Review: Patagonia Nano-Air Vest

Breathable Insulated Vest
Patagonia Nano-Air Vest
$199, 8 oz./227g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s XS-XXL, women’s XS-XL
backcountry.com

If I had a buck for every day I’ve worn a vest outdoors over the years, well, I might not have to rely on a blog as the source of my wealth. But with the recent advent of breathable insulation, the classic vest, in its various iterations, faces serious competition. Curious to see whether a new-tech vest with breathable insulation could still measure up among today’s diverse array of versatile insulation pieces, I wore the Nano-Air Vest on Idaho adventures from July through October, including dayhikes and backpacking trips in the Sawtooth and White Cloud mountains and a five-day whitewater rafting and kayaking trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. It may speak volumes about this vest to say that I wore it a lot.

I found it the most useful on an early-October backpacking trip in Idaho’s White Cloud Mountains, when it stayed on me not only through cool evenings and mornings in camp, but also while hiking with a full backpack uphill, off-trail, in temps in the 40s and 50s Fahrenheit, with intermittent wind. While my body’s heat output varied with the terrain, and we were frequently in and out of the wind, I didn’t have to adjust layers: The vest stayed on over a midweight base layer, keeping me at the right temperature. It performed similarly when I hiked the first few uphill miles, in cool, morning fog, of a 12-mile dayhike of Thompson Peak in Idaho’s Sawtooths in July.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside, which has made several top outdoors blog lists. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Subscribe now to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip. Please follow my adventures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

With highly breathable, synthetic insulation, this vest is built for high-exertion activities, as well as acting as a versatile layering piece in any season. The fit is close, but the nylon ripstop shell fabric has four-way, mechanical stretch, making it feel like an outer layer of skin, as well as a DWR (durable, water-repellent treatment), so it sheds light rain. Even the synthetic insulation has mechanical stretch, so the entire garment moves with you. The tall collar keeps your neck warm, and the vest has a functional feature set with one zippered chest pocket and two zippered hand pockets, plus a drawcord hem.

Patagonia’s Nano-Air Vest has all the traditional advantages of a classic fleece vest—adding a bit of core warmth with exceptional breathability, while keeping your arms uncovered so you don’t overheat. But it raises the bar on thermal efficiency for its weight and packability, and it sheds light precipitation. This is a highly versatile, year-round layering piece for all but the warmest trips.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Nano-Air Vest at backcountry.com, patagonia.com, or patagonia.ca in Canada.

Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons below, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

See my other reviews of breathable insulated jackets, all of my reviews of insulated jackets, and all of my reviews of outdoor apparel that I like.

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu.

—Michael Lanza