Synthetic fabrics serve as excellent material for cold weather garment, since they deliver the necessary warmth while drying much faster than conventional fabrics. Only problem is, synthetics tend to be more susceptible to bacterial growth, making the garments built with them smell bad really fast – a bad thing to deal with when you’re wearing the same layer for multiple days out in the great outdoors. The Patagonia R1 Hoody solves the problem by using a special treatment that give the fabric serious anti-bacterial properties.
If you’re familiar with alpine garments, then you’ve probably heard of the R1 Hoody, since Patagonia has been producing them for several years now. The newest incarnation ditches the old fabric for Polartec’s Power Grid, a lighter and more breathable polyester that uses Polygiene (a formulation based on silver chloride) to give it permanent odor control capabilities, all while retaining the same stretch and durability the garment has been known for.
Like previous versions, the latest Patagonia R1 Hoody is a hooded mid-layer that’s designed to support a full range of mountain endeavors, whether you like to climb, ski, or hike in the cold. To do that, it comes with a generous stretch, a serious ability to trap heat, and a snug-fitting balaclava-style hood. Features include a minimalist deep-venting front zipper, a spiral-stitch construction, off-shoulder seams for comfortably wearing with a pack, an exterior chest pocket, and on-seam thumb holes on the sleeves for added protection against the cold.
Available now, the Patagonia R1 Hoody is priced at $159.