REASONS TO BUY
Incredibly breathable
Exceptional packability
All-day comfort
REASONS TO AVOID
Not much warmth
Not as abrasion resistant
Patagonia Nano-Air Ultralight Full Zip Hoody Review
If breathability and packability are priorities, this lightweight jacket should be at the top of your list
Credit: Zach Lovell
By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ November 20, 2025
RELATED: The Best Insulated Jackets
Our Verdict
There are few insulating layers as lightweight as the Patagonia Nano-Air Ultralight Full Zip Hoody, also offering some of the best breathability we've ever seen in this class of jacket. On chilly missions where you plan to work up a sweat, this version of the Nano-Air can be worn all day, even when you're working hard on a hike or climb, and was one of our favorites for against-skin comfort. At a scant 8.1 ounces in a men's small, this is a layer you'll hardly feel on your body or in your backpack; just bear in mind it doesn't offer much heat retention as a stand-alone layer. The slimmer fit of the Nano-Air might put some between sizes, though we appreciated how easy it was to layer.
Our Analysis and Test Results
We haven't seen an insulated jacket provide this much breathability in previous seasons of testing. The Nano-Air Ultralight is a great choice for adventurers needing a slight bit of insulation in an active and lightweight layer.
You'll be hard-pressed to find a lighter and more breathable option in the insulated jacket category.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Warmth
As an extremely lightweight layer, it came as no surprise to our team when we got cold in the Nano-Air Ultralight. While other jackets offered more all-around performance, this one fills a more specific niche as an insulating layer that doesn't need to be removed during activity.
This featherweight layer kept us cozy on cool summer nights and during high-output days in winter. The moment we took breaks in the chillier seasons, we needed to add insulation to retain body heat, which was easy to do thanks to the Nano-Air's slim fit. If you need warmth for cold mornings at camp, this is not the jacket for you, but if you want something that'll be part of your layering system year-round, the Nano-Air is a great choice.
The Nano-Air Ultralight doesn't offer much warmth, but it layers well under bigger, more insulating jackets.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Comfort
The Nano-Air line has long been known for its soft and inviting polyester construction, and this model is one of the more comfortable insulated jackets we've tested, especially if you size it properly.
It's hard to beat the cozy feel of the Nano-Air Ultralight. While many jackets use polyester, Patagonia offers a much softer feel with this layer than the competition. The fit of the Nano-Air is on the slimmer side, but it has excellent stretch that offers more mobility when reaching overhead or across the body. Patagonia has played with the overall cut of the Nano-Air a few times in recent years, and in this ultralight iteration of the Nano-Air, we've found it to work fairly well with various body types, though it runs on the snugger side, so sizing up may be needed.
We loved the freedom of movement of the Nano-Air Ultralight, and its next-to-skin comfort was a favorite.
Weather Resistance
This isn't the most weather-resistant jacket, and it's crucial to bring a shell with you if needing protection from the elements. There is a slight bit of moisture repellency, but this is a layer that should be worn underneath another jacket that can provide a more dependable seal.
As a soft and breathable polyester garment, the Nano-Air Ultralight is not meant to be your outermost layer in a storm. Having said that, Patagonia does use a DWR finish in the Nano-Air to help bead light precipitation and mild snows if you're mid-mission and only need to deal with brief squalls. This version of the Nano-Air has a decent hood that can fit over a climbing helmet (though it's a tight squeeze), helping create a clean seal for some protection from the cold, wind, or storm.
Portability
This is one of the top metrics for the Nano-Air Ultralight, and we did a double-take when reading the numbers on the scale. This weighs less than most fleece jackets, despite its classification as a synthetic insulation jacket, and was effortless to fit into a backpack, even in an overstuffed bag.
At 8.1 ounces in a men's small, this jacket has a ridiculously low weight and is a layer we easily justified bringing with us across all four seasons. Even in the warmer months of the year, we could justify bringing the Nano-Air Ultralight along for when things got a bit chilly, and its low weight was perfect for thru-hiking and alpine climbing. Depending on your packing preferences, you can also easily stuff this layer in its chest pocket to clip to your backpack or harness.
This is truly a featherweight layer, and is likely to fit in even the most overstuffed bag.
Breathability
We haven't tested another insulating jacket that's as breathable as the Nano-Air Ultralight. As a direct result of its minimal warmth, this is a layer that we didn't need to remove as the heart rate increased, making it a very versatile layer that transcended seasonality.
As a sub-10-ounce jacket, the Nano-Air Ultralight was designed by Patagonia to keep you warm while moving, but not while at rest. With modest 20-g FullRange insulation in the body, upper arms, and hood, this jacket won't trap much body heat, and there's no insulation in the underarm area; instead Patagonia placed breathable panels in this section. This is a jacket you can work a sweat up in during cold weather without having to de-layer.
From the thinner insulation to the lighter construction in the arms, this is a jacket that'll shed body heat.
Should You Buy the Patagonia Nano-Air Ultralight?
The Nano-Air Ultralight is a very versatile jacket and is a great choice depending on your needs. If you're hunting for a breathable, packable option that's easy to layer, this is a no-brainer. If you're looking for a jacket that can keep you warm without adding any other jackets, we suggest finding something heavier that's built with more insulation.
What Other Insulated Jackets Should You Consider?
For more warmth and weather protection, we love the Patagonia DAS Light Hoody. If you are seeking just a bit more warmth than the Nano-Air, consider something like the Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody, which only weighs a couple ounces more and offers better heat retention for lower-output excursions.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Patagonia Nano-Air Ultralight Full Zip Hoody versus top competing products:
—Zach Lovell
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