Bottom Line
The Patagonia R1 Air is great for active people looking for a jacket with a good balance of warmth and low weight. Its zig-zag-patterned fabric is super soft, breathable, and comfortable, and it lets excess heat escape to help you thermoregulate. This makes it incredibly versatile and comfortable for the backcountry or for casual use when you’re closer to home. We tested this on a cool, foggy fall morning while walking along the Frying Pan River in Eagle County in Colorado’s high country. We recommend the R1 Air to those who want a single high-quality fleece they can use for pretty much any occasion – whether you’re walking the dog through the neighborhood or hiking through a cold, misty afternoon on a fall backpacking trip. The R1 Air is also available as a Full-Zip Hoodie (men’s / women’s).
Want to see what else is on the market? Refer to our guide to the best fleeces for more reviews and recommendations.
Quick Specs
Patagonia R1 Air Zip-Neck Pullover
Most Versatile Fleece
CleverHiker Rating: 70.5
Price: $129
Measured Weight: 10.2 oz.(Men’s M)
Fleece Weight: Lightweight
Pros
- Lightweight
- Highly breathable
- Quick-drying
- Easy to layer
- Odor-control treatment
- Inclusive sizing
Cons
- Not as warm as some
- Not as durable as some
Warmth
The Patagonia R1 Air is on almost every backcountry adventure that we go on, summer or winter. It is the go-to layer when it is cold out, but you want to keep moving. While not as warm as some fleeces on the list, the fleece is ideal for technical pursuits. We wore this on a cool morning as Colorado’s high country got some of its first snow for the season. The sleek, versatile fleece is not sufficient as a stand-alone layer in very cold conditions. But for hiking on a cool day, it works great as it breathes easily and wicks sweat. From making coffee in camp in the morning to climbing a big wall on a cold fall day, the R1 Air is a great option.
Comfort
The Patagonia R1 Air is comfortable on the trail, but not so soft and comfy that you would want to keep wearing it at home. It is more of a technical layer for high-output adventures than a lifestyle fuzzy. It is a slim fit and tighter than some fleeces, but still comfortable and moves easily when we tested it hiking and climbing. It is not a super fluffy soft fleece that we want to wrap ourselves in on a cold winter’s day. This is also a very comfortable fleece to layer with other jackets. It is slim and sleek so the material does not bunch up when you add or remove layers while wearing this fleece. We use it for climbing 14ers and as a mid-layer while backcountry skiing.
Durability
The R1 Air is an extremely durable fleece for almost any adventure. We tested it bushwhacking through some off-trail terrain, and neither branches nor sharp boulders had any impact on it. The technical polyester zigzag texture is low profile and sturdy. It will work great for hiking, bouldering, and rock climbing. Over time, it should continue to keep you warm as long as you care for it well, which includes machine washing it warm and tumble drying low or air drying.
Weight
At a mere 12.9 ounces, this is where the R1 Air excels. Like its namesake, the fleece is light as air for the warmth that you get from it. This is thanks to its high-tech design using 100% recycled polyester jacquard fleece along with hollow-core yarns. The fleece is light and packs down to about the size of a softball. It is easy to shed the R1 Air on a long hike and stuff it in a pack or pocket as needed. We wore this on a recent fly fishing trip and found it easy to take on and off throughout the day and stow in a pack or back of the truck. Only a few other fleeces lighter than the R1 are on our list, such as the Eddie Bauer Super Sevens.
Features
There are not a ton of features on this version. It is pretty straightforward in its design, and what you see is what you get, such as the unique zigzag texture that wicks moisture while hiking. The material dries fast and is highly breathable for long ascents on the trail. There is no hood or side pockets, just a small chest pocket. The lack of pockets is one of the big drawbacks to this fleece. Sometimes you just want somewhere to put your keys or phone and to warm your hands. It is a minimalist fleece that is a quick layer to add or remove throughout a trip.
Should You Buy The Patagonia R1 Air?
The Patagonia R1 Air fleece is ideal for a technical trip where a packable layer is essential, and the temperatures will likely fluctuate. It is the perfect spring, fall, and some winter high-output days fleece. It is not the warmest fleece but is very lightweight and breathable. From long hikes to cool mornings in camp, the R1 Air is an ideal fleece layer to throw on to warm up.
What Other Fleeces Should You Consider?
Eddie Bauer Super Sevens: At 4.9 ounces, it’s almost a third of the R1 Air’s weight. It packs into a small ball and is lightweight and breathable for those high-energy adventures.
Outdoor Research Vigor: This lightweight, technical option gives Patagonia R1 Air a run for its money. It is not the warmest, but it will breathe and wick sweat away while hiking on cold days.
