Patagonia Airshed Pro Pullover Review

If you’ve ever tried to decide whether you need a short-sleeve or long-sleeve before heading out on a run, the Airshed Pro is your answer. Patagonia’s stretchy, ultralight jacket is designed for high-exertion activities and adds a touch of insulation on chilly days. I tested it while hiking and backpacking in the Canadian Rockies and have come to rely on it for autumn trail runs, where it's the perfect running layer, providing a boost of warmth and wind protection without too much sweat buildup. When the weather turns, however, the Airshed Pro is better suited as a midlayer, as it is neither waterproof nor fully windproof. Below, I break down the Airshed Pro's overall performance. To see how it stacks up to the competition, see our article on the best windbreaker jackets.
 

Table of Contents

• Wind Protection
• Water Resistance
• Breathability
• Weight and Packability
• Comfort
• Features: Hood and Pockets
• Build Quality and Durability
• Fit and Sizing
• What We Like/What We Don't
• Comparison Table
• The Competition

Wind Protection

Patagonia calls the Airshed Pro Pullover a water-repellent wind shirt, and I’ve also come to think of it as a shirt rather than a jacket. The main body and shoulders are made of recycled polyester stretch-woven ripstop with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish, while the arms and hood are a lightweight stretch-knit fabric. The polyester ripstop does a decent job of breaking wind and cutting chill, but the stretch-knit fabric is thin and permeable. As a result, the Airshed Pro is not a full-on windbreaker like the Patagonia Houdini or Black Diamond Distance. The hood helps keep my head warm, fitting snug without being tight, and the collar covers my chin when fully zipped.  The Airshed Pro has become my favorite dry-weather running shirt for temperatures between 40 and 50°F. In the PNW, this makes it a solid choice for shoulder-season runs. 
 

Water Resistance

The Patagonia Airshed Pro helps cut the wind, but it is not waterproof. The PFAS-free DWR works well for a light mist but wets out quickly when the rain becomes heavy. On one of my runs around Vancouver Island, the moody skies turned dark, and it began to rain. The first few drops penetrated the jacket, and soon I was drenched. Since then, I bring my rain jacket if the weather is uncertain. That said, even when I do get damp before putting on a waterproof layer, the Airshed Pro keeps me warm as a midlayer and dries impressively quickly. 
 

Breathability

The Airshed Pro is designed to be breathable, making it an excellent choice for high-output activities such as running or steady hiking, particularly if there is no precipitation. The stretch-knit fabric on the sleeves and hood is thin and wicks moisture, and the sleeves can be pushed up to free the forearms. The breathability far exceeds that of the Houdini or Black Diamond Distance windbreakers, and even the breathability of softshells like Black Diamond’s Alpine Start. The half zipper is a two-way, allowing venting even when the hood is up and the collar zipped. I find this odd and prefer to unzip from the top down if necessary. It may appeal to some people, but I haven't found a situation where I want to have the hood on with the vent open.
 

On one of my trail runs, the temperature started at 45°F, though it felt colder. I wore the Patagonia Airshed Pro over a thin running tee-shirt, zipped the collar, pulled the sleeves over my hands, and felt comfortable. As the temperature warmed to 52°F and my effort increased, I unzipped and pushed the sleeves up. I started to sweat, but I kept the Airshed Pro on, and remained a perfect temperature. When I stopped, the small amount of moisture on my back dried quickly.  There is a definite sweet spot for this shell. When I started with the Airshed Pro on a muggy 58°F day, I had to remove it after less than one mile because I started to overheat. During hikes in similar weather (as opposed to runs), this will be a great option.
 

Weight and Packability

My women’s small is a feathery 3.15 ounces, lighter than any other long-sleeve shirt I own. It sits between my Black Diamond Distance (2.8 oz.) and my Patagonia Houdini (3.4 oz.). The weight is negligible, and I’ve easily stuffed it into the pocket on my running tights during a run. The AirShed Pro Pullover also easily stuffs into its own pocket, compressing down to the size of a tennis ball. It's easy to bring the AirShed on trail runs or multi-day adventures for a slight boost in warmth with almost no weight penalty.
 

Comfort

The Airshed Pro is super comfortable. The fabrics are soft—even the polyester ripstop areas don't feel plasticky. I wear it over a thin base-layer tee-shirt, but could see wearing it with only a sports bra. The stretchy, thin knit fabric of the hood and arms feels nice against the skin and is snug without feeling restricting. Even with the hood on and the collar zipped, it's easy to look around without tugging or pulling. I’ve had no issues with chafing even when wearing it under my rain shell while running, or with a running vest or backpack during hikes and longer runs. The Airshed Pro has a slim fit, so I wouldn’t want to wear it over anything bulky, but it fits easily under midlayers or shell jackets. 
 

Features: Hood and Pockets

The Airshed Pro is minimalist, with one chest pocket that doubles as the stuff sack. The pocket is a generous size compared to the Houdini or BD Distance Wind Shell, though I tend not to place heavy items in it while running because it bounces. While hiking, the pocket can fit either my iPhone, keys, a snack, or a small wallet. The comfortable hood is form-fitting with an elastic brim that helps hold it in place. The main feature of the Airshed Pro is the two-way zip that allows for venting, and the use of two different fabrics to increase breathability while providing some wind protection.
 

Build Quality and Durability

The Patagonia Airshed Pro is thin, so I worry it could tear if snagged on something. I’m curious about how long it will last, as I end up washing it more than a jacket since it absorbs sweat like a shirt. That said, it’s now been washed according to the manufacturer's instructions four or five times, and the fit has remained the same, the elastic on the hood hasn’t changed, no threads are unravelling, and the fabric is holding up. The jacket looks almost new, even though I spilled chili down the front panel while manhandling a bag of freeze-dried dinner, and I’m happy to report that there is no stain. 
 

Fit and Sizing

I tend to wear a women’s small in most brands, though I often find Patagonia’s small to be boxy. This is not the case with the Airshed Pro. The women’s small fits me perfectly. The sleeves are the right length so that I can pull them over my hands (a thumb hole would be nice), and the hem falls to my hips. Previous versions of the Airshed had a waistband, but this was eliminated, so the jacket now hangs free. The fit is slim and flattering without being tight, and only a thin baselayer can be worn beneath. I do find it difficult to put on or take off, and would prefer a full-zip or a stretchy panel for some give. It can be a bit comical trying to remove it in a hurry. 
 

Sustainability

Patagonia continues its commitment to eco-conscious design, and the Airshed Pro uses 100% recycled polyester (in both the main body and the knit arms and hood) and a PFAS-free DWR finish. It’s also Bluesign-certified and Fair Trade Certified. 
 

Other Versions of the Patagonia Houdini

We tested the women's version of the Patagonia Airshed Pro for this review, and a men's version is also available. The men's Airshed Pro Pullover retails for the same price and has the same features as the women's jacket, but is slightly heavier at 3.7 ounces and comes in different colors. We'd love to see this pullover in a full-zip version, but so far it's just the half-zip. 
 

What We Like

• The low 3.3-ounce weight makes it easy to stuff into its pocket and is a simple extra layer for minimalist runs and backpacking trips.
• Extremely breathable during high-output activities, and has great next-to-skin comfort
• Adds the perfect hint of warmth for summer evenings or shoulder season runs.
   

What We Don’t

• The torso could be stretchier, and it can be difficult to take on and off.
• Barely water resistant and only partially wind resistant.
• Some durability concerns, which we'll follow up on in future updates. 
   

Comparison Table

The Competition

Patagonia’s Airshed Pro stands out for its low weight and comfort, but the brand's classic Houdini windbreaker is another go-to for more protection. Foregoing the Airshed's stretch-knit fabric on the arms and hood, the Houdini's nylon is more plasticky, but offers better wind protection than the Airshed Pro. It's also less expensive and offers impressive abrasion resistance thanks to the ripstop fabric. In the end, we'd choose the Airshed Pro for better breathability during high-output activities, and the Houdini for better wind protection.
 

One of our favorite ultralight windbreakers is Black Diamond’s Distance Wind Shell. Similar to the Houdini, the Distance uses full-nylon construction, which means it feels more plasticky and can get clammy during high-exertion activities. It performs better with wind protection than the Airshed Pro, and we appreciate the ease of putting it on and taking it off with the full zipper, but the Airshed Pro is the more comfortable jacket for runs and hard hikes.
 

Finally, Cotopaxi’s Teca Half-Zip is a wallet-friendly, town-ready alternative to the Airshed Pro. With fun colorblocking and a polyester build, the Teca is a step down in performance from the Houdini but a step up in crossover appeal, and we love the large kangaroo pocket and the internal phone pocket, adding storage without a weight penalty. The Teca holds its own in the slightly heavier, sub-5-ounce range, but it falls short in breathability. Overall, the low price makes it a solid pick for anyone looking for more of a daily piece, but it's not our top technical pick.
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