The Patagonia R1 Fleece Hoody is a mid-layer fleece sweater that excels for start-stop activities in cold weather. Made with grid fleece, it has a porous weave that wicks moisture off your base layer so it can evaporate and keep you drier and warmer. When layered under a shell, the grid fleece traps air warmed by your body, providing a noticeable insulation benefit. Thumb loops, a 3/4 length zipper, a zippered chest pocket, and a stretch hood are the finishing touches on this versatile mid-layer.
- Materials: 93% recycled polyester and 7% spandex
- Gender: Men’s (no women’s model available)
- Weight: 10.7 oz (men’s Large)
- Zipper: 3/4 length
- Chest Pocket: Holds a smartphone
- Hood: Under helmet hood
- Fit: Slim
The R1 Fleece Hoody is an active layering piece that performs best when you’re working hard. The “R,” which stands for Regulator, is specifically designed to assist with thermoregulation, keeping you warm enough to perform at your best without causing you to overheat and become drenched with perspiration. The key to its effectiveness is the porous weave of its Polartec Power Grid, which wicks perspiration away from your torso when you perspire. The great thing about polyester is that it does not absorb liquid, but transports it from one surface to another through capillary action, so it can evaporate quickly.
By itself, the R1 Fleece Hoody is not the warmest sweater and must be augmented with a shell layer to trap body heat or protect you from the wind. It’s a great complement to a wind shirt or a hard shell because the air pockets in the grid fleece trap warmth. I climbed Mt Mansfield (4000′ of elevation gain) the other day in winter conditions with 30+ mph winds with just a thin baselayer, the R1 Pullover Hoody, and a Copperfield Wind Shirt, and I was dry and warm for the entire hike. Air is the best insulator.
The R1 Fleece Hoody is cut long to fit under a backpack hip belt or climbing harness. It also has a slim cut so it can soak up moisture from your base layer. Despite that, it has a lot of stretch, so you don’t feel constrained by the close fit.
The front of the hoody has a 3/4-length zipper, which is great for ventilation, and a zippered pocket large enough to store a smartphone. The sleeves have stretch cuffs, so pulling them up your forearms for ventilation is easy. They also have thumb loops to give your hands some extra warmth or prevent the sleeves from riding up underneath a jacket.
The stretch hood is made with a slightly thinner grid fleece fabric, but is easy to layer over a fleece beanie if you need extra warmth. But the feature I like the best about it is that it has a high neck that can reach up to cover your nose if you want a little extra wind protection without having to break out a balaclava.
This R1 Fleece Hoody is the second one I’ve owned. The first one I bought in 2009 when I started climbing mountains in winter. I wore that hoody to death for many years, all year round, until it fell apart. So, I’m not unfamiliar with this garment, and I’m delighted to have one back in my gear closet again.
How does the R1 compare with Polartec Alpha fleece hoodies? That’s easy. It has many more features required for winter hiking, including a central zipper for ventilation, a chest pocket, an extra-long torso, and higher neck coverage. It’s also a lot more durable. I bought a bunch of Polartec Alpha hoodies last year and they’re all falling apart now. While they do weigh half as much, I’d much rather have the R1 on a winter hike because its technical features really do make a difference for active layering and temperature regulation.
Recommendation
The Patagonia R1 Fleece Hoody is a versatile active layering piece for cold-weather hiking. It has superb breathability, with technical features like the long front zipper, stretch cuffs, and hood that make it easy to regulate your warmth level. Plus, it works well under a shell layer. The only negative is that a women’s version of the garment is unavailable. I found that surprising, given that this hoody is such an iconic garment.
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