The Patagonia R1 TechFace Hoody Review (2023 edition)

Patagonia is known for making some legendary gear. Perhaps, the most well known is the R1 Techface Hoody. Our own Monte Johnston reviewed The Patagonia R1 TechFace Hoody in 2018. He found it to be a fantastic summer alpine layer as it cuts the wind, moves well and isn’t overly warm. Has much, if anything changed? Did it even need to change? Read on to find out.

Overview

Material: Regulator Fleece. 5.2-oz 92% polyester (69% recycled)/8% spandex with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish
Weight:
Size Tested: XL
Country of Origin: Vietnam

What is the R1 Techface Hoody?

The Patagonia R1 Techface hoody is a legendary, DWR treated, grid-patterned softshell designed to keep active wearers warm and lightly protected from the elements. It accomplishes these tasks by using Patagonia’s long standing Regulator Fleece in combination with a thin membrane to resist water and wind.

R1 vs R2 vs R2-D2

These jackets are not made for The Rebellion. They are made for the outdoors. That much is obvious so what’s with the half-droid naming scheme? The R stands for Regulator, Patagonia’s proprietary grid waffled fleece. A savvy eye will notice that Patagonia has both R1 and R2 variations, with the 2 being thicker and therefore warmer than the 1.

Regulator fleece is a grid-like double weave fabric insulator. The way it keeps you warm but remains breathable is that the thicker fleece squares keep the wearer warm but the gaps allow for better breathability and help keep the weight of the material down. The material, owing to its double weave nature, is stretchable which is very advantageous in dynamic movements where the jacket is likely to get pulled in various directions.

What is TechFace?

The Patagonia R1 Techface Hoody features a thin external facing fabric for wind resistance and durability. This layer is also DWR treated to help shed light precipitation.This is what makes the R1 TechFace tougher than a regular R1 jacket. I’ve worn and reviewed the R1 Anorak so that will be my comparison.

The Fit

Patagonia states that the R1 Techface hoody has a slim fit. Being a human of moderate width, I went with my standard XL and that was a mistake. The R1 TechFace actually fits quite large. I often opt for XL in a lot of brands, but this is one time I should have gone for an L. I can fit a mid sized puffy under the XL R1 Techface easily.

That said, the sleeves are appropriately long for me. I hate when I have to reach for something on the ground and the sleeves pull halfway to my elbow. That’s not going to happen with the R1. The sleeves end with Patagonias Low-Profile Variable Conditions Cuffs. These are elasticated cuffs that fit snugly around the wrist. There’s no need for hook and loop fasteners which is great because I only like those on my outer shells.

The Hood is designed to be worn under a helmet and it does so well. I am a fan of wearing hoods over helmets and luckily, it fits well this way, too. At least with the Salewa Piuma helmet and other low profile climbing helmets. Perhaps a larger ski helmet would lift the hood high enough that the chin guard would cause a problem, but then you’ll just have to wear the hood underneath, as Patagonia intended.

Finally, at the hem is another drawcord. This helps in keeping out any breeze coming from low and allows the were to tailor the fit just a little more.

Overview of the Patagonia R1 TechFace Hoody

The Patagonia R1 TechFace Hoody is a great softshell with some light weatherproofing. It blocks light to moderate winds and resists light precipitation. It’s a great piece for the cooler shoulder season hiking and mountaineering or on the skin track. It also layers well under a Gore-Tex shell to provide insulation.

There are two hand pockets with a higher position so as not to get in the way of backpack waist straps or harness. The only other pocket is a mesh chest pocket on the interior of the jacket. IT is big enough to hold a large phone. Though not designed for it, you can stuff the jacket into this pocket but the zipper is not designed for this so zipping it closed will be a little tricky. I’d love the contrasting color external chest pocket of the R2 to make an appearance on the R1.

Unfortunately, much like the 2018 version of the R1 TechFace, this jacket has begun to show signs of wear as well. There is small balling on places of high wear. The amount of wear is minimal but it’s still there. It is not a deal breaker.

So, the R1 Techface hoody goes almost entirely unchanged from the 2018 version. This is not bad at all. Think of it as a trustworthy friend. It is still breathable, stretchy, and provides a great combo of light insulation with wind resistant fabric and now the hood is now easy to undo thanks to its simple push button cord lock.