Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody In-Depth Review

What We Don’t Like About the Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody

Relatively Pricey

Like many of Patagonia’s outdoor gear options, this jacket does have a high price point.

However, Patagonia is a trusted brand that has an accommodating exchange and return policy. They also have a repair program.

You can think of their gear as an investment as you will use it for years to come and have the option to have it repaired.

Not Waterproof

You shouldn’t expect most puffy jackets to be waterproof, but it would be nice to have more from this jacket option.

It does have some water-resistance, but it will quickly absorb water if you are stuck out in the snow or rain. Plus, as with most DWR coatings, it will need reapplying after extended use. If not, you'll lose the moisture-wicking abilities.

Lacks Adjustability

Although they fit some people perfectly, for many, the sleeve cuffs are too tight.

They may not even be stretchy enough to push above your forearm and have no adjustability option. You need to make sure that you have the proper fit, or the jacket will not fit well enough for the intended uses.

Additionally, you do not have any cinch mechanisms on the hood or waist. Patagonia omitted those to save weight, but for some, it can be a deal-breaker.

Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Sizing & Fit

Patagonia makes both men’s and women’s versions of the Nano-Air Hoody.

You can expect the fit to be snug. There will be enough room underneath for most people to add a base layer.

The jacket does not offer much for adjustability. So you need to make sure that when you buy the jacket, you are getting the right size for your body. The fit of the jacket is for active use. When you have the right fit, you’ll be able to move freely in the jacket.

Patagonia has a detailed sizing guide on their website for both the men’s and women’s jacket options.

Is the Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Worth the Money?

Patagonia is a brand that will be on par with Arc’teryx as far as cost goes. The main thing to remember with Patagonia is that they only want you to buy what you need.

Then, once you’ve found the perfect fit, they want you to have the jacket and use it for life. So, although you will end up paying a decent amount upfront, you won’t have to buy a jacket two years down the line.

Expect to use Patagonia’s gear from the day you buy it to the day you no longer can get outside and play.

Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Performance

Weight & Packability

The Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody jacket is one of the lightest insulated jacket in the market. This is true for any of the sizes that you choose for both men and women’s sizes.

The women's jackets will be a bit smaller and lighter than the men’s jacket. The jacket that we listed for weight above is a men’s medium.  According to Patagonia, it weighs 12.2 oz but on an independent scale, it is closer to 12.5 oz, which is basically the same.

Leading brands such as Black Diamond and the North Face offer comparable jackets. Still, you can expect these to weigh at least 1-4 oz more than the Patagonia version.

However, the Arc’teryx Atom LT and Patagonia’s Nano-Air Hybrid is about one ounce lighter. Though, both of those two lighter options lack the same warmth as the standard Nano-Air.

Patagonia was able to cut down on the weight by eliminating unnecessary features. Things such as pockets, drawcords, and buckles. 

Most jacket companies use these features as a way to personalize the fit. There are no removable portions (i.e., the hood) to make the jacket light. There is no need for that type of innovation with a design already so lightweight.

The jacket compresses and packs down into the chest pocket. Older designs of the Nano-Hoody were also intended to do this, but that proved to be quite tricky.

Patagonia has fine-tuned the packing process in their 2020 version. Once you have the jacket stuffed into the pocket, you should be able to zip it closed.

Warmth & Breathability

The Nano-Air Hoody is a rather versatile jacket when it comes to wearability in the cold.

As an ideal mid-layer, you can expect to be able to wear it on cool-weather hikes in the Fall. You can still utilize the jacket for temperatures as low as freezing if you layer correctly.

Patagonia designed the jacket with some moisture safeguards in mind. But, do not expect the jacket to be 100% waterproof. There is a DWR coating that helps the jacket to be water-resistant.

The filling is a 60-gram polyester FullRange insulation, so that it won’t absorb moisture. Plus, unlike down, synthetic fabrics don’t lose their insulating warmth if they do get wet.

For mild outdoor activities like hiking or camping, the Nano-Air Hoody is a great option. If you plan to do more intensive exercises like backcountry skiing, this jacket may be too warm. Even only as a mid-layer, you can expect to run warm if you are doing strenuous exercise.

It isn’t necessarily the warmest option on the market, though. The insulation layer is going to be thinner than jackets from Black Diamond and The North Face. 

The Nano-Air Hoody helps you retain generated body heat, not just keep you warm when you’re sitting around. This is why it is an excellent addition to a layering system.

While the jacket is warm, it is quite breathable. This may be thanks to the thin layer of insulation. The only downside to this may be that it isn’t very wind resistant. So, you may catch a chill if you are standing around in high winds. An easy solution is by adding a base layer or addition of a hardshell jacket.

This jacket will keep you warm and comfortable when hiking or camping in cold conditions. Such as in temperatures ranging from 14 - 23 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 to -5 degrees Celsius).

Remember, this jacket for active outdoor adventures. So the more you move, the better heat retention the jacket will provide.

Weather Protection

The Nano-Air Hoody has a distinct weather protective advantage. Due to the use of synthetic insulation instead of down. It will continue to insulate when wet and will dry much easier.

When the jacket is new, the DWR water-resistant coating will perform quite well. You can expect water droplets to bead up and roll off of the jacket.

It is only water-resistant and not waterproof. So don't expect to stay dry in a downpour. However, it will protect from light rain with this jacket.

As with most water-resistant coatings, you have to reapply after extended use. The coatings will wear off with prolonged and frequent exposure to wind, water, and sun.

If you are going to be in prolonged rain, snow, or wind, we’d recommend using a hardshell jacket to protect yourself.

Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Features

Hood

The hood of the jacket is unique in that there are no drawstrings. You have to depend on the built-in elastic fitting for it to stay snug. There is a slight collar if you zip the jacket up, and that keeps much of the warmth inside.

You can pull the hood on and off even with the jacket completely zipped. Don't worry, the hood won't come off easily, even in the wind, especially with the collar zipped up. The collar will protect your face below your nose.

The fit of the hood with the collar coverage leaves enough space exposing only your eyes and nose.

Be mindful a helmet won't fit under the hood, but you can wear a baseball cap or a beanie.

Cuffs

The cuffs on the Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody are either a love it or hate it design. 

There isn't any adjustability, and they fit slightly snug. The four-way stretch fabric is stretchy, but not quite stretchy as some would hope. Depending on the person, you won’t be able to slide the cuffs up above your forearms.

The design for the men’s and women’s jackets are similar. Yet, due to average body shapes and sizes, most men struggle with the cuff system more than women.

Additionally, depending on your arm length, the jacket sleeve length may be too short. This is a jacket that you should try on and fit in-store before buying as the sleeve length is a common complaint.

Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Durability & Construction

If you have an older version of the Nano-Air Hoody, you may have noticed premature pilling or snags. With the new design and construction, you can expect this jacket to hold up to frequent use outdoors.

Plus, another upside to synthetic filling is that the jacket is machine washable. That makes it easy to keep clean and looking like new.

Final Verdict

Like most high-quality lightweight insulated jackets, the Patagonia Nano-Hoody will be expensive upfront. This jacket may be an investment, but you will be glad you found a jacket that fits well. Also, it offers active versatility and is exceptionally durable.

It is an excellent option for a mid-layer for your many outdoor adventures.

Plus, it is lightweight enough to bring on any backpacking trip. We recommend you find the right fit before you buy one.

Once you do, you’ll understand why this jacket continues to be an iconic puffy in the outdoor industry.