Patagonia Nano-Air

IME they are different enough to justify both.

The Nano is purely focused on warmth and has a high degree of wind resistance. It has a solid fabric inside, behind the quilting, to give it an extra boost in wind resistance. It's great to put on to stay warm, but it is too warm or wind resistant to do a lot of physical activity in comfortably.

The Nano Air, which is using their take on Polartec Alpha, focuses on breathability and comfort. It has stretch, better air permeability and appears to target the same characteristics as the Rab Strata, which I do own. In that case, it is meant to be an all-day mid layer that is comfortable in changing, but cold, conditions particularly while moving.

I honestly don't know when I would wear this. Seems to me like it would be massively too hot for winter hiking or snowshoeing on the move. If it's really that breathable, then it isn't going to be much good around camp or when stopped, because that's when you wan the wind protection. If you don't need the wind protection, then why not just a PowerStretch or other lightweight fleece? This seems like a solution in search of a problem — more of an alternative to lightweight down puffy or a synthetic like the Patagonia Nano. Maybe a better alternative, I don't know. But, all of those options are too hot for actual hiking.

This looks like it is basically a fleece enclosed in shell fabric.

Agreed. I don't think that the typical Polartec Alpha piece as we've gotten so far is appropriate for hikers as much as it is for other sports. On the other hand, it was exactly what I needed all fall and winter long for rock and ice climbing as well as cycling.

In climbing, the stop and go with periods of intense activity are ideal for PT Alpha and in cycling, it's nice to be warm and protected from the cold winds without becoming a sweaty mess.

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I haven't tried an Alpha or Alpha-esque piece less, but am intrigued. It seems to me that they'd vent moisture quickly, which would make for a handy rest layer during the winter. Folks who don't put off much heat will probably find them nice as well for moving in the cold.

For the folks interested in the Alpha material and concept, especially for those who make gear, just throw together the lightest/thinnest Apex and some super breathable nylon (like a non calendared kind).

It's not exactly the same thing, but it approximates it at a MUCH lower cost if you make it yourself.

However, it's probably too hot for most for most conditions under constant exertion. Light weight vests made out of this combo, combined with windjacket might be a more viable and practical experiment in more extreme cold temps. However, you would still need your main (rest) insulation piece, obviously.

I thought of using the Nano Air as the inner layer of a two layer belay jacket system – two lighter layers instead of one heavy layer, with the outer jacket sized one size up to accommodate the inner – wear the inner at quick rest stops or on the move if it's very cold, and wear both in camp. Questions I'd like to answer:

1) Would the Nano Air work well at exposed windy rest stops? Sure, you'd vent the moisture, but would you stay warm enough?

Traditional light synthetic jackets like the Montbell Thermawrap Pro, the Arcteryx Nuclei and the Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody will block the wind and keep you warm in such conditions.

2) When on the move, how much warmer will the Nano Air Hoody be than a good fleece midlayer + breathable wind jacket, such as a Patagonia R1 Hoody plus Houdini?

In winter I use an R1 with a very breathable pre-2012 Houdini over a merino or Polartec HE base layer and it keeps me warm when moving plus moves moisture effectively. If it's very cold when moving, I just add another light fleece vest or jacket over the R1 (in my case a minimalist special edition R2 jacket that weighs only 11 oz or a vest of the same material).

Moving in -5F with wind chill to -25F, I've been fine with merino base layer, R1 Hoody, R2 fleece and thin softshell, a thin balaclava, goggles and hat over the balaclava. Puffy goes on over it all at rest stops.

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Rick, I understand the Nano Air Hoody can be left on while moving – what I want to know is whether it will work just as well at rest stops over everything. When it's cold and I stop I don't want to take off my wind jacket or light softshell – I just want to throw on something warm over it all, and when moving again take it off before I overheat/sweat too much. It's much easier than taking off your outer layer and putting your warm layer underneath it .

The Nano Air has the benefit of also allowing you to move with it on IF it's very cold. However, a fleece + very breathable wind shell/soft shell will let you do the same.

I've used a DAS Parka before. The older version was warmer than the current, and for a synthetic parka now check out the OR Chaos Jacket, which weighs the same but has higher quality warmer fill.

Because it's designed as a belay parka, I didn't have to size up with the DAS and could go with my usual L. However if I want to wear a lighter 80-100g/m2 outer jacket in camp OVER a lighter 60-80g jacket, I might have to size up one size.

It won't be cold enough for me to test it out under these conditions for quite a while.

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>If I am gushing, perhaps I am just really smitten with how good this jacket looks on me!

Pics, Rick?

I have to say am I also really tempted by the Nano-Air. I prefer a fleece as my all-round, wide-temp-range layer but the thin ones are too thin and the thick ones are too bulky and heavy. This seems like an awesome alternative. My plan is to pair it with a Cap 4 Hoody and Houdini in cold weather and with a yet-to-be-obtained Down jacket/parka in the very cold. My objective is that with these 4 garments I can mix-and-match between them for any temps down to around -20C or so.

Edit: Just realised that if I end up getting the Nano-Air and the Fitz Roy I will have a complete Patagonia top set. How embarrassing.

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Just wanted to echo Rick's comments here. I walked into the Patagonia store last week for a look at the jacket. I wasn't expecting much but was quite surprised when I tried it on. It feels lighter than a Nano Puff, despite weighing a bit more. Just feels great. In terms of the styling, my girlfriend was shocked that Patagonia made something that looked this good (she does not like me wearing technical gear around town). I just about hit the floor having her approval on a jacket and promptly snagged one at a mild discount online (I would have waited for a better deal but I didn't want to risk her changing her mind).

I started the thread because I don't own any synthetic insulation and I was wondering if this jacket would serve as an alternative to a Nano Puff (or any Primaloft garment). I'm interested to see how it performs for me and others in the coming months. I have the hoodless jacket (my girlfriend's preference), but if it lives up to the hype, I can see myself picking up the hooded version on a deeper discount to use when the conditions aren't ideal for my UL down hoody.

Also note that a vest will be available in the Spring line. I can see a Nano Air vest being more versatile than my R2 vest, which is a nice active piece but doesn't provide enough warmth for me in camp.

I bought one of these with the Campsaver 20% off. Going to give it a look and if it's no good I can always return it. Looks like it could be a great mid layer though.

> I just about hit the floor having her approval on a jacket and promptly snagged one at a mild discount online (I would have waited for a better deal but I didn't want to risk her changing her mind).

Can't waste an opportunity like that!

Review of the Nano-Air from Outside:

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/gear-shed/gear-guy/Whats-The-Worlds-Best-Midlayer.html

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Negative! I'm still waiting for an opportunity. The Tango looks like a great jacket too. Hopefully we'll get some field reports on these pieces soon.

I received one of the hoodies for review a couple of weeks ago. I took it with me this weekend when I went stargazing above 3,000′ in Western Massachusetts just in case. I ended up wearing it to stay warm while looking for the ISS and then as a windbreaker at the summit while watching the sunrise.

It won’t get proper cold in Southern New England for several weeks, so I don’t expect to have any experience to share in regards to the breathability for a little while. I am planning to put together a “Preview” post with an overview of the materials, design, and promised benefits. If anyone on the forum has any questions along those lines that haven’t already been asked, feel free to throw them my way here or in a PM. I’m looking to make my preview post as useful as possible.

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I had store credit and a %20 off coupon, so I went ahead and bought myself a birthday puffy, and promptly took it on an overnight in indian peaks. The combination of breathability, stretch and warmth put this jacket in its own category.

I wasn't pushing to make high mileage, but instead I was focused on exploring and photographing a couple of hanging valleys off the beaten path. So, while the hiking was sometimes strenuous, it was very stop and go, and I was mainly above treeline–basically what this jacket is designed for. The hype around this jacket is real, I was genuinely surprised at how broad a weather and activity range I could use it in. The weather was highly variable my second day, and I literally kept this jacket on the whole time. It would start to drizzle, the wind would pick up or the sun would come out and I kept instinctively stopping for a layer change, but then I'd just laugh and keep going. What really surprised me is that I was perfectly comfortable stopped in breezy and drizzly conditions (in the high 40's) for an hour break, but I was also also comfortable for the three hour hike out (down) through pouring, near freezing rain wearing this jacket under my rain shell (a marmot essence, which I consider about as breathable as event). I didn't feel like I was overheating in the least, including some gnarly bushwacking.

You can certainly have more versatility for less weight, with a few ultralight pieces, and it seems like a lot of people on BPL favor that sort of system. But for the constantly changing conditions in the alpine, I think a simpler system with less layer changes makes more sense. Particularly for climbing and skiing, but also for certain types of alpine focused backpacking trips. For instance, I just came back from hiking the wind river high route in early september (wow) and I would have gladly traded my light down hoody for this. For that matter, I could have just brought this and my essence, and I would have saved a ton of time and faff with the constant layer changes.

So, yeah, I've got way to much to say about this jacket, but thats because it presents a different, and I think better, way of dressing for the mountains than I'm used to. This jacket will likely earn a place in my kit for all but mid summer trips, and even then I'll probably be tempted to take it. The stretch also makes for a very comfortable jacket for more dynamic movement with a pack on. Although the fit is not perfect for climbing, its the least restrictive jacket that I've worn. Rant over (for now).

Looks like a nano air in like-new condition just popped up on gear trade. Seller is BC–I'm not pushing my own sale. Just thought I'd pass this along :)

http://www.geartrade.com/item/394967/nano-air-insulated-hooded-jacket-mens-feather-g

I'm realizing I just gave a glowing review without a whole lot of experience in the jacket. Its definitely as awesome and unique as I say it is, but it might be a little challenging for UL backpackers to figure out where it fits in the system. Body temp varies so much between high output (uphill) and stopped, that it seems unlikely that one jacket could be useful for both situations on a given trip. As for myself, it makes the most sense for shoulder season and winter backpacking. I imagine this going well with a cap 4 base, equilebrium windshell and a 16-20oz down or synthetic puffy. I already use a 2 puffy belay system (light synth/midweight down) for the added moisture management of a synth and the ability to move in a puffy when the weather gets gnarly. This jacket just improves on that system with better moisture management and wearability on the move without losing much warmth when its layered with another puffy. Beyond that, despite what people say about never wearing a puffy jacket on the move in 3 season, there are plenty of times where i find myself hiking in one, for instance an early morning start, night hiking, or when I feel chilled and depleted. Wearing this jacket, just allows you to stay in it longer, or not take it off at all dependant on pace/temp etc. I'll post back when I get more time in mind, but I probably won't be super objective, since i love mine and I keep finding reasons to wear it. Cragging for instance. Why not just wear a sweater? I think its the purple.

How thick is the nano-air relative to the nano-puff for example?

and how warm is Fullrange ? Polartec Alpha (which is functional quite similar to Fullrange) comes at only 0,37 CLO/oz (own calculation) which is next to the 0,92 of P1 rather low.