Patagonia’s new windproof fleece hoodie is a great addition to the iconic R1 family of mid-layer fleeces.
BENEFITS
- Good wind resistance
- Easy to wear with a hardshell
- Good sized chest pocket
DISADVANTAGES
I first discovered so-called hard fleece jackets with my Arc’teryx Fortrez which I still own (my youngest son currently uses it). The new Patagonia R1 Techface Hoody is just as good (if not a little better as it’s more wind and rain resistant and is lighter) and has a more minimalist silhouette, meaning it’s a little more suitable for casual/office wear.
The R1 range of mid layers has been a staple of the Patagonia catalog for years and the R1 Full Zip Hoody is a pretty iconic piece of gear loved by all outdoor enthusiasts, from weekend warriors to gnarly mountain guides. The Patagonia R1 Techface Hoody takes the lightweight, breathable aesthetic and adds a windproof coating to improve versatility. I found the jacket excellent in all the activities I used it for this summer, from trail running to cycling to the climbing gym (it was a rainy start to summer in the UK this year) , hiking and climbing. In every activity it excelled, it’s lightweight, has an ideal fit – athletic but not too restrictive – and the Techface provided decent wind resistance as well as protection from minor showers and drizzle.
The hood worked very well on wet and rainy hikes, my head was dry with the cap + hood combination.
If you’ve used an R1 style fleece before, the Techface Hoody will be a little different. It looks more like a lightweight softshell jacket than a fleece with a double weave fabric. The hood is also different (from that of the R1 Hoody) because it is well sized and adapted to wearing a helmet, it also has a reinforced visor with a single adjustment at the rear. Double-weave recycled polyester fabric is 90% recycled and has 10% added spandex to provide 4-way stretch. The DWR is PFC and PFAS free and has, so far, held off minor showers and a rainy hike. It’s not going to protect me from a deluge, but when I wore it with an additional lightweight windbreaker, I was able to return to the car reasonably dry.
Take advantage of sunny and windy conditions by using the R1 Techface Hoodie for a quick hiking workout – it’s pretty much perfect for this type of activity. Pockets are well placed for belt access
Inside, a gridded R1 microfleece material provides warmth and moisture-wicking capabilities when the pace picks up. I usually wear the jacket with a t-shirt and the Techface fabric feels great next to the skin, with no chafing or chafing anywhere and the interior flatlock seams are unobtrusive and mean the jacket is comfortable when wearing a backpack. There is enough room in the fit to use it with a longer sleeved winter base layer. The set-in sleeves offer a sharp silhouette for casual wear and the articulated elbows come in handy when you’re on the rock. I recently wore and reviewed some jackets that had a half-elastic wrist closure, which I was disappointed with. So it was a relief that the R1 Techface Hoodie has fully elasticated cuffs, meaning the sleeves sit on my wrists and don’t ride down on my hands. I think when I achieve this I will have the sleeves professionally shortened to improve the appearance of the jacket.
The R1 Techface Hoody worked well for climbing, the articulated elbows were particularly helpful.
The hood is a good size and fits my climbing helmet perfectly. It has a single adjuster at the back so I could easily adjust it to wear with a hiking cap and the slightly stiffened visor helped. no chin guard as the jacket relies on the soft outer fabric to provide comfort when the hood is fully zipped. There are also three zippered pockets: two large, well-placed hand warmer pockets for easy access with a hip belt or climbing harness. , these (along with the main body zipper) and YKK Vislon for a snag-free zipper and a decently sized chest pocket that’s big enough for larger style phones and small cards. Other finishing touches include a one-handed hem belt with a hidden drawcord, ties at stress points and mesh pockets to aid ventilation. There’s also a sewn-in Patagonia tag on the chest, a larger interior tag with a hanging loop, and a nice reminder to use it, repair it, or put it back on the inside pocket.
So in conclusion the Patagonia R1 Techface Hoody is a great addition to the R1 range, it is lightweight, has good wind resistance and has excellent technical features. The cut is athletic without being too technical, which allows it to be worn both casually and for use in the mountains. The R1 grid interior is ideal for wicking away sweat during intense activities such as hiking climbs and trail running. As you would expect from Patagonia, the responsibility, sustainability and ethical credentials are first class and you can push the jacket to its limits with the confidence that the Patagonia Worn Wear program can repair it should anything happen. need.
The Patagonia R1Techface Hoody is available in 5 colors and sizes XS-XXL. The RRP is £200 and can be purchased directly from Patagonia EU and specialist retailers.
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