REASONS TO BUY
Top-scoring comfort
Layers well
Great fit
Versatile for year-round use
REASONS TO AVOID
Can get warm during high-output
No hood or hem adjustability
Pills quickly
Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody Review
A versatile fleece that’s inviting against the skin and useful across all four seasons
Credit: Zach Lovell
By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ September 30, 2026
RELATED: The Best Fleece Jackets for Men
Our Verdict
The Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody is an all-arounder fleece that's great for winter skiing, summertime backpacking, or walking to the coffee shop in the fall. Patagonia made this layer with recycled polyester that's comfy enough for all-day wear, and the zigzag fabric pattern offers some ventilation. On high-heart-rate hikes, the R1 Air can get a bit hot, whether running around the neighborhood or climbing a steep hill, though we stayed cool enough in chillier seasons. Patagonia updated this latest iteration with a chest pocket large enough to hold a cell phone, which was previously a big complaint of ours. As long as you don't need adjustability, the midweight Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody is a well-made fleece that'll keep you cozy year-round.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Fleece Jacket | Runner-Up |  Best Breathability for Exercise |  Affordable Fleece for Everyday Wear | Best Value for Tight Budgets |
| Price | $199 List Check Price at REI | $150 List Check REI (on sale!) | $130 List Check Price at Backcountry | $70 List Check Price at REI | $29 List Check Amazon (on sale!) |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A versatile fleece that’s inviting against the skin and useful across all four seasons | This is a genre-bending fleece you can wear to dinner or on a mountain hike | You’ll be hard-pressed to find this level of breathability in a fleece jacket | A fleece jacket that’s affordable and comfy to wear for casual adventures | If price is your main concern, this fleece offers impressive comfort and mobility |
| Rating Categories | Patagonia R1 Air Ful... | Arc'teryx Kyanite Li... | Rab Ascendor Light H... | REI Co-op Trailmade | Amazon Essentials Fu... |
| Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Warmth (25%) | |||||
| Breathability (20%) | |||||
| Layering Ability (15%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Patagonia R1 Air Ful... | Arc'teryx Kyanite Li... | Rab Ascendor Light H... | REI Co-op Trailmade | Amazon Essentials Fu... |
| Type | Midweight | Lightweight | Lightweight | Midweight | Midweight |
| Main Material | Body: 100% polyester jacquard fleece | Body: 53% polyester, 38% nylon, 9% elastane | 94% polyester, 6% elastane | Body: 100% nylon Accents: LYCRA spandex |
100% polyester |
| Number of Pockets | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Features | Slim-fit hood, quick drying, off shoulder seams | Nylon face outer with a brushed polyester interior, 4-way stretch textile | Helmet compatible hood | Spandex binding along hem, cuff, and collar; double-layer collar | None |
| Measured Weight | 12.4 oz (Size M) | 10.8 oz (Size M) | 10.3 oz (Size M) | 13.0 oz (Size M) | 15.7 oz (Size M) |
| Hood Option | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The R1 Air is a classic fleece that stands out most for its comfort and versatility. Credit: Zach Lovell
Comfort
This is one of the most comfortable fleece jackets on the market, with a brushed polyester construction and a relaxed cut that kept us happy on the trail or simply working in the office on a chilly day. Depending on how you size the R1 Air, you may get minor fabric bunching, but it's an effortless layer to wear all day when you need some insulation.
The polyester in the R1 Air is both soft and stretchy, which is a recipe for comfort in the world of fleece jackets. Whether you wear a T-shirt underneath the R1 Air or a more insulating base layer, we loved how the fabric felt on our arms and neck.
The mobility of the R1 Air is great for backpacking, climbing, fly fishing, or even home projects. We measured about 2 inches of lift in the hem with our arms extended overhead, and had no mobility restrictions with our arms crossed or when stretching our upper bodies side to side.
The R1 Air has a relaxed cut and a decent amount of stretch, making it a very mobile fleece. Credit: Zach Lovell
Warmth
This is a fairly warm layer, but you might need to pair it with other jackets if you're standing around at a chilly outdoor concert or enjoying a summit hike. The polyester build is thick, but the Z-shaped pattern alternates between that thicker polyester and a near-see-through mesh for breathability.
Unless we were active, the R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody was comfy as a stand-alone layer down to roughly 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the type of base layer worn underneath. To extend the R1's warmth, we simply pulled up its hood, which fit snugly around the entire head and zipped all the way up to the chin. The R1 also offers excellent coverage with arms overhead, reducing the chances of bare skin being exposed while scrambling.
The R1 Air's fabric retains a decent amount of heat, though its pattern isn't as wind-resistant. Credit: Zach Lovell
If using this layer for climbing or mountain biking, the hood is designed to fit under your helmet. With a billed hat, it has a snug enough fit (with the zipper all the way up) to keep the hat on your head in the wind.
We loved the hood design for helmets or hats, keeping our heads warm in chilly winds or lower temperatures. Credit: Zach Lovell
Breathability
In an otherwise standout fleece, the R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody has average breathability when worn for outdoor activities. In chilly winds and mid-winter temperatures, we kept the R1 on all day, but we got a bit sweatier on steep hikes and fast-paced biking. When temps rose high enough, we ended up taking off the R1 to keep from overheating. Fortunately, this fleece breathes well enough for around-town hangs and cooler days indoors.
The main way the R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody sheds heat is through the aforementioned z-patterning that alternates between thick polyester and mesh. The mesh is effective, but the polyester is thick enough to trap more body heat on higher-heart-rate adventures.
The lighter colored spaces in the fabric are only mesh, giving body heat and moisture an escape route. Credit: Zach Lovell
Layering Ability
Patagonia has tweaked the cut of the R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody over the years, but it's always been a relatively easy fleece to layer.
The semi-relaxed fit of the R1 Air allows a base layer underneath, whether you're wearing a sun hoody or a thermal long-sleeve shirt. The R1 also can easily fit layers over it, as long as the overlayers have a similarly relaxed cut. For resort skiing in the depths of winter, we most often put a puffy jacket over the R1 and then a hardshell jacket to keep wind and snow out.
The R1 Air can accommodate at least one underlayer, but you can add as many layers over it as long as it has a more relaxed cut. Credit: Zach Lovell
Weight
We ultimately consider the Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody a midweight fleece jacket, weighing 12.4 ounces in a men's medium. It strikes a great balance of heat retention, comfort, and packability, though weight-conscious adventurers may want to look elsewhere for their next fleece jacket.
In addition to its decent 12.4-ounce weight, the Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody can be packed down fairly small, whether stuffing it in carry-on luggage or your backpacking bag. The thicker polyester build takes a bit more muscle to cram into tight spaces than a goose down layer, but the R1 is still fairly easy to bring along.
At 12.4 ounces, this lands in the midweight category. Credit: Zach Lovell
Should You Buy the Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody?
This is a one-stop-shop fleece for coffee shop hangs, fall season commutes to the office, day hikes, backpacking, and resort skiing. As a midweight layer that offers decent warmth, the R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody isn't as breathable, but we still wore it all day in chillier temperatures. We've tested some version of the R1 Air for several years and used to have qualms about the small chest pocket (which wasn't as useful), but we're glad Patagonia made it large enough in this latest version to fit a cell phone.
The latest version of the R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody finally has a chest pocket that can accommodate a cell phone. Credit: Zach Lovell
What Other Fleece Jackets Should You Consider?
If you want something lighter than the R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody, the Arc'teryx Kyanite Lightweight Hoody is a similarly versatile fleece that favors breathability and lower weight, though it doesn't include a chest pocket if you like to keep your cell phone warm. Both fleece jackets are on the more expensive side, but the REI Co-op Trailmade is a great alternative if you need to save money for other outdoor/cool-weather clothing. The Trailmade uses a nylon-and-spandex construction that's surprisingly comfortable for its price.
—Zach Lovell
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