This thing is great!! The old model (pictured) was so-so but the new one is really incredible. Warmer than 100 weight and about half the bulk the fit is impeccable for settings necessitating flexibility. Not only can you get the warmth of a fleece at half the weight but also it really will fit into a 1L water bottle with room to spare. Getting to hot…Unzip it and it is like wearing lightweight long underwear. People say it is scratchy but the crowd seems divided I have no problem with it but go to a store try it on and see what you think. If it does not bother you don’t buy it unless you are ready to by every R1peace because you will. Questions Comments: the funny turn in the zipper at the neck seems to get stuck to much, what are you going to put in that pocket. I found it should be bought one size smaller than you normally go I am a Patagonia Medium for long underwear but have all small R1 to that end it does not layer very well with non R products. You can put it over an R.5 I am not sure when you would want to but beyond that unless you have very short arms and can wear Patagonia small long underwear it is going to be baggy under tight and that just never works. Like sun glasses and powerbars I never leave home without it – from cycling and run to day hikes and weekend rock climbs and all the way to Big Mac this has served me very well.

Customer Service

Patagonia is the best hands down. Their only competition for warranty is Sierra Designs and their pro dealing is the best in the industry. Fit and finish are matched only by Arc’T need I say more

Similar Products Used:

Is their one?

This thing is great!! The old model (pictured) was so-so but the new one is really incredible. Warmer than 100 weight and about half the bulk the fit is impeccable for settings necessitating flexibility. Not only can you get the warmth of a fleece at half the weight but also it really will fit into a 1L water bottle with room to spare. Getting to hot…Unzip it and it is like wearing lightweight long underwear. People say it is scratchy but the crowd seems divided I have no problem with it but go to a store try it on and see what you think. If it does not bother you don’t buy it unless you are ready to by every R1peace because you will. Questions Comments: the funny turn in the zipper at the neck seems to get stuck to much, what are you going to put in that pocket. I found it should be bought one size smaller than you normally go I am a Patagonia Medium for long underwear but have all small R1 to that end it does not layer very well with non R products. You can put it over an R.5 I am not sure when you would want to but beyond that unless you have very short arms and can wear Patagonia small long underwear it is going to be baggy under tight and that just never works. Like sun glasses and powerbars I never leave home without it – from cycling and run to day hikes and weekend rock climbs and all the way to Big Mac this has served me very well.

Customer Service

Patagonia is the best hands down. Their only competition for warranty is Sierra Designs and their pro dealing is the best in the industry. Fit and finish are matched only by Arc’T need I say more

Similar Products Used:

Is their one?

I have used the R-1 Zip-T for skiing all season. Worn under a shell jacket, the R1 it is as warm as 200 weight fleece. When I start to overheat, I vent my shell and immediately cool off due to the very high breathability of the R1 material. The pullover is very low volume and is not bulky at all under a shell. It really works great for high exertion cold weather sports. It is not as soft as regular fleece, but for me that is not a problem. I do not find it scratchy against my skin. I would not use this as an outer layer alone in the mountains due to the high breathibility, but with a shell, it is fantastic.

Similar Products Used:

Marmot Fleece, North Face Ultrawick, Moonstone Fleece

This shirt is a case where I think things have become over-specialized—it’s different from expedition weight capilene (Polartec 100), but not significantly better. I love both the R2 and R3 fleece, but the R1 is entirely different in feel and texture and doesn’t have that soft fuzzy warmth at all. It is lighter (11.5 oz. versus 13 oz.) and more compressible than the x-weight capilene zip-t, but despite Patagonia’s claims, it is not warmer. In their fall ’99 catalog, they even admit this, giving the R1 pants a warmth rating of 2 out of 12 and the el cap pants a rating of three—which I agree with.

And be warned that the R1 is scratchy against the skin—almost unbearably so when new, somewhat better after some washings. But the good stuff is that it’s far more breathable and wicks better than lightweight fleece—I’ve worn this as my only shirt hiking in 70 degree weather and was not too hot. Sweaty yes, but the shirt dries very fast. It also has a zippered chest pocket (I think all shirts should have pockets), and fits well: trim, but not constricting.

Not bad, but could be a lot more comfortable worn against the skin.

Customer Service

Patagonia is the best manufacturer in the business as far as ethics, warranties, repairs, etc.

Similar Products Used:

All weights of capilene, the el cap pullover (great), polypro of all makes.