Patagonia R1 Air Full Zip Hoody Review
Time-tested and a perennial favorite, the Patagonia R1 Air is quite possibly the perfect technical fleece jacket for outdoor activities
March 25, 2024
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Our Verdict
The Patagonia R1 Air Hoody is a near-perfect technical fleece. It’s one of the most breathable fleece jackets available, yet it still insulates during cold weather activities better than most.
But this is more than a technical jacket. It’s an all-around fantastic hooded fleece. It looks great, so you can wear it all day and not look like you just finished a ski mountaineering race. There aren’t many fleeces that work as well on the trail as the Patagonia R1 Air, and even fewer that fit in casual settings while performing, too. That is one of many reasons it is the overall winner in our guide to The Best Fleece jackets.
The R1 Air Hoody is made of recycled polyester jacquard fleece—as soft as your favorite cozy sweater, but infinitely more breathable. This fleece material is the star of the show here. It consists of hollow core yarns woven in a zig-zag pattern. This fleece looks unique, and the woven pattern adds performance characteristics. The hollow yarn creates a ton of loft to hold in heat, and the gaps between the woven zig zags allow that heat to escape as it builds up.
The result is a very warm layer that breathes better than any fleece I’ve used. It also has a full-length zipper for venting and a balaclava hood that covers your head, neck, and face up to your nose, increasing warmth and protection.
In this Patagonia R1 Air Hoody review, I use my experience as a long-distance thru-hiker, winter trail runner, bikepacking cyclist, and all-around outdoorsy mountain athlete to inform what makes this fleece jacket special, who it’s for, and when to use it.
This fleece is breathable and versatile enough to work for just about everyone and all kinds of mountain activities, from running to biking to backcountry skiing to hiking to rock climbing. Read on to find out why.
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COMPARE PRICES OF THE PATAGONIA R1 AIR FULL ZIP HOODY
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Specs
Price: $179
Weight: 366 g (12.9 oz) (men's), 309 g (10.9 oz) (women's)
Shell fabric: 5.7-oz 100% recycled polyester jacquard fleece with hollow-core yarns (certified bluesign® approved, Fair Trade Certified™ sewn)
Pockets: Zippered chest pocket, zippered hand pockets
Hood: Yes
Available sizes: Women’s XXS-XL, Men’s XS-XXL
Best for: all-around outdoor activities
COMPARISON TABLE OF SIMILAR MODELS
| FLEECE JACKET | SIZES | WEIGHT | BEST FOR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patagonia R1 Air Full Zip Hoody Men's Women's |
XS-XXL (M), XXS-XL (W) | 12.9 oz / 366 g (M), 10.9 oz / 309 g (W) | All-around outdoor activities |
| Patagonia R1 Air Zip-Neck Men's Women's |
XS-3XL (M), XS-XXL (W) | 10.2 oz / 289 g (M), 8.9 oz / 252 g (W) | Cold weather base/mid-layer |
| Patagonia R1 Air Crew Men's only |
XS-XXL (M) | 9.7 oz / 275 g (M) | Cold weather base/mid-layer |
| Patagonia R1 Pullover Men's Women's |
XS-3XL (M), XXS-XXL (W) | 11.7 oz / 332 g (M), 9.7 oz / 275 g (W) | Cold weather base/mid-layer |
| Patagonia R1 TechFace Hoody Men's only |
XS-XXL (M) | 14.2 oz / 403 g (M) | Snowy activities |
The Patagonia R1 Air Hoody is a performance fleece that is so comfortable and stylish, we enjoy wearing it around town.
Best for
The R1 Air Hoody is best for high-output activities in cool to cold weather: running, skiing, biking, backpacking, and hiking. It also has a casual look and is more comfortable than your favorite cotton hoody, so you’ll want to wear it when you’ve finished those activities, too.
On a snowy trail run in the Patagonia R1 Air Hoody.
How We Tested
I used the Patagonia R1 Air Hoody in winter and spring conditions while trail running, bike commuting in Denver, snowshoeing, and ski touring in Colorado in the winter. I also used it while cycling on the Sky Islands Odyssey bikepacking route. Then I wore it trail running, hiking, and camping in southern Arizona and New Mexico.
The Patagonia R1 Air hoody was among the most breathable and quick drying warm fleece layers we tested, making it ideal for high output activities in cool weather.
What We Liked
Soft
Warm
Breathable
Dries quickly
Feels like cotton, but performs better
Soft
The R1 Air’s material is the softest fleece I’ve ever worn. The polyester jacquard fleece is soft and fluffy. This layer is the first one I reach for whenever it’s cold, and it feels great against your skin.
Warm
This fleece full zip hoody is incredibly warm. Paired with a shell, it’s warm enough for activities in sub-freezing temperatures. It has hollow core yarn woven into a zig-zag, textured pattern. This feature creates a lot of space to trap warm air.
Breathable
The R1 Air hoody is incredibly breathable. Sweat quickly evaporates through the material, especially if you’re moving. The zig-zag fleece weave lets excess heat escape between the woven pattern's gaps. When worn with a base layer, this fleece doesn’t make you overheat in temperatures near 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dries quickly
To say this material dries quickly is an understatement because it doesn’t seem to even get wet. I’ve completely soaked my baselayer with sweat when wearing this on warmer runs, and this hoody has stayed dry. This fleece barely feels wet, even when fresh from the washing machine.
Feels like cotton but performs better
Cotton is very comfortable against your skin. But this fleece is more comfortable, more breathable, and dries much faster than cotton or other fleece materials.
Inside vs. outside face of fabric on the R1 Air zip hoody. The soft material in the inside makes it feel as comfortable as our favorite cotton hoody.
Details
Fabric
The R1 Air hoody is 100% recycled polyester jacquard fleece with hollow-core yarns woven into a zigzag texture. This fabric is unlike any material I’ve seen—it’s extremely breathable, warm, moisture-wicking, and looks great.
I recently had an interaction with a friend that illuminates how great this fabric is. When he saw the fabric, my friend asked, “Can I touch it?” I told him he could, and he exclaimed with delight between giggles, “It feels even better than I expected!”
Weight
My Men’s Small R1 Air Hoody weighs 11.5 ounces on my home scale. Patagonia’s claimed weight is 12.9 ounces, which is for a size medium. Compared to other zippered fleece jackets, this is lighter than most, but not the lightest.
This hoody wouldn’t be my first choice for ultralight backpacking in warm weather, but this is great for shoulder season backpacking trips where I’d want a warm and breathable layer to wear all day.
Warmth to Weight Ratio
The R1 fleece has a similar warmth-to-weight ratio as other similarly weighted fleeces. It’s warm but about average weight, so it has an average warmth-to-weight ratio.
Full Zip Construction and Zip Hoody Design
The R1 Air Hoody has a full-length zipper and a full-coverage balaclava-style hood. The zipper, a YKK #5, is small and light, but not so small that it feels flimsy and snags easily. This zipper has no issue with snagging at all, in fact.
The zipper and hood combine to make an extremely versatile layer. It can be unzipped to vent your core when it’s hot. When it’s cold, you can put the hood on and zip it closed around your neck and chin to trap warmth.
Pocket Layout and Functionality
The R1 Air Hoody has three zippered pockets—two hand warmer pockets and a single left chest pocket. The hand pockets are big enough for your hands, gloves, or other small items. The chest pocket is big enough for a bar or gel, but it isn’t big enough for my smartphone with a 6.75-inch screen. I wish the chest pocket were slightly bigger.
Examples of similar micro-grid fleece jackets.
Mobility and Stretch
This jacket stretches enough to allow full mobility in the shoulders, arms, and upper body. I can make any movement I need to without any resistance. If this fleece weren’t so comfortable and warm, I’d forget I was wearing it.
Packability
This hoody is about as packable as any other fleece jacket with a full zipper. It packs into its own hand pockets to the size of a large water bottle.
This fleece is pretty packable, but if you’re looking for even more packability, I recommend the R1 Air Zip-Neck Pullover or the R1 Air Crew. The full-length zipper makes the R1 Air Hoody less packable than either of these options that don’t have a full zipper. But the full-length zipper adds more versatility than these versions of the R1, so you potentially might not want to pack it away as often.
Cuffs and Hem
The cuffs and hem are made of the primary fleece material and nylon ripstop reinforcements in high-wear areas. The wrist cuffs and bottom hem fit really well, and the fleece's stretchiness helps with a comfortable fit along the hems.
Durability and abrasion resistance
The cuffs and hem have soft ripstop nylon reinforcements in the high-wear areas on the insides of the wrists and back of the bottom hem. This feature protects the fleece from wearing out prematurely from abrasion due to a backpack and swinging your arms while you hike, run, or ski.
The ripstop nylon is also sewn around the hood opening and along the inside seams of the zipper. This sewing increases durability and comfort in areas that could chafe your chin and neck.
The offset seams on the R1 Air hoody make it ideal for wearing with a backpack, so the seams won’t chafe against the pack straps.
Offset seams
The R1 Air hoody has offset seams on the shoulders, so back pack straps won’t chafe on top of your shoulders.
Hood Design
It has a full-coverage balaclava-style hood that extends to just below your nose. The hood is tight enough to fit under a helmet but loose enough to fit over a ball cap. I find this hood perfect for chilly days when you sometimes need a little extra warmth on your head, but it’s not cold enough to wear a beanie. When moving through shady areas or on windy ridges, this hood protects your head and neck and is tight enough not to get blown off by the wind.
The Patagonia R1 Air Hoody hood can be worn under a helmet for extra warmth when you’re cycling. It also works with a climbing helmet or ski helmet.
Fit and Sizes Available
The R1 Air Hoody comes in Men’s sizes XS-XXL. The Women’s version comes in sizes XXS-XL. This hoody is true to size as well. I usually wear a men’s small, and this fits as I’d expect.
Social and Environmental Impact
Patagonia is a leader in sustainability and environmental impact. In 2022, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard donated the company to a trust and nonprofit organization to ensure all profits are used to fight climate change and protect undeveloped land. This commitment to sustainability is apparent when you examine the details of the R1 Air Hoody outlined below.
RECYCLED FABRIC
The R1 Air Hoody is made of 100% recycled materials made from plastic bottles.
BLUESIGN
Patagonia partners with the bluesign® System to source safe products for the environment, garment workers, and all of us.
WARRANTY
All Patagonia apparel and equipment is guaranteed for the life of the product. This warranty is the best I’ve seen and shows Patagonia’s dedication to making high-quality gear and keeping it out of landfills.
REPAIRS
Patagonia will repair any of their apparel or gear. They will also give you repair tape to make the repair yourself and have tons of DIY repair information on their website.
FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED
The R1 Air Hoody is Fair Trade Certified sewn.
WORN WEAR
Patagonia offers all their items on their Worn Wear website, so you may be able to find it pre-owned.
We like the design of the high collar on the R1 Air Hoody that keeps your neck and chin warm, but allows venting as needed.
Performance
The R1 Air is an extremely high-performing fleece. I’ll cover all the ways it’s great below.
Insulation and thermal efficiency
The R1 Air insulates on its own very well. It’s warm enough to wear as a mid layer during active pursuits with only a base layer in sub-freezing temperatures. If worn with a shell to block the wind, this is warm enough to keep you comfortable in even colder conditions.
I wore the Patagonia R1 Air Hoody while climbing a 14er in Colorado in the winter. When I reached the summit, it was very windy. I added a shell over the R1 and baselayer combination, and was warm enough to take a short break before heading down the mountain.
Breathability and Moisture-Wicking Capabilities
This fleece breathes and wicks moisture better than any mid-layer I’ve worn. I went on a 10 mile run on a winter day that started cold, around 30 degrees. Within an hour the temperature had jumped to 50 degrees and sunny. I was wearing the R1 Air with a baselayer, and 50 degree in the warm Colorado sun is too warm for its insulating capabilities. However, I kept the jacket on, thinking it would make an excellent breathability test. To my surprise, I never overheated. The R1 Air never got very wet, either, even when my baselayer was soaked-through with sweat. It’s that good at wicking away moisture.
Wind Protection
The R1 Air doesn’t have the most wind protection, as you might expect from a layer that’s this breathable. However, the insulation provides enough wind protection on chilly days. Most fleece jackets don't have much weather resistance and rely on layering. I wouldn’t rely solely on this fleece to keep you comfortable if it's cold and windy. It pairs well with a lightweight windbreaker jacket or any outer layer with more weather resistance, like a rain jacket.
Water Resistance
The R1 Air is not very water resistant. The fabric stays relatively dry in light rain, but water will pass through the material, so it won’t keep the rain off you.
The Patagonia R1 Air Henley uses the same comfortable and non-bulky fabric, but with a button neck instead of zip.
Fit and Comfort
I wear the R1 Air Hoody almost every day. It’s the most comfortable hoody I own, and it fits perfectly. The polyester jacquard fleece material is softer than a traditional fleece. It’s so soft that it makes me want to keep it on all day, no matter what. It fits tightly, but not so tight that you can’t layer underneath it. And the material stretches enough to be comfortable during any activity, from rock climbing to running or biking.
Bulk and Compactness
This fleece is thick enough to insulate well without being bulky. It’s thin and lightweight. It also works well as part of a layering system since its slim cut fits under a jacket or bulkier fleece.
It also packs to a small enough size to easily fit in your pack. I stuff it into one of the handwarmer pockets, which works as an integrated stuff sack. It stuffs into a 10 by 4.5-inch cylinder this way.
Quality
The R1 Air hoody is an extremely high-quality fleece. Everywhere I look on the R1 Air, I find extreme attention to detail that screams quality, from the impeccably sewn seams to the ripstop accents on high-abrasion areas. I’ve worn this fleece almost nonstop for the past three months, and all signs indicate it will last for years to come.
Price and Value for the Money
Compared to a standard fleece jacket, the R1 Air Hoody is expensive. However, it costs similar to other performance fleece jackets, which are all pretty expensive.
Even though it’s more expensive than a basic fleece, it’s still an excellent value for a high-performance fleece. You’d be hard-pressed to find something more breathable and versatile than this hoody at any price.
Patagonia also offers all their items on their Worn Wear website, so you may be able to find it pre-owned.
Bikepacking in the Patagonia R1 Air. Riding bikes is an outdoor activity where we tested insulation and wind protection.
Use case scenarios with layering
I wear the R1 Air as a standalone layer over a wool or synthetic t-shirt on chilly shoulder season hikes, runs, and bike rides. It also works well when layered on top of a base layer in colder contexts for high-output activities like trail running, hiking, and uphill skiing. During high-output activities in the winter, I wear this with a baselayer and carry a windbreaker as an extra layer to keep warm when the temperature drops late in the day or when I stop moving.
The R1 Hoody can be used as a mid-layer for skiing, over a thick baselayer, and under a shell jacket. In extremely cold conditions, you can add a lightweight synthetic puffy jacket as a second mid-layer. For camping and backpacking, you can layer this over a baselayer and under an insulated jacket for maximum warmth when hanging out in camp.
What Could Be Better
Chest pocket could be larger
Extended sizing options
Variations
A few other variations of the R1 Air use the same woven polyester jacquard fleece. If a full-length zipper isn’t your thing, check out one of these:
Patagonia R1 Air Zip-Neck Pullover
Available sizes: XS-3XL (men's), XS-XXL (women's)
Fit: Slim
Weight: Men's 10.2 oz (289 g), women's 8.9 oz (252 g)
Fleece weight: Polartec® Power Grid® fleece
Best for: Cold weather base/mid-layer
This is the same fleece material and design with a ½-length zipper and no hood.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE PATAGONIA R1 AIR ZIP-NECK
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Patagonia R1 Air Crew
Available sizes: XS-XXL (men's only)
Fit: Slim
Weight: Men's 9.7 oz (275 g)
Fleece weight: Polartec® Power Grid® fleece
Best for: Cold weather base/mid-layer
This is the same fleece material on a crew neck fleece. It has no zipper or option for mechanical venting. It also has no hood. It's only available in men's.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE PATAGONIA R1 AIR CREW
On a winter run with the hood up and collar up in the Patagonia R1 Pullover jacket.
Patagonia R1 vs R1 Air
There are a lot of different Patagonia R1 garments. Below, I’ll outline the main differences between the standard Patagonia R1 hoody (featured in our Other Jackets to Consider section below) and the R1 Air. The R1 Air and the R1 hoody are great, and you can’t go wrong with either.
The R1 hoody is more like a base layer than the R1 Air, which is more of a mid layer. The R1 hoody also fits tighter than the R1 Air. The R1’s grid fleece material is stretchier than the more subtle stretch of the R1 Air, too.
Close up on the micro grid fleece fabric on the Patagonia R1 Pullover jacket.
The R1 hoody can be used as a baselayer in extremely cold conditions, whereas the R1 Air is better suited as a breathable mid-layer for high-output activities.
The R1 hoody is easier to layer on top of and does better at blocking wind. Since it fits tighter, the R1 is better for extreme cold scenarios where you need three tight-fitting layers—a baselayer, fleece, and shell. You could easily add a second midlayer over your R1 since it fits tight enough if it’s enough to warrant a fourth layer.
The R1 Air is softer, more comfortable, and more breathable. The R1 Air also looks less like a technical garment than the R1, so you can wear it casually.
Other Jackets to Consider
Regarding fleece jackets, comfort, warmth, and breathability are the most important. If the Patagonia R1 Air doesn’t work for you, here are some common alternatives.
Patagonia R1 Pullover
Available sizes: XXS-3XL (men’s), XXS-XXL (women’s)
Fit: Slim
Weight: 11.7 oz / 332 g (men’s), 9.7 / 275 g (women’s)
Fleece weight: Polartec® Power Grid® fleece
Best for: Cold weather base/mid-layer
The Patagonia R1 Fleece Pullover is a more technical-looking fleece that unzips to the belly, but doesn’t fully unzip. We get into the nitty-gritty comparison of the two models in the section above on R1 vs. R1 Air. In short, the Patagonia R1 Pullover is made of a stretchy grid fleece material and fits tighter than the R1 Air Hoody.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE PATAGONIA R1 FLEECE PULLOVER
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Patagonia R1 Techface Hoody (men’s)
Patagonia R1 Crossstrata Hoody (Women’s)
Available sizes: XS-XXL (men’s); XXS-XXL (women’s)
Fit: Slim
Weight: 14.2 oz / 403 g (men’s); 10.5 oz / 298 g (women’s)
Fleece weight: 5.6-oz polyester/spandex double-weave (men’s); 5.9-oz polyester/spandex double-weave (women’s)
Best for: Snowy activities
The Patagonia R1 TechFace (men’s) /CrossStrata (women’s) hoody is one part softshell jacket, one part full-zip fleece. It’s made of a dual-sided material with a grid fleece interior and a stretchy water- and wind-resistant exterior face material.
The exterior material makes the R1 Techface/CrossStrata look more like a jacket than a fleece. The inside-facing grid fleece on the R1 Techface/CrossStrata hoody is warm like a fleece but is more weather-resistant, heavier, and more expensive.
MEN'S R1 TECHFACE HOODY
WOMEN'S R1 CROSSSTRATA HOODY
Ortovox Fleece Grid Hoody
Available sizes: S-XXL (men’s), XS-XL (women’s)
Fit: Slim
Weight: 12.8 oz / 362 g (men’s), 11.6 oz / 330 g (women’s)
Fleece weight: Thin polyester/wool blend grid fleece
Best for: Cold weather mid-layer
The Ortovox Fleece Grid Hoody is a full-zip grid fleece that uses a unique wool-polyester blend. The material is extremely breathable and odor-resistant, and this hoody is extremely comfortable as well. It’s very expensive compared to the R1 fleece, but the wool-blend fleece material is super unique.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE ORTOVOX FLEECE GRID HOODY
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WOMEN'S
La Sportiva Descender Storm Jacket
Available sizes: XS-XL (men’s and women’s)
Fit: Slim
Weight: 15.6 oz / 445 g (men’s), 13.5 oz / 385 g (women’s)
Fleece weight: Recycled single-layer grid fleece softshell hybrid
Best for: Ski Touring, Winter conditions
The La Sportiva Descender Storm Jacket is an extremely breathable two-sided fleece jacket with a full-coverage hood. It’s very comfortable and stretchy, and the exterior side of the material is water and wind resistant. This jacket is better suited for foul weather than the R1 Air, but not quite as breathable or versatile.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE LA SPORTIVA DESCENDER STORM JACKET
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WOMEN'S
Outdoor Research Vigor Grid Fleece Quarter-Zip Pullover
Available sizes: S-XXL (men's), XS-XL (women's)
Fit: Trim fit
Weight: 8.4 oz (men's); 8.6 oz (women's)
Fleece weight: Thermoregulating ActiveTemp™ Gridback fleece
Best for: Hiking
The Outdoor Research Vigor is a ¼-zip grid fleece with OR’s ActiveTemp technology to improve its temperature regulation over a wide range of conditions. Compared to the R1 Air, this fleece doesn’t have the full zip design or hood (although there are hooded versions) but does have a similar amount of breathability.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE OUTDOOR RESEARCH VIGOR
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About the Author / Why You Should Trust Us
Sam Schild is a thru-hiker, bikepacking cyclist, and mountain athlete based in Colorado.
He has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, and the Colorado Trail twice.
Sam has bike toured and bikepacked over 10,000 miles across the United States, on the Kokopelli Trail, Colorado Trail, and all over the American Southwest, and commuting around Denver.
Sam started to love fleece’s lightweight and cozy warmth during a cold, wet month on the PCT in Washington. Now, he brings a fleece on every shoulder season thru-hike and other cold weather adventures.
He regularly gets outside in the wintertime, whether on a trail run, peak bagging mission, snowy bike ride, or uphill ski mission, and he’s definitely wearing a fleece whenever it’s cold.
Sam tested the Patagonia R1 Air Hoody and other fleece jackets to find the best fleece for everybody, for any application.
You can read more about Sam on his author page or on his website.
