Everybody likes to keep the cold away when the temperature falls, but this is often achieved with quite a lot of bulk. We here at GS aren’t fans of the Michelin man-style getup, favouring more lightweight alternatives that can still make sure you’re not left with chattering teeth at the end of the day. 

The Nano-Air Light from Patagonia really stood out for us as a result. Designed for all kinds of outdoor activities, it’s lightweight enough to stop you from feeling laden down yet still has all of the keep-warm tech that you want. Plus, with plenty of stretch incorporated into its design, it should be great for all types of exercise and more intensive activities from hiking to a little sprint on two wheels. We’ve been finding out what it’s like to live with and whether or not it’s worth adding to your inventory. 

Sphere Score

For

• Super lightweight
• Really does help boost warmth
• Trio of colours to choose from
• Can be used over or under other layers

Against

• Can feel a bit unstructured, such as when you’re crouching 
• Quite expensive for the type of garment it is

Tech specs

• £180
• Made from 100% recycled polyester 
• Water-repellent finish 
• 40-gram polyester insulation 

What is the Patagonia Nano-Air Light like to wear?

As a lightweight vest, the Nano-Air brings a variety of options. We found that it could be worn both under or over another layer, meaning that you can work it into whatever you happen to be wearing. Picking up the 211g vest, you’re really not convinced that something this light could have any real impact on warmth, but it’s quite surprising just how cosy this Patagonia piece can make you in a very short period of time. 

We teamed it with a chunkier fleece underneath and you can very quickly feel the difference. It’s a great option for those colder days when you’re less likely to encounter any rain – it does have water-repellent properties but we wouldn’t rely on it to keep us dry in downpours – though you could, of course, wear it underneath a waterproof outer layer. 

It’s got some handy extra features, too. Two handwarmer pockets which are zippered to keep loose items safe are a real plus point on colder days and there’s also a chest pocket for some extra storage. However, because of the vest’s largely unstructured design, larger items such as phones or keys do tend to make the whole item look a little bulky and odd – these pockets are best for lighter items such as maps or pens. 

The relatively high collar is ideal for when you’re wearing it underneath an outer layer as it’s perfect for blocking a bit of wind chill, while a special ‘garage’ for the zipper ensures it doesn’t catch the skin on your chin when fully zipped up. The zip itself is chunky and robust, too, while a long ‘pull’ means you can still use it when you’ve got gloves on. 

Then, there’s the general structure of the vest. Patagonia says that the ‘articulated patterning’ helps boost freedom of movement and we’d have to agree; there’s very little of that restriction that you’d get from a chunkier item of clothing. We went on several hikes wearing the Nano-Air Light and on no occasion did we feel like the vest was stopping us from doing exactly what we wanted to do. Having no arms to the vest also makes it more usable than a traditional insulated jacket, too. 

The only downside to this setup is that on occasions the Nano-Air Light can feel a little too unstructured. For instance, when you’re crouching it’s easy for the material to billow out around your waist, leaving you to struggle with that extra fabric. It’s not a true annoyance, of course, but it’s a bit like when you can’t get the duvet quite right in bed. 

We like that the Nano-Air Light is offered in a trio of colours, too, with ‘our’ vest’s shrub green shade being quite a statement. However, there are more subdued ‘Noveau Green’ and black if you’d rather have a more understated option. 

So should you buy it?

Being £20 shy of £200 makes the Nano-Air quite an investment, that’s for sure. However, given its versatility and warmth-boosting ability, it could be seen as a very worth addition to a setup regardless of the type of activity you’re up to. From serious hikes to more leisurely ambles, it’s a vest that can help to take the edge of the cold and provide a valuable middle-ground. 

For instance, if the weather is too warm for an out-and-out jacket but too cool for a simple fleece, then it’s there to slot into the middle. It also packs down super-small, so if you do find that you’re a little too warm with it on then it’s not going to cause any headaches to carry along with you. In fact, it’s a valuable piece to keep in a rucksack in case things do get a bit chilly later on. 

Plus, the Nano-Air comes with Patagonia’s typical attention to eco-friendliness. The outer portion of the vest is a 100% recycled polyester ripstop shell, while the water-repellent treatment is done without perfluorinated chemicals. As we mentioned, you can’t see this as a vest that’ll keep the rain at bay – it really is only for the lightest and shortest of showers. Even the 40-gram insulation is 93% recycled so it does tie in with Patagonia’s ethos that we’ve seen on its other garments. 

For us, it’s the versatility of the Nano-Air Light which makes it a worthy option to consider. As with other Patagonia items, it does carry a premium, but as an all-rounder, it could be just as useful at the bottom of the pack for when things get really cold as it would be chucked over a fleece for a stroll to the park.