Early this 12 months, Patagonia supplied me a Nano Air Ultralight hoody for testing, so I rode it all through the spring and fall seasons. This hoody is a multisport garment, however its slim lower, unrestricted mobility, and enormous hood make it a possible possibility for cyclists of any self-discipline.
Nonetheless, on my MTB rides, I discovered the Nano Air Ultralight hoody struggles to control physique temperature once you’re working onerous throughout climbs. Regardless of being very skinny and light-weight, the hoody warms up shortly and may’t dump physique warmth successfully, so it’s powerful to stay comfy all through a trip with out eradicating it.
Patagonia Nano Air Ultralight Full Zip Hoody – Development:
The Nano Air Ultralight Hoody was constructed to offer just a little heat whereas remaining extremely breathable. It’s compressible, stretchy, and light-weight.
The hoody’s shell and lining are constructed from 100% recycled ripstop polyester that provides mechanical stretch. Offering some heat is light-weight 20g FullRange insulation all through the hood, shoulders, higher arms, chest, and again. The underarm panels aren’t insulated, and the decrease inside arms are manufactured from Capilene material, which is mild, tender, stretchy, wicks moisture, and dries quick.
Patagonia’s Mild Contact Enlargement Hood is designed to suit over a helmet, and the hood is sure with an elastic hem. A zipper storage on the chin retains the metallic zipper off your pores and skin.
The hoody is handled with a DWR end to withstand puddle splashes and light-weight rain. It options glove-friendly string pulls on each zippers, however there aren’t any reflective logos or particulars to boost your visibility whereas biking.
The Nano Air Ultralight hoody has one massive chest pocket to maintain small objects at hand, and the pocket doubles as a stuff sack for the hoody. The hoody packs into the pocket simply, and winds up about 10×5”.
Journey Impressions – Match and Options:
I’m 5’10” tall, and I’m sporting a measurement small Nano Air Ultralight hoody. General, the match is nice for me, however the physique has a reasonably slim lower! I’m a small man, and there may be not a variety of further house within the torso. I wouldn’t put on something cumbersome beneath this hoody, however there may be ample room for a jersey.
The shoulders are roomy sufficient to not prohibit my movement in any respect, and the sleeves are lengthy sufficient to maintain my arms lined whereas driving. The hoody’s articulated patterning and stretchy materials additionally guarantee free motion. I actually just like the collar: I can pull it method as much as my nostril simply, so it’s nice for holding wind at bay. When zipped down it falls off to the edges and stays out of the best way.
It’s a little bit of a stretch to get the Nano Air Ultralight’s hood over an MTB helmet. You are able to do it, but it surely is likely to be a bit restrictive to trip with, relying on how massive your helmet is – the picture above exhibits me sporting my pretty slim Oakley DRT5 helmet. I nonetheless choose to have the hood for pre- or post-ride hangouts (or off-bike use). I’d be glad to have two hand pockets, however holding issues lean, Patagonia went with out them for this piece.
Temperature/Moisture Regulation:
I started testing the Nano Air Ultralight hoody within the Spring, then rode it once more all through the autumn. One early check trip was at roughly 10-12°C (50-53.6ºF). I shortly found that regardless of being so skinny, this hoody retains a variety of warmth when you heat up inside it. After 20 minutes of climbing with a short-sleeve jersey beneath, I felt comfy however was far more sweaty than I spotted. At that time, I stashed the hoody in my pack.
After a number of comparable rides, I spotted I used to be underestimating how heat the Nano Air Ultralight hoody would get, so I stored that in thoughts for my fall rides. Maybe 8-10° was the candy spot for this piece?
Discovering the Nano Air Ultralight hoody’s ultimate temperature vary proved a bit difficult. This fall I began sporting the hoody in temperatures round 10°, however as I tailored to cooler climate, I spotted that was nonetheless too heat.
Between a number of rides with lengthy or short-sleeved jerseys beneath the hoody, I persistently discovered it tough to maintain myself from sweating excessively after 15-20 minutes of climbing. Patagonia describes the Nano Air Ultralight hoody as a extremely breathable piece, but it surely struggled to vent warmth shortly sufficient to maintain me dry.
Should you don’t take away this hoody as quickly as you get heat, inside minutes you’ll be sweaty inside it. On most of my check rides, in temperatures right down to 7°C (44.6ºF), I needed to take away the hoody and stash it away throughout my climb.
I did strive totally opening the zipper as a substitute of eradicating the hoody, and this was pretty tolerable, however my armpits, arms, and again stayed hotter than I’d have appreciated. Opening the Nano Air Ultralight’s entrance zipper will assist cool your chest and stomach down, however the hoody’s slim match doesn’t enable a lot airflow elsewhere. The non-insulated panels beneath the arms don’t vent warmth in addition to I’d have hoped.
The Nano Air Ultralight hoody does take in moisture fairly properly. I observed after one climb my jersey felt damp, however the hoody seemed and felt surprisingly dry. Since this layer heats up so shortly, that’s truly a bit problematic, because it tempts you to put on it till you’re already too sizzling. After getting sweaty, I wound up feeling a chill throughout some trailside breaks with the hoody off.
As temperatures dropped, I finally wore the Nano Air Ultralight for a trip at simply 4-5°C (39-41°F). That is the closest I obtained to discovering a ‘candy spot’ temperature-wise, but it surely nonetheless wasn’t completely ultimate. I used to be much less chilly than anticipated driving to the trailhead (with a long-sleeve jersey beneath), because the hoody does block wind pretty properly.
After quarter-hour of climbing with the hoody’s zipper partway down, I used to be just a little sweaty, however to a suitable diploma this time. I then climbed one other part of path and remained pretty dry and never overheated. Earlier than descending, I zipped the hoody again up, and I stayed comfy by the descent and pedal dwelling. It appeared I lastly discovered a temperature the place the Nano Air Ultralight hoody wasn’t overheating me, but it surely rode a superb line: It was simply heat sufficient to stop a chilly begin on this trip, and once I stopped for breaks I used to be cooling down shortly.
The underside line is I can’t nail down a temperature vary that might help you put on this hoody all through a complete trip. It heats up surprisingly shortly, however doesn’t breathe properly sufficient to maintain you from sweating. I did two comparability rides in my 7mesh Spruce hoody, and it felt hotter out of the gate, vented my physique warmth a lot better, and stored me drier than the Nano Air Ultralight.
Should you don’t trip with a pack, the Nano Air Ultralight hoody may very well be difficult to work with. When you have the choice, your greatest wager is to tug this layer off after some climbing and possibly put it again on for descents.
Climate Resistance, Packability, and Sturdiness:
One factor I used to be impressed with was the Nano Air Ultralight hoody’s wind resistance. I by no means observed air reducing by it whereas I used to be descending, or standing round organising photographs. Solely a robust, chilly wind might threaten to sit back you on this mild hoody. The tall collar could be very protecting too; It successfully blocked wind from getting down my neck and by no means felt bunchy or annoying.
The Nano Air Ultralight hoody’s DWR coating obtained splashed fairly good on one muddy trip. The hoody does resist splashes properly, not one of the moist spots soaked by, and the mud splatters washed out. I did discover water droplets beading up on the shell in misty circumstances.
After many rides with hydration packs (and my digital camera pack), the hoody’s again panel isn’t displaying any put on or material pilling in any respect. Actually, there is no such thing as a injury to be discovered wherever on the hoody, so it has confirmed to be very sturdy.
So far as packability, the Nano Air Ultralight hoody does pack up pretty small. Any medium-sized backpack will swallow it simply, and I managed to stuff it into my smaller Camelbak Chase vest.
The Nano Air Ultralight Full Zip Hoody retails for $249. There are 5 totally different colours obtainable for males’s fashions (I examined Smolder Blue), and sizes vary from XS-XXL. Ladies’s fashions are additionally obtainable: Patagonia presents 4 shade choices in sizes XXS-XXL.
patagonia.com
