The Patagonia Nano-Air jacket is designed 'to be worn for the entirety of your aerobic, start-stop alpine missions'. In theory it should keep you warm while you're sat in the snow on a chairlift, and then keep you from overheating when you're charging back down the mountain. The Nano-Air promises a lot for such a simple and lightweight (weighing in at just 269g) jacket, but we can't deny it performs.
Patagonia describe the cut of this jacket as 'slim fit', and this is certainly accurate. It's snug and shaped close to the body to create a smooth insulating layer under your ski jacket.
The fabric has a DWR (durable water repellent) finish to offer some water resistance, abrasion resistance and breathability. It's also surprisingly soft to the touch and comfortable against the skin as opposed to the more plastic-y, shiny midlayers we've come across.
The insulation is a 60g, 40% recycled FullRange layer which keeps you toasty as well as offering great breathability. The shell and lining materials have four-way stretch to ensure great comfort and freedom of movement when you're hitting the pistes.
The jacket doesn't have a hood, but you can buy a hoody version of the Nano-Air if you feel the need for that added bit of protection. When the jacket is zipped up, the collar comes up to just under the chin to protect your neck from icy winds. The zips themselves are great quality, smooth running YKK versions.
In terms of pockets, there aren't any on the inside but there are two zipped hand warmer pockets on the front, as well as a zipped chest pocket which the jacket stuffs down into for easy storage and packability. We were a bit dubious when we saw the size of this pocket, but after testing it out, we can confirm that the jacket fits with ease.
The hem is elasticated to stay tight to the body, and the cuffs have stretch knit insets to hug the wrists and stay flat under gloves and other layers.
The jacket only comes in three colours, but we're a fan of them all. We tested 'Cobalt Blue' which we liked, but you might have to be careful with your choice of ski jacket and pants to avoid clashing - it's a vibrant blue with a turquoise lining. There is a black version for something a little more muted, and 'Light Balsamic' which is an attractive maroon.
Overall, a great midlayer for comfort and performance.
