PATAGONIA R1 PULLOVER VS BASELAYER SKIN
PATAGONIA R1 PULLOVER VS BASELAYER SERIES

That said, while wearing a short-sleeve baselayer underneath, I had no issues with abrasion or rubbing, and the inner fabric felt comfortable against bare skin. And because of the fairly generous fit, I can easily wear the R1 in much cooler conditions by adding a down or synthetic jacket underneath.Īs far as comfort goes, the R1 TechFace is decently pliable and cozy, but it lacks the super soft and supple feel that you get with a standard fleece and has much less loft than Patagonia’s own standard R1 and R2. All in all, it’s become my go-to layer for sitting around camp in cooler temps, packing my van in the morning before an early adventure, and during more static activities like belaying (I typically pair the R1 with a light merino baselayer). That said, I should admit that I do run particularly hot, and the aforementioned breathability makes this jacket suitable for most shoulder-season activities and conditions. If I’m exerting, the temperatures are mild, and the sun is out, I’m very quick to warm up in the jacket. I’m looking forward to testing its performance this winter on cold backcountry ski approaches, but so far, I’d say it’s a nice match for shoulder seasons and cool alpine environments.Īs I touched on above, the R1 TechFace’s warmth limits it to colder days.

And it wouldn’t be my first pick on mild days-in warmer temps, I overheated quickly while ascending steep, lengthy sections of trail.

PATAGONIA R1 PULLOVER VS BASELAYER SKIN

Although I was definitely warm, I was able to comfortably exert myself with a fully loaded pack without overheating, which is in large part due to the jacket’s grid-like patterning that allows air to flow through.Īll that said, since the R1 TechFace Hoody doesn’t fit snugly against the skin (more on this in “ Fit and Sizing” below), I found it doesn’t wick sweat as well as more fitted fleeces like Arc’teryx’s Delta MX Hoody. Once we received word that wildfire crew had the situation under control a few hours later, I realized I had been wearing the R1 the entire time. Upon receiving direction from the rangers, we quickly donned our 65-liter packs and jogged several miles uphill to the evacuation point. I wore the jacket in a range of conditions, but perhaps the most revealing test was camping in B.C.’s Cathedral Lakes backcountry, when a wildfire moved in quickly and forced us to pack up camp in a hurry and evacuate to a nearby helicopter landing pad. One of the biggest selling points of the Patagonia R1 TechFace Hoody is its breathability, which is ideal for cool-weather activities like hiking, backpacking, and climbing. To see how it stacks up to the competition, see our articles on the best fleece jackets and best softshell jackets. Below we break down our experiences with the R1 TechFace Hoody. The baggier fit doesn’t wick moisture well and is too large to wear on its own, but it’s a great match for climbers and skiers who want a baselayer and light shell in one. We took the hoody camping, backpacking, and rock climbing around British Columbia and the Yukon and came away with mostly positive feedback. Straddling the softshell and fleece categories, the R1 TechFace Hoody takes their popular R1 and adds more weather and abrasion resistance.

PATAGONIA R1 PULLOVER VS BASELAYER SERIES

Patagonia has one of the most extensive fleece collections on the market, and their performance-focused Regulator (R) series is designed with active use in mind.

Patagonia r1 pullover vs baselayer