With a sleek, stretchy, streamlined fit, low profile hood, well-positioned side pockets (above the harness or backpack waist strap line) the Patagonia R1 CrossStrata Fleece is a jacket that wears its highly technical colours on its abrasion-resistant sleeve. Climbers and habitual rucksack wearers take note. It’s a superbly well-designed jacket with useful features like a zipped chest pocket that also has an easy-to-access press-stud fastening phone pocket on the front and the aforementioned side zipped pockets that are positioned just higher than the norm. The hood fits neatly, allowing a helmet to be worn on top if needed, and the sleeves are a good length, with a close-fitting, soft cuff.
Lara Dunn Recommends
Testing this out in a variety of conditions from low single digit temperatures up to warmer spring days, the jacket is pretty competent on its own at keeping out the wind and resists showers.- Stretchy
- Wind resistant
- Low bulk
- Not as breathable or vesatile as you’d expect
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: £170 Weight: 370g (for size L) Materials: 90% recycled polyester/10% elastane Features: Stretchy helmet-friendly hood, elasticated cuffs, zipped pocket and press-stud phone pocket at chest, two harness/pack friendly zipped side pockets large enough for OS map Sizes: XS-XXL Women’s/Men’s Version: Women’s (no men’s direct equivalent available) Eu.patagonia.com |
The fabric from which this is made (in a Fair Trade certified factory) is Patagonia’s Regulator fleece with a zig-zag pattern on the soft brushed side and a smooth almost softshell-like outer face to give extra abrasion and weather resistance. It’s soft next to skin and the level of stretch of the fabric gives plenty of freedom of movement.
Testing the Patagonia R1 CrossStrata Fleece out in a variety of conditions from low single digit temperatures up to warmer spring days, the jacket is pretty competent on its own at keeping out the wind and resists showers for a decent length of time but is best suited to milder conditions without a shell over the top as it’s not tremendously warm. However, in warmer weather it also tends to build up quite a lot of sweat, particularly on a demanding walk or with a pack. As a result, it also starts to smell remarkably quickly. If Goldilocks were a hiker, she might well favour this well-made but slightly niche jacket.
