An Insulator for Folks on the Move: Patagonia Nano-Air Ultralight Review

Since its original release in 2014, the Patagonia Nano-Air line has been the best breathable layer you can buy, at least in my book. I’m not a Patagonia fan boy, but after owning two of the original Nano-Air Jackets, the Nano-Air Light Pullover, and the Nano-Air pants (and testing out almost every other brand’s crack at breathable insulation layers), I will say I’m an unapologetic Nano-Air fan boy.

I was excited to test Patagonia’s latest design tweak, the Nano-Air Ultralight, and while I love it and wear it almost every day, even sleeping in it,  there are some compelling reasons to stick with the heavier, more versatile version of the jacket.

However, if you’re a diehard fan of the super-soft shell fabric and the breathability of the FullRange insulation, you won’t have any trouble finding an excuse to add the lighter, even more breathable version to your arsenal.

In short: In the never-ending quest to perfectly refine your layering system, the Patagonia Nano-Air Ultralight is a more breathable option that could replace your fleece layer. On backcountry ski days with lots of vertical gain, it’s more versatile than the original, and you’re more likely to leave it on while on the skin track. It’s also a great running or climbing layer, just know that if it gets windy and cold air starts moving in, you’re going to want a shell or a puffy jacket waiting in reserve.

Check out how this jacket stacks up against other midlayers in GearJunkie’s guide to the best midlayers.

Patagonia Nano-Air Ultralight Review

That Old Familiar Feeling

The 100% polyester shell fabric with just the lightest bit of stretch is my favorite part of the original Nano-Air Jacket and Nano-Air pants. When worn together, I call them my million-dollar sweat suit. It doesn’t cost a million dollars, but at $500, it’s a bit more expensive than a set of sweats.

The Nano-Air Ultralight uses the same shell fabric with the same amazing next-to-skin feel as the rest of the line. Down at the forearms, it switches to lightweight Capilene paneling for even more breathability. I don’t notice a difference in comfort here, but like all Capilene, when it gets sweaty, it starts to smell.

I chose a size small, the same as my original Nano-Air that I’ve had for about 6 years. It fit my 5’10”, 155-pound frame perfectly. It’s always nice to see consistent sizing.

A Jacket to Wear While Doing Stuff, Not Standing Around

FullRange insulation has a decent warmth-to-weight ratio, but it’s not as good as goose down or Polartech. What FullRange is known for is its ability to insulate while remaining breathable. With half the FullRange insulation of the original, the Ultralight is more breathable and not as warm.

While sport climbing on a sunny, perfect 60-degree day, I could climb comfortably while wearing the jacket, but I needed to put on a bigger puffy while hanging out or belaying. The low, narrow waist fits well under a harness, and the hood has plenty of stretch, so it fits over or under a helmet.

Features (And Lack Thereof)

As a climber, I really like the Nano-Air Ultralight’s hood, fit, and chest pocket. The whole jacket stuffs easily into its chest pocket and clips to a climbing harness when the temperatures start climbing. I always appreciate a jacket that stows away, but sometimes brands make the pocket so small it’s a pain to get the jacket stuffed in there. Not so with the Nano-Air Ultralight.

A DWR treatment on the face fabric will repel light drizzle and keep the jacket from getting soaked for a few minutes, but to stay dry in an actual rainstorm, you’ll need an actual waterproof layer.

There’s not much else in terms of features, but that’s the point of an “ultralight” version. There aren’t any handwarmer pockets (what do I do with my hands?), which took a minute for me to adjust to and make this much less of an around-town jacket. Again, it’s a specialty piece for athletes on the go.

Durability

I ripped a small hole in the sleeve on my Nano-Air Ultralight the fourth time I wore it. I was climbing in the shade, feeling very comfy in my jacket, chimneying up a dihedral, and one little pointy piece of exfoliating granite catching on the fabric was all it took.

The hole is easily repairable and the jacket still works just fine, but know this: if you’re hard on your gear, the $250 Nano-Air Ultralight will look well-worn very quickly. A fleece layer may not feel as nice or breathe as well as this jacket, but it will hold up to scuffs and abrasions way better.

The Ultimate Midlayer?

Maybe. A Nano-Air Ultralight combined with some type of GORE-TEX layer could be the ticket for spring skiing, on and off-piste. It provides more warmth than a sun hoodie, while being more breathable than most insulating layers out there.

Patagonia makes a hoodless pullover version that is even lighter and won’t leave you stacking hoods in your layering system. That version could be the ultimate midlayer. Despite the durability factor, I think the Nano-Air Ultralight is in its element when you can wear it as an outer layer and take advantage of its breathability.

The Competition

Durability is this jacket’s biggest weak spot, so folks hard on their gear may want to look at the Arc’teryx Proton SL. The Arc’teryx take on the Nano-Air doesn’t breathe quite as well, but the shell fabric is quite a bit more durable. The hemline doesn’t ride as low as the Nano-Air, so take that into account if you’re shopping for a climbing jacket.

The Rab Xenair Light is another breathable insulator I’ve used for a few years now, and that one is warmer and more weather-resistant than the Proton SL or any of the jackets in the Nano-Air line, but (you guessed it) not as breathable.

Conclusion

For me, the original Nano-Air with its 60g of FullRange hits the sweet spot in terms of versatility. Folks looking for that quiver-of-one synthetic insulated jacket are going to get more mileage out of the heavier version. I’ll continue to use it as my post-fleece, pre-shell layer when it’s cold. My Nano-Air Ultralight will come along this spring for sunny ski touring, and sunny, fair-weather alpine climbs in the Sierra this summer.