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Review: Patagonia Nano-Air Ultralight Freeride Jacket

Mastering active insulation.

By

Jason Albert

A somewhat public secret amongst my close friends: I have a touring boot problem and a jacket problem. Not real problems in the darkest sense, but a compulsion to find a jacket or boot that is just so. And all of it can be nuanced. Thus, the deep collection of boots and jackets over the…

Responses

  1. Travis

    These look nice. I use what is now called the Dynafit Tigard Alpha Direct Jacket. It has an uncanny way of keeping me warm, but not hot. I don’t question it, I just love it!

  2. Jason Kwiatkowski

    How about comparing it to their Upstride kit which is an uninsulated active layer designed to not be removed during a day out touring? I have found it to be effective all day layer that doesn’t need removed and works in a surprisingly wide range of conditions.

    1. Jason Albert

      Hey Jason, that does look nice. At one point, I had a pair of Upstride pants, which I liked, but the sizing was off for me. I’m 99% a Patagonia med in their ski and alpine line, but those medium pants ran super long on me. The inseam, however, as I recall, worked on the 6’5″ youngster in the family. Curious, can you tell us where you usually tour and what weather conditions those pieces then to shine in? I’ll have to check with Gavin, he may have experience with the Upstride pants.

      1. Jason Kwiatkowski

        I tour almost exclusively in South Central Alaska and am based in Anchorage. The jacket has worked well as a touring layer over a merino base layer in midwinter conditions even this year with low single digit temps (without too much wind), but winds in the 10-15 range are ok when temps are double digits. The fabric is extremely comfortable, breathable and the versatility has exceeded my expectations. I typically put this on and do not remove all day. I will layer a shell or insulator over top at the top of a run or if it gets really windy. I bought this thinking it was a niche piece, but it has quickly become a daily driver for ski touring in mid winter and spring. Only gripe is the hood doesn’t work great with a layer over top (i.e. double hood duty). Pants have been good as well, belt is meh, but i did downsize due to inseam being too long for my average height.

  3. John B

    I got one of these a month ago and so far it’s been great. I had a week long Canada hut trip & with temps in the 30s plus a little wind I was quite comfortable wearing this all day. On a sunny day on glaciers with no wind I did find myself overheating and taking this off. Like said above it’s a very packable layer and I always had a bit more room in my pack for the jacket.

    I’m really looking forward to this layer for mid winter touring in the east side of the Cascades in WA and can picture never taking the coat off over a days worth of touring.

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