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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 for women insulated jacket 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
#7 of 11
  • Warmth - 25% 3.5
  • Comfort - 25% 7.5
  • Weather Resistance - 20% 5.0
  • Weight and Compressibility - 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.

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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 beatA comfortable coat that's got you covered in diverse conditions when a good layering system and mobility are requiredA warm yet lightweight jacket that's super packable yet provides great coverage for just about any adventureThis non-technical insulated model is offered at a great price for wear in the winter
Rating Categories Patagonia Nano Air... Patagonia DAS Light... Arc'teryx Atom Hoody Mountain Hardwear G... Columbia Heavenly H...
Warmth (25%)
3.5
8.0
7.0
6.5
9.0
Comfort (25%)
7.5
8.0
8.5
6.5
9.0
Weather Resistance (20%)
5.0
9.0
7.5
7.5
8.5
Weight and Compressibility (15%)
8.0
7.5
7.0
9.5
3.0
Breathability (15%)
8.0
6.0
8.5
6.5
3.0
Specs Patagonia Nano Air... Patagonia DAS Light... Arc'teryx Atom Hoody Mountain Hardwear G... Columbia Heavenly H...
Weight, size small (ounces) 10.8 oz 11.5 oz 10.5 oz 9.7 oz 22.4 oz
Number of Pockets 3 (2 zippered hand, 1 external zippered chest) 3 (2 zippered hand, 1 exterior zippered chest) 3 (2 zippered hand, 1 internal zippered chest) 4 (2 zippered hand, 2 internal drop) 3 (2 zippered hand, 1 internal zippered chest)
Hem Type Elastic No adjustment Dual bungee adjustment Single bungee adjustment No adjustment
Fit Relaxed slim Relaxed Relaxed Relaxed slim Slim
Insulation 60g FullRange 100% stretch polyester 65g PlumaFill 100% recycled polyester Coreloft 60 100% recycled polyester 80 g (body, sleeves), 60 g (hood, side panels) partially recycled synthetic 100% polyester
Outer Fabric 100% stretch polyester 10D Pertex Quantum Nylon Tyono 20D 100% nylon
Stretch fleece side panels: 94% polyester, 6% elastane
Whisperer 10D x 10D Ripstop
100% Recycled Nylon
Storm-Lite DP II Polyester
Lining 100% stretch polyester 10D Pertex Quantum Nylon Dope Permeair 20D - 100% nylon Whisperer 10D x 10D Ripstop
100% Recycled Nylon
Luscious Pile Fleece Polyester
Hood Option Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Built-in stow pocket Yes; chest Yes; hand No Yes; hand No
Cuff construction Stretch-knit Elasticized cuffs Stretch-knit Elasticized with overhang Stretch-knit wrist-warmer cuff with thumbholes

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Patagonia Nano Air is a lightweight jacket with a fitted hood and a slim cut. 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 insulated jacket review - 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 insulated jacket review - 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 insulated jacket review - 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 insulated jacket review - 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 insulated jacket review - 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 insulated jacket review - 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 insulated jacket review - hike up, ski down. sweat, then take a break. the nano air is built...
Hike up, ski down. Sweat, then take a break. The Nano Air is built to breathe, while keeping you dry and cool on your adventures.
Credit: Amber King

Amber King and Maggie Nichols