Patagonia

R1 Air Hoody

£130 370g (size M)

warmth, comfort, breathability tiny chest pocket

Insulation: jacquard polyester Outer: none Sizes: XS to XXL Women’s version: yes eu.patagonia.com

The original R1 earned plenty of accolades in winter sports and mountaineering circles, and for good reason. It wicked well and provided tons of warmth. The R stands for ‘regulator’ – and it did have a reputation for being a mid you could keep on all day.

The fabric is updated in the newer ‘Air’ iteration with a medium-loft, zigzag weave made of ‘hollow core’ fibres, designed to help wick moisture. Unlike my older R1, this is fluffy on both sides, not just the inside, which Patagonia says makes it warmer. There are two decent- sized torso pockets (set low, meaning that they will interfere with a hipbelt) and a chest pocket, which is frustratingly small. The hood is a close fitting, under-the-helmet affair that zips to the nose. The fit is on the slim side, but not athletic – you’d struggle to get both a baselayer and thin mid-layer under it, but then I can’t imagine a scenario where you would need to. The fuzzy, close-fitting interior means it’s clingy to other fabrics, too. It’s worth noting that the outer has begun to pill just a little on the arms after a few washes.

In use, it is very warm and does indeed still wick as well as, if not better than, the regular R1. I took this on a mountainous backpacking trip in spring and it stayed on for three days straight – usually I’d be in and out of a mid several times in one day in similar conditions, so this is impressive. On the Cape Wrath Trail in May (a route that by and large keeps to the lower ground) there were times when it felt too warm. For me, then, the R1 Air is best placed for the mountains, and in November-April conditions in the UK. In that environment, it really excels. It’s also 100% recycled, and bluesign- and Fair Wear-approved.