I was worried this has been a compulsive purchase as I went for the xl on sale but Im extremely content with my purchase. Super soft as a base layer. The hood feels extremely cozy. Really really good. I usually get Ls or Ms but this is probably meant to be more on the snug side.
I was worried this has been a compulsive purchase as I went for the xl on sale but Im extremely content with my purchase. Super soft as a base layer. The hood feels extremely cozy. Really really good. I usually get Ls or Ms but this is probably meant to be more on the snug side.
The first winter climbing trip I wore this on, I was blown away by how warm it was, especially for the weight. The tall neck does a great job at keeping heat in, and if you use the hood underneath your hat, it gets even warmer. For this reason I wouldn't recommend the hooded option for moderately cold climates, but instead opt for the crew. Ho... Read Morewever, if you're in the extreme cold and you want a piece that will keep you warmer than pretty much any other baselayer, this is it.
I have an extensive collection of Patagonia base layer clothing, or if it matters, all categories of Pat clothing. At 5’11” and 160 lbs, I’m on the skinny side and chill easily. It gets cold in the Adirondacks where I’ve recreated for more than 40 years. Layering for warmth and moisture management is critical for me. I purchased this top and immedi... Read Moreately gave it a thorough test on an 8 mile RT backcountry ski to Pharoah Lake. Temperature was the low single digits and windchill was bitter at times. I was absolutely impressed with the air cap hoody. I layered it with an R1 full zip top, nano puff jacket and an nano air hoody. I had no issues with moisture and the Cap Air Hoody worked great as a balaclava under a wool toque. I really like the light weight and comfort of the merino wool blend. My only concern is regarding durability of this piece. Time will tell. Fortunately I have many other base layers to choose from that I will save this top for certain uses.
THE best. We love Patagonia and we love this product. I thought it would be nice to get our three young adult kiddos this hoody and the pants because they are outdoors continuously... turns out they have been craving owning and living in this product. Is there a place to send you a picture of them enjoying the try-on session at our Solstice Celebra... Read Moretion??
Love this piece as both a casual wear to the office or out sweating up a storm. My favorite part is the hood. It's just the right snugness to act like a neck warmer with the hood down.
Super soft and warm. Only complaint is that the hood doesn't fit as tight as I'd like and no way to cinch it down. But otherwise, an excellent base layer that's warm and dry.
I purchased this piece to do a half-marathon at the end of November in Minnesota. The piece worked wonders in the beginning having the hood pulled up over my head and pulling up the collar to cover my neck. As I began to warm up, I was able to pull down the hood and collar and cool off. The weight is perfect for activity as it is not too heavy.
Amazingly comfortable and warm, but durability is no good
Absolutely love how this hoody feels and performs, but the armpits blew out after about 6 months of use. I definitely won't be purchasing again. The price for 6 months of use is tough to swallow.
Hi Chris! Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear about the armpits blowing out on your hoody! That does not sound like normal wear and tear, and you are welcome to send that back to us as a warranty [return](https://www.patagonia.com/returns.html#searchterm=return).
December 26, 2019
Light, warm, durable
Like the length. Weight is accurate. 6'0", 175, 40 chest, 33 waist. Medium is form-fitting, large would probably work too
I've owned many base layers. Capilene, and wool, and blends. Patagonia has taken it to the next level with this product! By far the most comfortable base layer I own. Dries in a jiffy, odor is no problem, fit is perfect and I am already ordering more as well as the bottoms! Nice work!
I love the close fit and cozy material. Perfect as a base layer for a jacket. The hood is an unconventional fit that works more like a balaklava, but again it works great as a scarf when down and a full face cover when up, especially when wearing something on over it with a regular hood.
Very nice sweater/hoody. I love the fabric. It is warm in varied conditions, keeps out the wind, and breathes.
My only concern is how it will do in the wash since I am wearing it every day.
This is the warmest base layer top I have in my Fall/Winter backpacking clothing. It has a great weight to warmth ratio and the style is crazy cool - kind of like a funnel neck hood down and a scuba hood up. It is really breathable too because of the box waffle weave in the material. This is great coupled with a compression tee and a shell jacket f... Read Moreor a wide range of outdoor activity. It’s also a great sleep companion and has increased my sleep temp by about 15 degrees. Have used this in fairly cold climes (10-40 F) under heated activity and it performs like a champ. Only con - not wind proof .
Size is nicely fitted for a close but not compressed feel. Stylish enough to wear around the city and tough enough to handle the backcountry. The top of the heap in Patagonia’s base lineup and well worth the moola.
This is a base layer - more for technical use in very cold conditions. I did not realize you should order this a size smaller than wearing around the house size. Thus, it is too big to be useful as a base layer and not suited for use wearing around the house. It would be phenomenal for running in temperatures below 10 degrees F
This is great feedback, Matthew! It's a comfortable hoody that can indeed be worn any way you like, but you're right that it was designed to fit close to the body for the best wicking and heat retention in a wide range of temperatures. We'll be happy to [help](https://help.patagonia.com/s/) you [return](https://help.patagonia.com/s/topic/0TO1L0000002yyTWAQ/returns-exchanges) it to a Patagonia-owned store or to our main service center for merchandise credit, refund or exchange, so don't hesitate to reach out to us. Also we'd love to recommend some other products for lounging around the house!
November 21, 2019
New Favorite Layer
For day's off or for layering for skiing, these layers are my new go-to. Move over against-skin merino base layers, the Merino/Capilene Air looks great and maintains the perfect balance of warmth and breathability. Nice one, Patagooch.
This pricey little number does what it is supposed to do....keep me warm when the temp drops here in Maine. It breathes great and the hood and neck warmer were well thought out. I was reluctant to shell out that kind of dough but took the chance and was rewarded. That doesn’t happened all that often. Perfect for me.
Hi Jacob, thanks for taking the time to write us a review. We're sorry to hear about the disappointment with the fit. You're satisfaction is always guaranteed so you're welcome to [return](https://www.patagonia.com/returns.html#searchterm=return).
November 11, 2019
Mens Cap Air Bottoms
Comfy, roomy, warm, true to size, i wouldn't call them slim fit, they kind of fit like the old expedition weight bottoms (2 gens ago), which is awesome. I use them as camp/sleeping bottoms so i like them a little bigger. That said, I would have bought a L instead of the XL. I bought the larger size b/c of my experiences in the last 2 years wit... Read Moreh your sizing. "Slim Fit" seems to be a little all over the map (maybe you all are playing with the range in size a bit?).
The Capilene Air is like a warm hug from the moment you put it on. It is soft and form-fitting so there is no room for cold air to get in. The hood design wraps around the neck preventing any heat from escaping and when you put the hood up it adds warmth and easily fits under a helmet. The Capilene Air will be my go-to base layer this winter!
I've only had this for a week but I haven't taken it off. I've worn it everyday, for a wide variety of stuff, from hiking, fall cycling, and lounging around the house. Awesome piece, super comfortable, super soft, and still doesn't smell after a week. I will by another one very soon so I never have to go without it! I'm 6&#... Read Morex27;0", 200lbs and I like the way the Large fits, sits right against the skin but not any feeling of tight.
I’m a ski patroller and in need of a light but warn layer that won’t feel bulky. This piece is next level and has become my goto for work and a night out for a movie
The longsleeve is amazingly warm. I love the material. Only knock is that the fabric is extremely elastic, and therefore the garment is sized very small.
I don't mind/prefer a closer fit, but I can't have too much tightness into my armpits or I chafe. Unfortunately a size large is very borderline here. I'll have to see once the snow... Read More falls how my pits fare.
Love the material. Super comfortable, light, and remarkably warm considering the former descriptors. Can tell that this is going to be in regular rotation this winter. Size up for more of a sweater than a baselayer. I bought the XL, and am considering getting a L simply for a more technical fit. But it's super awesome as a hoodie/sweater as we... Read Morell. My only gripe is how bunchy the hood material is when not employed IE hanging around like some sort of high-fashion turtleneck. But, the utility is obvious when you have the hood over your head. Consider the crewneck if you don't ever plan to use the hood....duh.
A surprisingly large thermal range. Unparalleled breathability for the warmth of this baselayer. Dries very quickly if you do start to sweat. Excellent for cold weather climbing. The softness is a nice bonus.
I bought one for a cold weather trip, liked it so much I bought a second in a different color. I love it because it's lightweight, keeps me warm, but never gets hot. It's my go-to for long flights and travel. My only issue would be it piles or pills... Not sure what the correct word is, but it develops lots of little balls where it rubs a... Read Moregainst itself and on the chest for some reason.
Amazing Layering Piece! I recently used this on a solo 20 day Sierra High Route endeavor. It was exactly what I needed. Seamless too. The hood added even more temperate control. Expensive but worth it.
Hey guys, recreational hiker and backpacker of 12 plus years. Exploring the unknown of Alaska I can't afford to equip less than stellar gear, so when I need a new piece of kit I look no further than Patagonia, and the capilene air hoodie is no exception. Whether I am hitting the summit of Denali, or backpacking the Chugach I can count on the s... Read Moreoft, supple, warm capilene air hoodie to keep me comfortable in the most adverse situations. The capilene air hoodie is an absolute staple for the backpacker, day hikers, runners, or just having a beer at your local microbrewery. Do yourself a solid and add the Patagonia capilene air hoodie to your kit.
ok, warm for sure while being light in weight.
i usually can not wear wool next to my skin and fing this a tad itchy but not too bad.
suggestion: Monkey thumbs would be nice as it is a base layer and you are pulling other sleeves up on it. The hood was bugging me at first but i discovered i could roll it in on itself over and over and it turns i... Read Morento a cowl neck of sorts and tends to stay there. The tag at the back of the neck was crazy long so i cut it off. Now I don't have washing instructions. Ha! half wool so no or low dryer I presume. Yes, it is pricey. Overall pretty cool. I look for it on cold mornings now.
Received this in August in MS, in anticipation for our 'winters'. A base layer or two is all you need during our most frigid months and I'm excited to give this piece a go.
Given the comfort, style and fit, I'm already anticipating it being a daily part of my rotating wardrobe during winter bird counts and leading nature walks.
This is a great base layer that can take days of all day wear without giving a stink. Very comfortable with no scratch. 6' 190 lbs large fits well, a tad long but that might be by design. Get the hoody if you can
This a great layering piece and drys quickly if used for a high output activity. Looks stylish, comes in great colors. The hood fits perfectly and can be used when hiking or sleeping and fits under a snowboard helmet seamlessly. Works pretty well to block wind. I have worn this piece hiking, climbing and snowboarding, it does all well and is so sof... Read Moret and comfortable.
I had the older version of this hoody that also had a pocket in the front. I do like that the newer version has a turtle neck-style hood that doesn't take up much room when not being worn, but I'd love for the pocket to come back. The fiber feels great and the knit of the sweater looks great, too!
Pros: Warm, soft, light, minimal, compressible; I like the feel and weight and level of insulation. I have worn it most evenings this summer living in the Sierra backcountry, and slept in it most nights. Cons: the hood seems a little baggy around the throat, like I have toad neck or something but that looseness also makes it easy to wear the hood f... Read Moreor extended periods; hood also seems a little itchy where the edge touches my face; lastly - don't get it near velcro as its susceptible to major stickage and subsequently getting fuzzy patches.
The merino-air hoody is the warmest and yet the most breathable baselayer piece I have ever worn. Like most baselayers it shows every good or bad body structure even when sized up to use as a 2nd layer. It's so comfortable that you might be willing to use as a casual piece. This item easily pills so treat carefully. The Patagonia merino air Ho... Read Moreudini hoody might get the final star.
Wow was my first thought when I tried it on. Super comfortable fit, and so lightweight. The wool did start to feel itchy to me when the body heats up. Learned to use it over another lightweight capeline.
I've been a big fan of merino wool shirts and sweaters for years due to its abilities to help me maintain a comfortable body temperature while adventuring in the mountains regularly. I read that the Capilene air hoody improved upon the awesomeness of merino and after a long day mountaineering in the snowy Wasatch range from 4am to early aftern... Read Moreoon last weekend I was very happy with the results. While I needed to put on my nano air hoody when chilling on multiple summits that day I was comfortable only in a shirt with the capilene air hoody while summiting peaks and traversing ridges between them. I expect this will be my go-to for many mountain adventures.
Fit well. Sized with nice long sleeves and tail to tuck in. Was expecting a little heavier weight material. Have not had a chance to use it in appropriately cold weather.
I've lived in Wyoming 70 years and worn Patagonia clothes for half that. I still have several of my originals. However, the Capilene Air Hoody is my favorite. Easy 5 starts.
I have really sensitive skin and had read some of the reviews that found the shirt itchy. I was happy to find this shirt was not itchy to me. It is easily the best shirt I’ve worn and it is suprisingly appropriate for many situations- it’s great to lounge around in, wear on a run, and is nice enough to wear casually, too. I’m a little worried about... Read More snagging, but haven’t had any issues so far. Most comfortable shirt I’ve ever worn.
...the change in knitting style of the garment compared to the first gen merino air is not as warm or as durable. I have a merino air hoodie I bought when they were offered for a season and it has been my go to baselayer for all cold weather. I’ve worn it by itself climbing and never ever had a loose thread. I wore this piece for one day and alread... Read Morey have had two loose threads pop and I’m worried about the capilene airs durability.
When I first saw this, I knew that I needed it. Every time I go backpacking, I always wish I had a hoodie like this. You honestly can NOT go wrong with purchasing this hoodie. It is super light weight, very warm, and extremely comfortable - and as an added bonus it covers your neck up to the middle of your face!!! I held off because of the $150 pri... Read Morece tag, but finally purchased it, and I am not the type to spend $150 on a hoodie. It was honestly a big splurge but worth every single penny. After I got it, I bought the bottoms to match! Call me a psycho but I could not resist. I wear them around the house as well as take them with me on backpacking trips, and they have not disappointed - we'll see how they do on the PCT this year ;). My only complaint is that I didn't just spend the money sooner and be able to enjoy them for longer! UGH!
I rated this true to size because it's meant to fit tight - if you don't want it to show your ~features~ I recommend a size up.
After wearing this piece every day since I received it in the mail, I can say it’s my favorite piece of clothing hands down. I work at a ski resort and am constantly going inside>outside>inside again all throughout the day. The hood is amazing for this because it fits over a baseball hat, under a beanie, or under a Smith ski helmet. The hood ... Read Morecould be slightly tighter at the top of the head to reduce movement under a helmet, but I imagine all the hippies with long hair appreciate the extra room. With a baseball hat on 90% of the time, this hood works great as a light buff while outside on cold/windy days and can easily be removed when going inside. The hood can be tricky if using a second buff on colder days or AM sled rides, though just putting the hood over my Black Strap Buff worked fine with my helmet. As if I haven’t talked the hood up enough, it keeps beacon straps off your shoulder which has been an annoyance of mine lately.
The material is fragile as others have said, and wearing ski bibs most days of the week paired with this piece will likely beat it up. In my opinion small repairs are worth the comfort, warmth,stretch, weight of the merino air. Hopefully Patagonia can reinforce shoulders in future models for those of us who wear bibs 6-7 times a week with this great base layer.
This week in the great white north has been very cold so I have been wearing this around the house/town after skiing/working. I imagine it will be too warm for everyday use as the temps get above 0 in the coming days.
Some have said the size is too loose for a base layer, I personally disagree as it fits under my bibs, and with a mid-layer/shell combo. I would recommend this and know that I personally will buy another in the near future.
I bought this needing warmer gear as a base-layer. At first glance, it's very thin and doesn't look like it would be warm. When added to your layers along with heat generated from movement, it becomes incredibly warm. The hoodie/scarf is another cool feature of this product.
Soft, light, warm and super comfortable layer. Fits like glove, feel like... nothing :) Hood is not tight and maybe be bigger after using. Fabric looks not very durable, need overlayer for climbing.
So I've gotten to use this in single digits now for a couple weeks in Anchorage, and I personally think its a little warm to be a "base layer". Even in single digits on my fat bike I was sweating bullets underneath my thin midlayer (TNF Superhike Flashdry something or other) and OR ascent shell. The balaclava is nice is you don'... Read Moret have a helmet, but as soon as you have helmet straps on , it doesn't stay put and migrates all over the place. Furthermore, the rim of the balaclava pinches/ snags your beard hairs (if you have any), and feels slightly uncomfortable when in turtleneck mode.
The sweater knit style while nice, I feel will be less durable (already fraying in a couple spots where it contacts velcro patches on my pants and sleeve cuffs. I honestly think this would serve much more effectively as a light mid-layer, being slightly less warm than an R1 with way less weight. I think it would really shine being used as a layer in down hill skiing (which I haven't gotten to try just yet because my ankle is wonky), or maybe back country touring in temps below 20 with nothing else on. The other thing I'm not huge on is the feel of polyester when wicking. It always leaves that droplet feel when evaporating compared to wool which seems to spread the drops out. Other than that, size is spot on and its nice looking. Probably too warm for biking or cross country skiing where activity is constant w/ no stops.
Like many of you, I too tend to browse the reviews to help me decide on a purchase. So leaving one,is truly helpful.
I hemmed an hawed before I finally dropped in on this one. I had a few things to consider: will it really be that warm for its weight? will it hold up? stretch out? fit well? etc..
Friends.. this thing is incredible. The warmth to we... Read Moreight is unreal. Its possible the bags it came in could have outweighed it haha *jokes,but really. So far, I have been wearing this thing nearly everyday since I bought it. I simply cannot help it.. Its been out skinning and kept me warm while breathing VERY well in 15 degree weather with a shell over it. We have had a few colder days in the mountains, and I layer : Merino air, Nano air, shell and cant complain. I tend to keep an R1 in my pack as well.
This thing is a beast. Though.. it has a few drawbacks
The Pilling after a day, and got worse. HAND WASH this dude.,then hang dry.
The Hood is dope,but I wish it was tighter. The one in the images Patagonia shows looks great, I look like a flacid turtle.. not so much scub guy haha
all in all,I'll swoop another down the road,no hesitation
cheers
The Cap air hoody is expensive, maybe too much so. But if you are willing to pay the price you will get an amazing base layer that works as a standalone garment or a lightweight,warm, and exceptionally breathable base layer. Patagonia doesn't do a great job showing the knit in the videos but it is really interesting. If you look at it up close... Read More it makes total sense how this material can do those three things above. The best I can describe it seems to be mostly open air pockets inside a framework of yarn.
I live in central Iowa where the winters can be quite harsh, and I want a base layer that can work under minimal garments at university and also off on adventures. This early December it was 35 with a supposed windchill of 27. To test this I put this hoody on underneath my R1 13/22 zip (or whatever) hoody and stepped out onto my porch, and I was warm! I'm not sure which outer layers work the best with this yet but the R1 seemed to work nicely enough. After I was done on the porch I stepped inside, took both hoods off and zipped my r1 1/4 open, and was again very comfortable.
I cant speak on the durability of the garment yet, the "air blown yarn" makes me curious maybe even a little skeptical. In the end I guess I could always send it in for repairs (If that's even possible with this material???). But at first touch it seem quite solid. The knit has no visible imperfections.
Would I recommend this hoody? Absolutely! It is so warm as a base layer under an outer layer, while also being highly breathable. as a standalone garment it breathes so well that I imagine you could wear it in 80+ degrees if that's what you wanted to do for whatever reason. in my 66 degree house it was plenty comfortable .
I've worn this piece as a baselayer for hunting and fishing this fall and winter in temperatures as low as the 20s. It has kept me warm when stationary on the stand and knee deep in a creek drifting nymphs. It is comfortable and fits true to size. I'm 5'9" 155 and the medium is perfect. The hood isn't a snug fit but it work... Read Mores great as a built in neck gaiter to keep the wind off my neck. At first I was surprised at how light this piece is and wondered if it would keep me warm, but it has. I wonder about its durability for as light a garment as it is, but wearing it as a baselayer should protect it. All in all a great piece. I'm considering getting the bottoms.
The shirt is great, very warm and soft. My only complainant is around the tag. With in the 1st 30mins of wearing the tag started to come off and caused a bit of annoyance. Went back and cut the last few strands of tread holding the tag. Changing the tag to a ink tag would have been a nice. Overall this top is a winner.
I am 5'7 about 150lbs t... Read Morehe M fits great.
I am big guy and the XXL was super baggy. Amazing material to as an under shirt or main shirt. The hood is great either on the head or around the neck to keep out drafts
The construction is pretty awesome even though it seems really delicate it is not. The fit is tight but if you are buying this you probably are aware of that. I would have kept this item but it was itchy i dont know if it was just the fabric or if my skin is sensitive? Either way the fabric was itchy and uncomfortable for me but the quality of the ... Read Morebuild is great.
I purchased this for hiking in Glacier during mid-October, when the temps varied from the low 20s to the upper 40s. To understate it, I sweat a lot, and so while I love merino for its warmth it can be difficult for longer hikes when I work up a good sweat. I found the Capilene Air to be a fabulous middle ground between polyester fleece and merino. ... Read MoreIt is extremely warm for its weight. Indeed when stationary I found it to be warmer than merino. And it is a wonderfully soft fabric – the kind I’d like to live in. Further, it manages sweat fairly well, though after one particularly tough day the shirt was soaked. My only complaint is that the fabric is very fragile. It has pilled significantly on arms and in areas where straps rub up against it and it has a pull in it near the hood after just three days of hiking. But given the nature of the fabric I’m not sure there is much that can be done about it. It was likely not meant as outer, which is the way I wore it for much of the hike. I’d give it 4.5 stars if I could….
I received one of these as a gift when it was called merino air hoody. I didn’t know what to use it for initially, so I just slept in it. But when I began to get more into splitboarding, I found its usefulness. It’s great when paired with a nano air vest, both breathable insulation. Plus I love the anti-stink properties of the merino and that I can... Read More fit the hood under my helmet.
I realize the title I made for this review sounds like a commercial but in all honesty (and I've been a HUGE Patagonia fan since my father started buy-in the stuff in the early 80's) this is just another home run for Patagonia designers. My specific uses for this hoody are Kayaking, endurance/trail riding (equine), hiking/camping, trail r... Read Moreunning, some rock climbing, and just being lazy around the house.
To start I'll say I bought one of the hoodies last year when the fabric first came out and liked it so much I bought another one this year. The fit is "next to skin" in that it's snug. That's a good thing that allows you to layer and not feel like you're wearing a base layer at all. The fabric is super comfy and stretches as much as desired yet it's tough and holds up to abuse well. My first hoody looks new after a year of use and I wore the heck out of it last fall/winter. If you hold the garment up to the light you can see straight through it i.e. it's lite yet keeps you. insanely warm for wha it is. I can't recommend it enough if you're camping, hiking, running, whatever. Hell it's great to just wear lounging around the house. Capilene is excellent stuff and has been getting better year over year but Capilene air is the next step and I can imagine Patagonia bringing out different "levels" of the fabric in the future. Lets hope so!
Lived in this for 4 days in the Chugach Mountains and was very happy that I had it. This is a very comfortable (material is awesome!) piece that kept me warm and dried quickly. Glad I got the hooded version as well. The hood isn't very bulky which is a big plus. I did learn that the mosquitos could bite through it, but it's Alaska and tha... Read Moret's part of it! Overall I definitely recommend this item.
Fabric = Amazing.
Warmth = Amazing.
Stretch = Amazing.
Hood was magic on an ultra-cold ski lift, the non-hoody version might be more versatile.
Tight fit probably won't pull double duty in an office setting, but hopefully you're not buying it for that anyway...
