Patagonia Nano-Air Jackets Review: Versatile, Super Light, Breathable. Great Fall, Winter Run Option

I tend to run very warm. So when I heard about the new Patagonia Nano Air Insulated jackets I figured they would be a great option for those super cold days, nordic skiing, hiking, and after runs. I should have been listening more carefully as it is rare that Patagonia touts a single product as strongly as they have the new Nano-Air jackets for men and women. And Patagonia makes outstanding run clothing including the cleverly pocketed Strider Pro Shorts I reviewed here. Outside Magazine liked it too, giving it a 2015 Gear of the Year Award.  I bought the jacket version,  $249. A  hoodie $299 is also available. Men's and Women's models are available in multiple colors.

Patagonia.com Men's Nano-Air Jacket.

Patagonia describes Nano Air as follows:
"An insulation breakthrough: the new Nano-Air™ Jacket featuring FullRange™ Insulation is warm, stretchy and so breathable, you can wear it for the entirety of any highly aerobic start-stop mission in the mountains."

The Road Test

Before launching into the specs of this amazing jacket, the road test run in truly foul conditions. Yesterday we had temps in the mid 30's with 20-30 mph winds, rain and snow. I said why not, let's see how it performs in "ideal" conditions. Off I went for a 9 mile run along the coast with my brother. I layered a Craft snug fitting thermal t shirt underneath. The performance was outstanding. Never too warm, never chilled, didn't get heavy, core perfectly warm enough. The sleeves did soak through and were a bit clammy in strong wind gusts as I did not wear long sleeves but to be expected given the quite heavy precipitation. Delighted!

Post Run Still Smiling in the Snow.

The Specs and Details
The Nano Air has a 4 way mechanical stretch, is super breathable with a soft,  and an almost shirt like exterior and interior fabric. Not a slick ripstop nylon. So for hiking and skiing in wind a shell over would be in order. It does repel light precipitation but I will take the breathability any day.  The proprietary 60 gram FullRange insulation actually stretches with rest of the jacket. The overall breathability, insulation included  is touted by Patagonia to be superior to any of their uninsulated soft shells.It is super light overall at 12.5 oz and packs downto  next to nothing. Standing around it insulates brilliantly but as its purpose is all day comfort, in motion, in the mountains one cannot say it is stand around in super cold weather type "puffy". It fit me true to size and is decently long to cover the lower back.



Highly Recommended for Running in cool to cold temperatures, Hiking, Nordic Skiing, and going to the store.

Outside Magazine reviews the Nano-Air and calls it the "only mid layer you'll ever need" and the "world's best mid layer."

Get the Patagonia Nano-Air at the links to Backcountry.com below and you will be warm on the run, and also support my blog! Thanks!