rear Panel |
|
| Hydration sleeve | 〇 |
| Main Access | Roll-top type |
| Rain cover | 〇 |
| Pocket Attachment |
|
| Reference price (as of April 2025) |
￥31,900 (tax included) |
| Outdoor Gearzine Review | |
| Comfort | ★★★★★ |
| stability | ★★★☆☆ |
| Storage capacity | ★★★★☆ |
| Functionality (ease of use) | ★★★☆☆ |
| durability | ★★★★☆ |
| weight | ★★★★☆ |
| Hiking satisfaction | ★★★★☆ |
| Suitable activities | From day hikes to camping, to mountain climbing in rugged areas including rocky areas, to long distance hikes, etc |
TerraVia Pack 36L: Detailed Review
Breathable mesh back panel, shoulder straps and hip belt
When hiking or mountain climbing, where you carry food, clothing, and shelter on your back, it is impossible to prevent sweating over long periods of time, and it is impossible to completely eliminate the discomfort caused by heat and humidity. The back and shoulders, which come into contact with the ground when carrying a backpack, are particularly prone to getting wet and sweaty, making them particularly uncomfortable. Hikers must consider how to deal with sweat
To avoid the discomfort of getting wet, it's important to choose items that are highly breathable and designed to reduce the discomfort caused by sweating. The TerraVia Pack 36L is designed to reduce sweating, with the shoulder straps made of breathable and quick-drying air mesh fabric, and the cushioning material made of hollowed-out padding for significantly improved breathability. Even during long periods of activity that caused me to sweat, sweating was kept to a minimum, resulting in little discomfort.
Excellent breathability thanks to the double effect of mesh fabric and hollowed-out padding
The back pad and hip belt are also made of air mesh, and the perforated grid padding enhances breathability. The back of the backpack, which comes into contact with the body, does get a little stuffy, but I felt that it offered better breathability than any other backpack I've used before
Comfortable fit, ample cushioning, and built-in frame for comfortable carrying
The padding is not only breathable, but also comfortable to wear. The hip belt, designed to hug the waist, distributes the load evenly across the shoulders, reducing strain on the shoulders. This allows the entire body to be used for carrying the pack, making it less tiring even during long periods of activity. The Terra Via Pack 36L 's foam back panel has built-in spring steel, which distributes the weight evenly across the shoulders when packed, making it stable and comfortable to wear.
The TerraVia Pack 36L has a built-in frame for increased stability, is a lightweight backpack weighing just 1,066g while still maintaining a 36L capacity. There are currently many UL (ultralight) backpacks on the market that weigh less than 500g, and when comparing the weight of these backpacks, the TerraVia Pack 36L may not seem particularly light, but it would be premature to make a comparison solely on weight.
While lighter gear is always better, there's more to a backpack than just lightness. To be able to carry food, clothing, and shelter for extended periods of time, comfort, load distribution, and stability are more important than lightness. When comparing backpacks, taking into account the comfort and load distribution required, the Terra Via Pack 36L is a lightweight backpack that offers all the necessary performance.
For UL-oriented hikers who want to pack lightly
One thing that bothered me was that despite the increased durability and stability, it doesn't have a load lifter. To carry a heavy load, you can make the backpack more stable by pulling it closer to your body, so I honestly thought it would be nice to have a load lifter since it has an internal frame and increased stability
The shoulder straps and waist padding are not particularly thick, and it does not have a load lifter to pull the backpack closer to the body, so although it can be carried with the weight of your waist, it is not a backpack that can withstand heavy loads.I felt that it was suitable for trips where equipment is as light as possible and pack weight is kept to just over 10kg
A variety of storage options that are both easy to use and spacious
The roll-top closure allows for expansion, and the side compression allows for stress-free use from day trips to tent camping
The TerraVia Pack 36L features a roll-top closure and a long streamer, making it highly expandable and suitable for the start or when you need to replenish your supplies. The top belt is also longer so you can attach larger items like a sleeping mat.
Not only that, by utilizing the side compression, it can also be used for day hikes and other activities where you need to carry little luggage, meaning that one backpack can be used for everything from day hikes to camping in a tent where you need to carry a lot of luggage
Generally, when you try to use a large backpack for camping on a day hike or mountain climbing trip, it leaves extra space, which can cause luggage to move around easily and make it difficult to use, but the Terra Via Pack 36L can be shrunk by using the side compression, so it was easy to use even on a day hike. Of course, it's overkill for a one or two hour hike, as you don't need much food or drink, but it was fine for longer hikes.
Front pocket is more durable than mesh
The front pocket, made of non-stretch fabric, had the impression of being difficult to use, but the TerraVia Pack 36L has stretch power mesh on both sides of the pocket, so it has more storage capacity than it looks. Durability is also ensured by the use of a durable fabric instead of mesh material.
The front pocket has power mesh on both sides, making it stretchy and allowing it to hold a lot of luggage
The stretch area is limited so it cannot hold a lot of luggage
The power mesh on both sides provides a certain amount of storage capacity, but it's also true that pockets with power mesh on the entire surface have a higher storage capacity. It's good that they've used fabric to increase durability, but it would be a shame if they at least added gussets to the pockets, as they could have stored a little more
Various pockets accessible while wearing the backpack
The power mesh hip belt pocket can accommodate larger items
The side pockets, made with highly elastic stretch power mesh, are deep enough to safely store bottles and other items without worrying about them falling out. The hip belt pockets are also made with stretch power mesh, so they can fit even slightly larger items
The top pocket at the top of the neck has a key clip and is convenient for storing valuables or a first aid kit that you want to access quickly.The main compartment has a hydration sleeve inside and the tube can be pulled out from either the left or right side
The backpack has ice axe holders on both sides, allowing you to attach ice axes or trekking poles. They can be quickly stored even when you need to use both your hands and feet. The bottom pocket also holds the included rain cover, making it suitable for bad weather
I wanted a pocket on the shoulder strap
I don't have any major complaints about the storage capacity, but if I had to say something, I wish there was a pocket on the shoulder strap. The shoulder part is easier to access while on the move. I tend to carry water bottles rather than hydration packs, so I store them in the easily accessible shoulder strap pocket
The Terra Via Pack 36L allows you to access the side pockets while wearing the pack , but it's a shame there are no pockets on the shoulder straps, as the shoulder strap pockets are much easier to access.
Summary: A lightweight and comfortable backpack with many features to help you avoid stress during the hot season
As far as I can remember, there are very few backpacks made by Patagonia that are this lightweight and designed for hiking. Given this background, the TerraVia Pack 36L completely exceeded my expectations (in a good way). The air mesh construction and hollowed-out padding provide a comfortable fit, breathability, and quick-drying properties, making it the most reliable backpack for activities in warm to hot weather. The lightweight frame structure, which provides stability even with a heavy load, is comparable to backpacks of the same type and capacity, and I felt a stable fit even during long periods of activity. The TerraVia Pack 36L is a highly functional backpack, and its use of recycled materials makes it environmentally friendly.
The bag is packed with features designed for ease of use, and is sure to support comfortable activities for hikers on mountain trips such as through-hiking and traverses during the increasingly hot green season
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Yosuke.C (Yosuke)
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