Patagonia Women's R1 Pullover

The Patagonia R1 is the ultimate mountain shirt. It is great as an insulating piece in cold weather and a great stand-alone fleece in cool weather. It can be used for almost any cold weather activity. I personally used it mostly for backpacking and hiking, but I have also seen many climbers wearing R1 Pullovers and hoodies.

The Patagonia R1 is a staple in my backcountry gear. It goes on every trip with me. I love it so much that I bought two! I wear it as a stand-alone fleece from 45-59 degrees. I could wear it while hiking/running at 20-40 degrees. I wear it as a baselayer (under a puffy) when the temperature drops into the 30's.

It is a very minimalist piece that has no pockets, hood or adjustablilty, but it only weighs 9.7 oz. If you are interested in a hood, try the R1 Hoody. If you are interested in pockets and would like a little more room, try the R1 Full Zip Jacket.

My husband and I both sporting our R1 Pullovers

Fit & Comfort:

The fit of the R1 Pullover is "slim fit." I think that it is a flattering cut. It is snug, but it also has room to layer a shirt underneath. I wear a size Medium in this shirt, as I do with most other Patagonia products. I feel that there could be more room in the chest, but it may fit you just fine. I found the sleeve length and the overall length to be appropriate for my 5'4" frame.

The R1 Pullover is very comfortable! I wear it every opportunity that I have. It is very soft. It is made of a stretchy 93% polyester (41% recycled) / 7% spandex blend, so when you move, the R1 moves right along with you. It is not restrictive at all. The inside of the R1 is made of Polartec Powerdry high/low grid fleece that trap heat. The micro-grid squares also promote air flow and quick drying times.

The seams are strategically placed for wearing a pack comfortably.

Breathability:

The R1 is very breathable because of the fabric and because of the deep venting zipper. It does get hot (due to the heat trapping micro-grids) if you are engaging in heavy activity, such as running or hiking. It has to be cold for me to wear it when active.

Moisture:

The R1 wicks moisture very well. It also dries very quickly.

Warmth:

The R1 is incredibly warm for its weight. I cannot tell you how clutch this has been for me. Being warm is crucial to my enjoyment of the outdoors, so I always bring my R1 with me. I left it at home once and was too cold. I swore I'd never do it again. I feel it is warmest under a shell because it does not block wind very much and the nylon would also continue to trap heat, instead of letting it escape. 

Layering:

The R1 is a great layering piece. You can layer over or under it. Layers really do well gliding over it because the outside fabric is smooth. It is relatively thin, so it doesn't add extra bulk when layering it under another layer. When I layer under it, I usually wear a breathable t-shirt or long sleeved shirt. You wouldn't want to wear too much under it because it will get too hot.

My favorite way to wear the R1 Pullover is with my Patagonia Down Sweater Vest over top of it.

Durability:

I have worn my two R1's year 'round for the past four years and I have never had any issues with them whatsoever. They have stood up very well in the wash. I bought two of them for color coordinating outfits, not due to any durability issues. They are both in fantastic shape.

Conclusion:

I highly recommend this shirt. It is so versatile! It is honestly one piece of gear that I can not go without. I rated it 4.5 stars only because it does not have any pockets at all. I would love for this to have a chest pocket, like the men's one does. Other than that, I would say that it is perfect.