• Overall Rating

  : 4-5 out of 5

Vests are useful for providing extra warmth to the torso and I often carry one. For the last six months that has been the Patagonia R1 Air Fleece Vest and I’ve been impressed with the performance.

It’s made from fleece with a distinctive zig-zag knit pattern which Patagonia says, “increases airflow and minimizes bulk”. The fabric is stretchy and very soft. The pattern is thicker on the outside but can still be felt on the inside. Held up to the light you can see through the thin lines between the thicker fleece zigzags.

The vest has a full-length front zip and three zipped pockets. There is non-stretch binding round most of the hem and armholes with short sections of double fleece to give a little stretch. The collar is double fleece too and reaches to under the chin. The shoulder seams are offset so they don’t lie directly under pack straps. The fabric is 100% recycled and the vest is made in a Fair Trade Certified factory so it has good environmental and social credentials.

The Patagonia R1 Air Fleece vest gives instant warmth. Credit: Chris Townsend

Patagonia describes the fit as slim, so I went for the XL size as I expected to mostly wear it over a long-sleeved fleece or an insulated garment for extra warmth. This gave a loose fit and a size L would probably have been fine. It didn’t affect the performance, and I prefer roomy garments so it worked well for me.

The R1 Air vest is lightweight and quite compact when packed. I was surprised at just how warm it is. I tested it on day walks and camping trips in the Scottish Highlands over the autumn and winter of 2025/26 and wore it over different garments including a fleece jacket and windshirt and once a lightweight down jacket. Every time it quickly added noticeable warmth, doing exactly the job I expected of it. It was excellent to pull on at rest stops. Worn under a shell the breathability was superb. Without a shell just a slight breeze can blow through the fabric. Only on calm days did I wear it as an outer garment.

It gives lightweight warmth at camp. Credit: Chris Townsend

The fabric wicks moisture fast too and the few times it got damp it dried quickly. The high collar is snug and keeps the neck warm. The stretch sections on the armholes and hem didn’t do much to stop these gaping and letting air out, though on a smaller size they might have done. As I always wore it under a windproof layer if there was any wind this wasn’t a problem. I don’t think it matters in a garment any air movement can pass through anyway.

The lower pockets are roomy. I can easily put gloved hands in them. However, they are covered by a pack hipbelt. The chest pocket is small though, okay for a compass but not a phone. A larger one would be useful.

How we tested

Chris Townsend used the R1 vest widely from autumn through to spring, on day walks and backpacks in the Cairngorms.