Introduction
This Patagonia Nano Air Light Hoody Review takes a first look at a new product: a lighter iteration in the increasingly popular apparel category of “active insulation”.
These garments are insulated (usually with a synthetic fill). Instead of the insulation being sandwiched between layers of tightly woven (and often calendared) fabrics that enhance water resistance (but limit breathability), active insulation garments are shelled and lined with soft, stretchy woven fabrics that have very high levels of air permeability.
The Patagonia Nano Air Light Hoody is currently among the lightest of these garments, owing to its light insulation, light fabrics, and simple design – a pullover style with partial front zip, hood, one pocket, and no cuff or hem adjustments.
Applications
- Stop-and-go hiking at low-to-moderate levels of exertion in cold temperatures (e.g., fall/winter);
- Warm-up layer for hiking in the early mornings or when the temperatures dip for evening trekking;
- Light insulation layer under a shell for inactivity in typical two-to-three season conditions.
Features
- Slim, athletic fit;
- Minimal seams;
- Stretch fabric at wrist cuffs for snug but comfortable fit;
- Stretchy hood design can be pulled on or off without unzipping;
- Deep front zipper for ventilation;
- Single zippered chest pocket (exterior, left side);
- Hood fit for a normal head, not a helmet-clad head.
Specifications
- Shell: 1.6 oz/yd2Â 100% ripstop stretch nylon (30 denier);
- Lining: 2.0 oz/yd2Â 100% plain weave stretch nylon (50 denier);
- Cuffs:Â 4.7 oz/yd2 88% polyester/12% spandex stretch-woven;
- Insulation: 40 g/m2 synthetic fill with mechanical stretch;
- Air permeability: 70 ft3/min;
- Front zipper length: 18 in. (size M);
- Claimed Weight: 10.9 oz (manufacturer’s spec for size M);
- Measured Weight: 10.2 oz (size M)
Patagonia Nano Air Light Hoody Review: Commentary
I’ve experimented with several other “active insulation” pieces in the 13 to 17 oz weight range from Patagonia, Arc’Teryx, and Stio. I find them too warm to hike in for most backpacking conditions, even in the winter. But with the introduction of the Patagonia Nano Air Light Hoody, so-called “active insulation” tops are now in a similar weight class as hooded 50-100 weight fleece and ultralight, sewn-through-baffled down tops.
This may complicate gear selection for some, but those who spend a fair bit of time wearing a lightly insulated garment while trekking in cool and cold conditions should start paying attention to this category.
With a warmth-to-weight ratio higher than fleece, water-resistance that is markedly better than down, and a next-to-skin feel that is better than both, the Patagonia Nano Air Light Hoody could very well become a useful component in a lightweight backpacking clothing layering system.
This video captures my thoughts on the role of a lightweight active insulation piece in a backpacker’s clothing system:
While I think the Patagonia Nano Air Light Hoody would be a suitable primary insulation layer in summer conditions, I think its real strength is revealed as one of two insulating components for colder and/or inclement conditions trekking. One insulating layer would be optimized as an active layer while moving (i.e., the Patagonia Nano Air Light Hoody), and the other layer would be optimized for a maximum warmth-to-weight ratio (i.e., a high-fill down jacket). I plan to incorporate the Patagonia Nano Air Light Hoody into a four-piece torso layering system (where the Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody would effectively replace a 4 oz wind shirt) this fall as follows:
- Base Layer: Patagonia Merino 2 wool long sleeve crew (6.0 oz)
- Cold Weather Trekking Layer: Patagonia Nano Air Light Hoody (10.2 oz)
- Rain Jacket: Montane Minimus 777 Pullover (4.6 oz)
- Camp Insulation: Western Mountaineering Flight Down Vest (5 oz).
Of course, I think there is potential to incorporate an active insulation piece like the Patagonia Nano Air Light Hoody into a variety of different layering systems, and I’m looking forward to experimenting with it throughout the winter.
Strengths
- Lack of seams (creates a simple aesthetic, fewer failure points, and less binding, since seams don’t stretch);
- Mechanical stretch (allows for a slimmer design, less weight, and more comfort during active movement);
- Very lightweight considering its insulative value and wet weather resistance;
- Very high air permeability means that it can be used under a wider range of exertion levels, including cool-weather hiking, than synthetic or down insulating garments shelled and lined with tightly-woven nylon fabrics.
- Provides “insulated wind shirt” performance, similar to a wind shirt + fleece (e.g., “Pertex-and-Pile”) system, but with higher air permeability (system breathability).
Limitations
- High air permeability means that it must be coupled with a tightly woven shell garment (e.g., wind shirt or rain jacket) for extreme cold and wind.
- Slim fit may require upsizing for those with “bolder” (!) body types.
- Synthetic insulation not as durable over the long term as an similar wind shirt + fleece system.
Learn More
More Info: More information about the Patagonia Nano Air Light Hoody is currently available at the Patagonia website. Also, stay tuned for a more in-depth review here at Backpacking Light.
Buy Online:Â Click this link to visit Patagonia.com to learn more or buy this product:Â Patagonia Men’s Nano Air Light Hoody.
Similar To: If you are looking for the slightly heavier full-zip version of this jacket, try the highly-rated Patagonia Nano Air Hoody, available from REI.com or Patagonia.com. This version would be more suitable for colder winter conditions, as a primary insulation piece for three-season conditions in the mountains, or for hikers who run colder and have a more difficult time staying warm.
Disclosure: The manufacturer provided a sample of this product to the author with no agreement, requirement, or obligation for media coverage of any kind. Thinking about buying this gear? You can support Backpacking Light in the process: if you click on the link to this product and make a purchase at the retailer website, the retailer will contribute a portion of the sale to help support Backpacking Light. It doesn’t increase your cost, and it helps us maintain our site, fund content development, and grow member services! Thanks!
Discussion
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Brian L.’s comment is persactly what I say. This hoody seems to “require” that one carries a light wind shell as well. Therefore, as Brian sez, why not just take fleece, even Windstopper fleece?
For ultimate light weight and packability get the appropriate thickness DWR treated down jacker or hoody and also carry the wind shell. I have an Eddie Bauer First Ascent down jacket and vest. Both can be carried if necessary.
Wouldn’t you just put on your hard shell if it was too windy and cold that it overwhelmed your Alpha/FR jacket? I would be surprised if you needed a jacket more breathable than a hard shell if you’re too cold in an Alpha jacket that has 70 CFM.
99% of the time, I don’t bring a hardshell when ski touring. Even when snowing hard, a softshell paired with a light synthetic jacket provides enough moisture protection. A hard shell, if not needed for moisture protection, is very much useless the majority of the time. The softshell can be worn on the uptrack when it gets windy. The hardshell cannot – they ALL breath horribly in comparison. The only use for a hardshell is on the down (or at breaks with an alpha jacket as your only insulation?). A softshell works just fine for this as well. As does a light synthetic jacket when you need one.
I don’t think you understand the concept of a belay parka. A belay parka is not a fleece. You do not put it on underneath a windshirt. It goes on the top of all your layers. I’d be WAY too hot to climb in the same gear IÂ need to wear at a belay, even with zipper venting. Are you actually doing this??
When and how are you wearing it though? I’m just fine on the uptrack with just a baselayer and softshell, without any mid-layer, even in extreme cold. Are you wearing it over your softshell or windshirt on the downhill, because you won’t be warm enough otherwise?
I find that I’m also usually just fine on the downhill with just my baselayer and softshell. In addition to hanging out (i.e. lunch, on a summit), if its stormy and cold enough above treeline, I’ll wear my synthetic insulation layer on top of my softshell on the downtrack (quite rare) and uptrack (very rare).
Brian …
i have several belay jackets
perhaps you miss the fact that many of these LIGHTER breathable type insulation jackets are NOT belay jackets …. Except in the mildest of temos no one uses a 40 g/m as a belay jacket
they are relplacement for softshells or fleeces
;)
When I was a Nordic Ski Patroller I’d come in at the end of the day with my patrol jacket literally soaked in the back. It was a 60/40 cotton/polyester shell jacket B/C that’s what was “official”. I wore polyester or polypro base layer zip T and a heavy wool sweater and only on days below 15 would I add a Thinsulate vest. Â I wore a fanny pack 1st aid belt so my back was not covered but it still was sweat soaked every time.
Thus I second David’s motion for wearing very breathable jackets for XC skiing. And back country skiing is every bit as sweaty as fast track skiing, maybe more so climbing with skins.
I just received my Nano Air Light Hoody in size L.  On my scale it weighes 11.2 oz.  It is a bit more puffy than I was expecting.  It is very comfortable next to skin, e.g. over a short sleeved T shirt.  I also confirm, using a simple breath-through test, that is seems very air permeable.  Compared to my arcteryx squamish wind jacket, I’d say I can breathe through it about twice as fast (NALH is 5 secs per full breath vs 10 sec for my squamish).
BPL has sold out to advertisers, which raises questions about reviews done by BPL staff.
Who paid for the jacket ?
Is the whole article an advertisement or an honest review ?
I found the disclaimer at the bottom of the article to be clear.
As for the rest, I see any article as the starting point of a discussion, not an unquestionable truth. It’s up to the reader to assign value to the article and subsequent discussion. As long as nothing pertinent is hidden, I see nothing wrong with BPL’s process.
I use my 60 g/m MHW Thermostatic Hoody as a belay jacket all the time (in the same scenario you outline using a cumbersome fleece/windshirt combo).
Good questions to ask. It’d be nice if at the beginning of BPL reviews, they state how they obtained the jacket and what advertising money they accept from the company. That said, receiving gear for free doesn’t preclude an honest in-depth review. I work for Blister Gear Review and we receive all (almost) our products direct from the distributing company. We aren’t afraid of saying a piece of gear doesn’t meet it’s intended purpose, or to speak our minds about the limitation of a piece of gear. We do, however, refuse to accept advertising money from companies whose products we review, which may be a bit different, and, in our experience, HAS lead to conflicts of interest via strings attached.
Brian,
a 60g/m isnt a “belay parka” … And if thats what yr talking about folks climb in those all the time in cooler weather
what exactly are we comparing this 10 oz nano air lite to?
are you wearing a wind/softshell AND bringing along a 60g/m hoody?
;)
Fine, it doesn’t have to be called a belay parka. I’ll call it a parka that I’m using while I’m belaying. ;)
I wear the hoody over my softshell when ski touring, yes. Not while climbing. If I need wind protection while actually climbing, I bring a lightweight windshirt (like a Houdini). That can sometimes be sufficient for belays when its warmer. When it’s not sufficient for belays, then yes, I use the hoody on top. In really cold temperatures, of course, I use a much warmer ‘belay parka’. ;)
“Disclosure: The manufacturer provided a sample of this product to the author with no agreement, requirement, or obligation for media coverage of any kind. Thinking about buying this gear? You can support Backpacking Light in the process: if you click on the link to this product and make a purchase at the retailer website, the retailer will contribute a portion of the sale to help support Backpacking Light. It doesn’t increase your cost, and it helps us maintain our site, fund content development, and grow member services! Thanks!”
I love the juxtaposition of the above.
Brian
ive used similar setups
atom lt hoody – 14 oz goes over windshirt – 6 oz …. 20 oz
i tend to bandolier those light synth “belay puffies” … But if you dont and clip it to yr harness thats an extra oz for the biner
at the belays youl still need to unstuff and restuff the jacket every time …. Risking dropping it or it blowing away
or carry a pack when leading yo stuffit into
basically its double the weight for more faff
now these “one piece” insulation might not be the end all …. But for climbing anyways theres definite advantages
and indeed top climbers are using em
;)
It seems that a 70 cfm fabric would fit an air permeability niche between a fleece and a 20-40 cfm windshirt. I think that 100 weight fleece, nano air light hoody, and windshirt could be a good active insulation set up for cold weather.
As someone who gets cold easily and overheats easily, all this micro adjustment of layers and attention to detail is really important for staying comfortable.
Indeed. The Cap 4 EW and Westcomb Tango is my so far best Winter “Action Suit” yet. If the wind picks up or weather turns nasty I layered the BD Alpine Start and or more often just a ME Neoshell hardshell. Belay insulation is an oversized Arc’teryx Nuclei AR. This system worked well for me in -5C to -18C with up to 50mph winds in Scotland.
Since I found the the Nuclei AR so weather resistant, I am thinking of leaving the Neoshell and Alpine Start behind this Winter.
I see the main benefit of this newer lighter weight active insulation addressing the weight concerns we had when the first Alpha pieces came out and extending their use into the shoulder seasons. Those still skeptical really ought to give it try before dismissing it. Never seen a bad review of these pieces yet. Might be just as surprised as I was.
This “review” felt like a site reviewing products for profit to me.
The gear was free, ads are all over the site, Â and there is an affiliate link to get extra money from hyping the jacket.
And, BPL does run ads for companies that provide free gear, beyond the kickback link for the jacket.
You’re certainly entitled to your opinion. Mine is that your pronouncements, combined with a lack of admission that there was a very clear disclaimer attached to the article, indicate that you have a need to grind an ax over this. I’d prefer that none of the financial issues were in play, and that BPL was completely free and independent, but it’s an extremely rare site that can foot the entire bill of their existence … and continue to exist.
BPL’s conduct in this area seems to be better to than the norm, but I agree that readers should maintain some skepticism any time editorial independence and commercial needs can intersect. OTOH, posting unsupported condemnation of BPL as you have (“BPL has sold out to advertisers” – Clue M) makes me suspect your motives more than theirs. Fairness goes both ways. If BPL’s business model is so distasteful to you, perhaps you should move on to another site that meets your expectations.
^^^ So says the new guy. BPL’s advertising thing is a new development here. I think Clue is bemoaning the loss of integrity. Was a time that BPL’s reviews were a gold standard. More things read like adverts now. Broken promises…
So says someone that’s lurked on BPL for years, and realizes that there are many challenges involved with running an operation like this. I don’t like some of the changes and decisions, but I decided it was time for me to fund the site if I wasn’t pleased with the direction BPL was heading. I vote with my money, and if I decide BPL isn’t worth funding, I won’t.
Some of BPL’s content is still class leading in every way, Roger’s stove series being a prime example. This effort of Ryan’s is what it is, and whining about it not being what it isn’t is foolish, IMO. The disclaimer was clear for anyone willing to read it, and that information should’ve been given some weight when evaluating the content. From what I’ve seen, rehashing generalized condemnations does nothing to improve the situation.
The disclaimer does not rule out praising a product with the primary goal of driving sales that produce revenue.
BPL has whored itself out to advertisers, Â and it is no longer a clear case that honesty and integrity come ahead of making money when reviewing gear.
Patagonia is named as  a merchant partner, and I assume that means BPL benefits from moving Patagonia gear.
That’s why BPL has removed references to competing products in the subsequent discussion of this article, right? Â :rolleyes:
You win. BPL is whatever you think it is. The funny thing is that I don’t think this jacket would be of much value to me, but I’m still interested in where the market is going, and the discussion of how it may work for others. I don’t believe BPL’s use of disclaimers and advertisers has any bearing on that, but I may be wrong there, too.
I appreciate the detailed Specifications section, but why was the price not also mentioned up front? I find it helpful to keep the cost of the item in mind as I’m reading the review and not having to find and click a link afterwards to get a retail price.
If there are concerns about the price changing, then perhaps adding “Price on REI as of <date>” would solve that.
Adding the MSRP to reviews is a good idea, but I’d leave it at that unless an actual “purchased price” was available. There’s too much variability otherwise.
OTOH, I saw Patagonia and Light, so I knew it’d be up there. Â : )
Montbell (MB) is now selling their “Nano Air Light Hoody – Better Mousetrap” aka the UL Thermawrap Hoody.
The equally-resilient substantially-continuous MB Exceloft has ~twice the clo/oz; the MB is less weight at 9.3 oz. vs 10.2 oz.; the MB has similar high breathability face fabrics; and the MB costs only $165 vs $249.
Richard, that’s a good tip.
Funny thing, I’ve been very pleased with my dowdy MB Thermawrap “Ye Olde Reliable Mousetrap” for several years. Â 289 g / 10.2 oz – with included UL stuff sack.
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