Patagonia Nano Puff vs R1?

I use the Nano Puff at home and short hikes, but take an R1 on real trips. I'm not sure that there's much difference in the R value. I may use the R1 as a midlayer, but not the Nano Puff. But that's just me. The Nano Puff has the advantage of loft, albeit relatively small and synthetic, so it might hold heat in a little better. On the other hand the R1 is a tighter weave.

My Nano Puff is about 10 years old, maybe more, and has been repaired a couple of times, so a new one will likely perform better.

I would check out Patagonia's recycled Cashmere as an alternative. I purchased their cashmere sweater several years ago and its still going strong, in fact, I just returned from a trip and used it as my base layer upper instead on cap. They weigh and compress about the same but I think the warmth to ratio might be better.

It sounds as if you’re currently not using a wind proof shell as your outer layer and if so that’s a huge energy gap in your system: energy loss through constantly replacing the warmed air next to your body with the freezing air you’re moving through just constantly pulls heat from your body. In other words that wind chill effect weather people talk about. Heat energy transfer rate is proportional to the difference between two objects temperatures: warm air next to your body means a slower rate of transfer out of you. If that warmed air is constantly being replaced with the colder surrounding air through porous layers then your heat loss stays at maximum.

My system actually starts with an uninsulated goretex hardshell under which I’ll add insulation over my base as necessary. But I shut off that wind chill first thing.



For any application requiring flexibility I find having my wind blocking layer not fixed to any level of insulation best: it means I’m never faced with losing my wind/rain protection just because I’m getting too warm. I’ve got a variety of hard shells that I choose to fit various situations: they differ in length, toughness and features and so weight, what they all have in common is that none of them are insulated: I choose that separately from fleece vests and jackets to a down vest. My shell is often the first on and the last off as I match conditions and needs.

I have an old R1 (as well as an R3 "shag" Regulator, I think), but I really prefer using my clothing as layers in a fairly extreme way (I guess, but I guess nearly everyone does that too) instead of wearing heavier jackets. I rarely use the R1 except as a casual jacket at home, and the R3 has been in my closet moldering for years. These jackets are old designs from the 90s, so the R1 has ventilation panels under the arms and along the arms and sides. The R3 does not.

I have tons of cheap poly base layers (also some Capilene and other odds and ends from various sources, like Marmot, most of which I found on sale/clearance online, but I found that Capilene was relatively fragile, at least IME - as well as expensive), so I use cheap stuff from wherever.

I tend to put on slightly heavier layers or multiple layers, then, as needed, insulation and/or weather layers on top of that. This is nothing new, of course. I usually look like a hobo. If I have to take heavier outside layers, I take something down I can use as a pillow inside a bag. My heaviest down jacket is almost always used this way, so I have something for fallback if I encounter an unexpected dip in temps. My "wind jackets" are almost exclusively used for walking/running these days, because they can be carried very easily in a pocket, and provide some short term help with light rain.

I don't know what the latest "tech terms" are for it, but many of my lighter jackets (and gloves) feature what they used to call "windblocker" layers.

I have a few really light Montbell Thermawrap (synthetic fill) jackets and parkas to use as "middle layer", as well as a selection of their old (circa 90s) down "inner" jackets and a couple of their "Alpine Light" parkas. I can't, at this late date, explain my strange penchant for Montbell jackets, but it was probably merely "happenstance" or a series of sales as the season ended. I use the lightest of these as "insurance" in the early spring and in fall if the temps dip.

I have a Nanopuff pullover and several fleece layers of various thickness but not an R1. The Nanopuff is significantly warmer and much more windproof but it is a puffy so I can’t wear it hiking. But even in winter here is southern Arizona I will only need a Patagonia Houdini over my long sleeve stretch shirt if I wear anything over it and we hike three times a week year round here.

I wear that Nanopuff around the house in winter as we don’t like to give the utility companies all our dinero. I really like the comfort and performance of that pullover. But my ul MontBell down jacket is lighter, warmer and much more compressible. I do agree that a medium fleece and a windbreaker (Houdini) will be extremely versatile.

My three season puffy or better mid-layer for backpacking in Central Rockies and basins has been a now 12 year old Patagonia Micro Puff pullover with 1/2 zip (anorak). For a synthetic it compressed and rebounded with good loft for years but it is now worn out. Almost never used as a outlayer except those 'we hours in the morning first out the shelter as it spent the night stuffed into a pillow sack. I am going to replace it with a Patagonia Men's Nanopuff Bivy pullover with Primaloft Gold synthetic insulation. 12.5 oz.

I need a mid-layer that will go under a rain shell, like my OR Foray GTX pac lite, get soaked in the freezing rain, yet I can stay warmish and my body heat can drive the moisture away from skin and dry itself. The Micropuff (MP)did that on several occasions over the years. In spring and fall, I often supplement the MP with an old Golite vest with Polarguard. I love R-1's but the don't fit my system needs.

I am older and colder too, as the OP, and I thing the Micropuff can past the test for being warmer though a being a bit bulkier. If you do go that way, make you follow Patagonia sizing instructions.

This fall I had $250 customer credit to blow on an Outdoor Research product from a return. I splurged on OR Refuge Air Hooded Jacket with a Pertex shell, "VerticalX Air" insulation with all sorts of promises of smart dry comfort. It also comes in at 16.2 oz so even accounting for hood, heavier materials and cut than my MP by almost a third. We had a early winter in Northern Wyoming and the skiing and snow shoeing has been incredible. with a couple of different weight baselayers, wool and poly, the thing has been a wonder under a wind shirt or mountain parka for this old heavy sweater. Just about the time I feel the need to peel a layer or go to a vest, I am drier and not chilling. I have pulled the wind shirt off, and the outside of the jacket is moist to the touch, but the interior against the baselayer, it is barely perceptible. I have wrung it out cycling in the hills at 10 deg F, another sweat swamp test, and same results under my Asics parka. I would rate it higher in performance in these tests than my MP.  I love it but it is too heavy for backpacking to replace my MP. And because it gets sweated out a lot, it will be interesting to see how it does with more mandatory washing. Its stink factor so far has been low.