Patagonia R1 Vs. R1 Air: Which Fleece Hoodie Is Better?

Patagonia is known for the excellent quality and performance of its products, whether it’s a fleece hoodie, a pair of pants, or a down jacket. You’ll hardly ever be disappointed with a Patagonia product, and even if you are, the brand has a good returns policy and offers customers to exchange worn items for store credit.

There’s a lot of variety in Patagonia’s product range, and it can be overwhelming if you’re not looking for one specific thing. The R1 and R1 air hoodies are very similar, but with a few substantial differences that dictate in which conditions the items should be worn.

Keep reading to learn about the differences and similarities between Patagonia R1 and R1 Air hoodies, and decide which is a better option for you.

Materials And Construction

The R1 hoodie by Patagonia is made from a material that consists of 94% (recycled) polyester. The fabric features a grid pattern for improved insulation and moisture-wicking, and it’s known as Polartec Power Grid fabric.

The R1 Air hoodie is made entirely from recycled polyester jacquard material. The fabric is constructed with hollow-core yarns and features a zig-zag texture that allows for great breathability, moisture-wicking, and quick drying.

Both hoodies have off-shoulder seams, so you can comfortably wear a backpack over them. They both also have soft cuffs and hems with lots of stretch, but it’s important to note that you can’t adjust the width of the cuffs or hem on either Patagonia hoodie.

In terms of performance, the R1 is better in cold weather, whereas the R1 Air performs best in strenuous outdoor activities. If you anticipate you’ll be moving around a lot and you might sweat, go for the R1 Air. But if you just want a layer that will keep you toasty warm, the R1 might be a better option.

Breathability

Fleece is generally not a very breathable material, so neither of the Patagonia hoodies will be a great option if you’re specifically looking for something airy. However, the R1 Air range is significantly more breathable than the basic R1 range, mostly because of the hollow-core yarns.

The construction of the fabric allows for more air to pass through it, so this material is surprisingly breathable considering it is a fleece.

The regular R1 hoodies are much better at trapping heat and are not quite as breathable. Because of that, the R1 hoodies are better if you’re not expecting to move around a lot and sweat, so as a layer to keep you warm at night at base camp, or just as a comfortable and cozy mid-layer in very cold weather.

Warmth

Both the R1 and R1 air hoodies perform best when worn as mid-layers. They might look like two extremely similar hoodies, but the difference in the fabric construction makes the hoodies perform differently.

The R1 hoodies are generally warmer than the R1 Air options. The material is slightly thicker and more tightly woven together, so the hoodies are better at retaining warmth. That’s why the R1 range is great if you need clothing for very cold weather, especially if you don’t care too much about weather resistance.

The R1 Air tops are just as warm as the regular R1 options, but they’re more breathable so it’s easier to regulate the temperature. The R1 Air is also quick-drying, which makes it a great option for outdoor activities that include a lot of movement. You might sweat, but because the fabric is quick-drying and breathable, the moisture will evaporate quickly.

Water Resistance

Neither of these two Patagonia clothing lines features any sort of water resistance. There’s no special coating on the hoodies, and they won’t do a good job of repelling water. If you’re specifically looking for something with DWR coating or at least some sort of water resistance, scroll down a little and check out the R1 TechFace range.

Durability

The R1 is generally a little thicker and sturdier than the R1 Air. The face of the fabric is more rugged and durable, so it’s the better of the two if you need an outer layer. The R1 hoodies are particularly great for the more challenging outdoor activities like rock climbing and hiking, especially if you expect that the hoodie will get rubbed against rocks, trees, and whatnot.

The Air, on the other hand, is thinner and not as rugged, so I wouldn’t recommend the Air hoodie as an outer layer if you expect that you’ll be climbing up a rock face or dealing with tree branches getting caught on your clothes.  It’s still a durable material, but it’s not quite as thick as the regular Air fleece.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that neither of these hoodies will last you for ages. Fleece pills over time and the more you wear it, the faster it will degrade. That doesn’t mean that the hoodies are poor-quality or not durable; it’s just a property of the material, and you can still expect to get a couple of years of use out of either an R1 or an R1 Air hoodie.

You can keep the hoodies looking as good as new for longer if you have one of those fabric-shaving tools. They’re great for removing fuzz off anything, and they’re super cheap to buy so I highly recommend getting one.

Fit

Both the R1 and the R1 Air hoodies are slim-fitting hoodies. They’re not extremely tight but they are form-fitting, and it’s best to wear them over thinner layers to prevent bunching underneath. Also, both hoodies are quite thin, or at least thin enough that you can comfortably pair them with more durable outer layers.

Neither R1 nor R1 Air materials feature water resistance, and I would recommend pairing the Patagonia hoodies with a waterproof outer shell when you need to wear the pullover hoodies in wet weather conditions.

Product Range

R1 and R1 Air are both product collections from Patagonia, which include a few different styles of tops and hoodies. The R1 air range includes crew-neck tops, half-zip hoodies, and full-zip hoodies, with options for both men and women.

The regular R1 range includes pullover, full-zip, and neck-zip options, so no thinner tops. There’s not a huge difference in the product variety of the two collections, but I thought it was important to mention this because of people who might be looking for something specific.

Pockets

The amount of pockets you get in these Patagonia hoodies depends on the exact style. The full-zip hoodies have three zippered pockets (two hand-warming pockets and one at the chest), while the pullover hoodies have just one zippered chest pocket.

One important difference is that the women’s classic R1 doesn’t have the extra chest pocket, but the R1 Air does. But it’s the other way around with the pullover hoodies – the R1 Air zip-neck doesn’t have a chest pocket, while the basic R1 does.

What About The R1 TechFace?

The R1 TachFace range is also worth mentioning in connection to R1 and R1 Air. It’s the most durable out of all the options, as well as the only fabric with a DWR coating. That means you can comfortably wear it as an outer layer even in rainy weather.

TechFace hoodies also have the best abrasion resistance, so they’re really good for rock climbing, hiking, and other adventures that can include your clothes getting caught on tree branches or scraped against rock faces.

On the other hand, TechFace hoodies also have the worst breathability out of the bunch and are not really supposed to be worn as mid-layers. Maybe in extreme cold conditions, but in most scenarios, you’d wear this as an outer layer, especially if you’re going to be moving around a lot and sweating.

Pricing

The pricing is very similar for both R1 and R1 Air hoodies. The full-zip hoodies are a little more expensive in the R1 Air version, but at the same time, the R1 Air pullovers are cheaper than the basic R1 pullovers.

The price difference is small (around $20-30), so it shouldn’t be an important factor when deciding which Patagonia hoodies you should get for yourself.

Patagonia R1 Vs. R1 Air: Final Thoughts

Patagonia R1 and R1 Air are extremely similar at first glance, but two very different types of hoodies when you start to examine all their features in detail.

The classic R1 hoodie is soft and warm. It’s the perfect hoodie to wear in very cold weather, especially if you’re spending a lot of time outside, but don’t really plan on doing anything strenuous that will make you warm up quickly. The R1 hoodies don’t have the best breathability, so they aren’t great for activities that include a lot of moving around.

The R1 Air hoodies, on the other hand, feature much better breathability. They manage to be slightly warmer and cooler than the R1 hoodies at the same time, and it’s mostly because of the breathable material. The R1 Air products are also moisture-wicking and quick-drying, so they’re really good for hiking, rock climbing, skiing, and any other activity that includes lots of movement.

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