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Patagonia Nano Air Hoody - Women's Review

A breathable insulated jacket to wear on its own or as a midlayer
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Patagonia Nano Air Hoody - Women's Review
Credit: Patagonia
Price:  $329 List
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Manufacturer:   Patagonia
By Amber King and Maggie Nichols  ⋅  Dec 1, 2022
62
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#9 of 13
  • Warmth - 25% 3.5
  • Comfort - 25% 7.5
  • Weather Resistance - 20% 5.0
  • Portability - 15% 8.0
  • Breathability - 15% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Patagonia Nano-Air is back as a lighter jacket constructed of 100% recycled polyester insulation. Not only is it built by an environmentally conscious company, but it's built to perform. As a mobile-faced contender, this jacket breathes well, keeping you drier while you take on aerobic endeavors. It's a jacket that'll move with you, while you stop and go on any mission. We tested it while climbing, running, and backcountry skiing. In all situations, we rarely had to take it off. It'll keep you warm when you take a break and keep you dry when you're on the move. It's cute, soft, stylish, and offered in a variety of color options we love.
REASONS TO BUY
Mobile design
Breathable
Simple
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Not wind resistant
Not overly warm
Editor's Note: We retested the Nano Air Hoody and updated this review with our new results on December 1, 2022.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Insulated Jacket for Women
Top Pick Award
Most Versatile Layer
Best Buy Award
Best Warmth and Value
Top Pick Award
Best for Serious Breathability
Price $329 List
$329.00 at Backcountry
Check Price at REI
Compare at 2 sellers
$210.00 at Evo
Compare at 3 sellers
$69.00 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers
$300 List
$270.00 at Backcountry
Overall Score Sort Icon
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78
78
71
66
Star Rating
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Bottom Line Keep it on while you start and stop, all day, while on the moveWarm and comfortable with excellent compression, this continuous shell design is really hard to beatAn exceptionally breathable insulated jacket best for high-output cardio, or pairing with other layersThis non-technical insulated model is offered at a great price for wear in the winterA unique model with outstanding breathability and mobility that's perfect for on-the-go adventuring
Rating Categories Patagonia Nano Air... Patagonia DAS Light... Arc'teryx Atom Hood... Columbia Heavenly H... Ortovox Swisswool P...
Warmth (25%)
3.5
8.0
7.0
9.0
4.5
Comfort (25%)
7.5
8.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
Weather Resistance (20%)
5.0
9.0
7.5
8.5
4.0
Portability (15%)
8.0
7.5
7.0
3.0
8.0
Breathability (15%)
8.0
6.0
8.5
3.0
10.0
Specs Patagonia Nano Air... Patagonia DAS Light... Arc'teryx Atom Hood... Columbia Heavenly H... Ortovox Swisswool P...
Measured Weight (Size S) 10.8 oz 11.5 oz 10.5 oz 22.4 oz 10.4 oz
Number of Pockets 4 (2 zippered hand, 2 external zippered chest) 3 (2 zippered hand, 1 exterior zippered chest) 3 (2 zippered hand, 1 internal zippered chest) 3 (2 zippered hand, 1 internal zippered chest) 2 (2 zippered torso)
Hem Type Dual adjustment No adjustment Dual bungee adjustment No adjustment Elastic
Fit Relaxed slim Relaxed Athletic trim Slim Athletic trim
Insulation 60g FullRange (100% stretch polyester) 65g PlumaFill (100% recycled polyester) Resilient Coreloft Compact 60 (100% recycled polyester) 100% polyester 88 % virgin wool (Swisswool), 12 % polylactide
Outer Fabric 30D 100% recycled polyester air-permeable shadow stretch ripstop with a PFC-free DWR finish 100% recycled ripstop nylon Dope Permeair 20D (100% nylon) Storm-Lite DP II polyester Pertex Quantum (100% polyamide)
Lining 30D 100% recycled polyester air-permeable shadow stretch ripstop with a PFC-free DWR finish 100% recycled ripstop nylon Tyono 20D 100% nylon
Stretch fleece side panels: 94% polyester, 6% elastane
Luscious Pile Fleece Polyester 100 % polyamide
Hood Option Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Built-In Stow Pocket Yes; chest Yes; hand No No No
Cuff Construction Partially elasticated Elasticized cuffs Stretch-knit Stretch-knit wrist-warmer cuff with thumbholes Elasticized cuffs

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Patagonia Nano Air is a lightweight jacket with a fitted hood and a stylish fit. Its exterior is comprised of stretchy 100% polyester and it has an elastic, nonadjustable hem and three total pockets; two zippered handwarmer pockets and an external zippered chest pocket, which it packs into.

Performance Comparison


patagonia nano air hoody for women - the nano air is a solid midlayer or a soft option for a mild day.
The Nano Air is a solid midlayer or a soft option for a mild day.
Credit: Amber King

Warmth


Constructed as a lightweight jacket, the Nano Air has a surprising amount of insulation that provides standalone warmth on cool days. In the winter, we needed to layer it under a shell, as the 60 grams of insulation weren't enough to keep us warm on truly cold days or while standing still. That said, it offers the warmth that we want when we're on the move hiking or climbing up hills and mountains.

patagonia nano air hoody for women - the nano air is a good layer for shoulder season temperatures and...
The Nano Air is a good layer for shoulder season temperatures and active endeavors like skinning.
Credit: Amber King

Comfort


We love the soft, flexible feel of this jacket. It is lighter, more breathable, and just feels so good to slip on. The stretchy face fabric articulates nicely with even the grabbiest of midlayers, making it very easy to put over or under other insulative pieces. The hood is helmet-compatible, warm, and light, but lacks cinch cords for a specific fit. There are two hand pockets, which are large enough for our needs, but not as big as those on some other jackets. There is also an external chest pocket. We liked the subtly tapered wrist that easily fits underneath a glove.

patagonia nano air hoody for women - the thin, lightweight nano air still features a helmet-compatible...
The thin, lightweight Nano Air still features a helmet-compatible hood.
Credit: Amber King

Weather Resistance


The lightweight and thin design of the Nano Air Hoody offers a surprising amount of protection from the elements. We found the 60 gram FullRange stretch polyester construction quite durable and not as porous as you might expect for a mobile, breathable jacket. It does a solid job cutting down the wind, but this thinner design just can't fully block the wind like a thicker jacket can. While skiing and hiking, we also discovered that the Nano Air offers mild water resistance. During our lab testing, while some water eventually seeped into the insulation, none made it through to the inside of the jacket. Only through the zippers did the water leak through to our underlayers.

patagonia nano air hoody for women - though not meant for really wet days, the nano air does decently in...
Though not meant for really wet days, the Nano Air does decently in cold “dry” snow like we frequently experience in Colorado.
Credit: Amber King

Weight and Compressibility


The Nano Air is quite light and offers a decent amount of compression. The size Small we tested weighs just 10.8 ounces and packs down to the size of a small book. It stuffs easily into its zippered chest pocket with a carabiner loop for hanging it wherever you please. While it's not the most compressible option out there, it's not difficult to stuff into your pack.

patagonia nano air hoody for women - the nano air stuffs easily into its own chest pocket.
The Nano Air stuffs easily into its own chest pocket.
Credit: Amber King

Breathability


The Nano Air offers some excellent breathability. On a warm fall day, we hiked uphill on a backcountry ski tour while wearing this jacket. It wasn't until after the first two runs when temperatures really started to heat up that we finally felt the need to take it off. While a few other jackets we tested have even better breathability, the thin construction and pockets that double as ventilation make this a great stop n' go layer. It kept us warm when we stood still and cool when we were on the move.

patagonia nano air hoody for women - taking a break to make a snow sculpture! the nano air is built to...
Taking a break to make a snow sculpture! The Nano Air is built to breathe, offering warmth while you're in motion and standing still.
Credit: Amber King

Should You Buy the Patagonia Nano Air Hoody?


The Nano Air is soft and comfortable, lightweight and portable, and breathable. Yet it's not the best at any of these things, nor is it the best combination of these traits that we've tested. And it's one of the most expensive models in our lineup. Perhaps its fit is perfect for you, but we think there are better options that offer even more of these features for a lower cost.

What Other Insulated Jackets Should You Consider?


The Patagonia Nano Air isn't the warmest option out there, but this low-weight contender is cute, comfortable, and breathable. It's a great midlayer when it gets super cold outside, and works well on its own on mild days. The Arc'teryx Atom is another midlayer that offers better warmth, even more comfort and weather protection, and more breathability for less than the Nano Air. And if you're after the most breathable model that can regulate your temperature even on mid-winter runs and cross-country ski days, check out the seriously breathable Ortovox Piz Boè.

patagonia nano air hoody for women - the nano air is built to tackle high-output activities while keeping...
The Nano Air is built to tackle high-output activities while keeping you dry and cool.
Credit: Amber King

Amber King and Maggie Nichols