Gear Review: Patagonia Nano-Air Light Bottoms

I love the cozy feel and technical performance of the Nano-Air lineup of gear by Patagonia. So it was exciting to pick up a pair of their Nano-Air Light Bottoms this year! They're created to be a very unique midlayer. The perfect blend of tights and pants, giving you just the right mix of warmth, stretch, and breathability to keep up when you’re on the move in cold weather.

Quick Rundown of the Patagonia Nano-Air Light Bottoms

• The lightweight yet tough shell and lining are made from 100% recycled polyester ripstop, giving you great stretch and incredible breathability where it counts
• Weight: 9.2 ounces for women's medium
• DWR finish made without perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs/PFAS) to shed moisture
• Stretchy R1® Thermal side panels allow for added mobility
• High-rise, stretch-knit waistband provides moisture management and comfort under a harness or a backpack
• One right-thigh pocket with a low-profile invisible zipper
• Slim fit. Size up for a more casual fit

My Experience with the Patagonia Nano-Air Light Bottoms

When I first starting testing out the Patagonia Nano-Air Light Bottoms, it was shoulder season in the San Juan Mountains and that means the weather was unpredictable at best. From rain to sunshine to snowstorms that drop four feet of powder overnight, you just never know what a day might bring.

The first day I wore these it was snowing and very cold as I walked a handful of miles to the post office to pick up mail. The trail I took rambles through a rolling ponderosa forest, so it's a bit of a hike. My first reaction to the Nano-Air Light Bottoms was surprise as how much they felt like sweatpants. Comfy, cozy sweatpants. This lit my heart up because I love wearing sweatpants and could live in them and would like to!

The more I hiked and adventured in these pants, the more I fell in love.

They're extremely stretchy, which makes them great for scrambling and general wear. They're very warm, so perfect for cold months of the year. I love the waist band on them, as it's a high waist that is totally smooth. Again, this makes them feel more like a sweatpant than a technical pant. Their DWR finish works really well. I've stayed dry from rain and very heavy snow as moisture just beads up and rolls away. The breathability is phenomenal too!

Overall my experience with the Nano-Air Light Bottoms has been super positive. They've become the pants I reach for when I plan to do most things. As long as temperatures are below 40-degrees, under 30-degrees is best, I know that I'll be super comfortable being active in them! I cannot express enough how much I love the sweatpant-like fit of these. That does not exist in the weird world of women's pants. So Patagonia has seriously changed the women's pants game with the way they designed these!

When deciding which size is right, it seems that ordering your usual size is the way to go if you want them to have a slim fit. I ordered one size up so I could easily wear wool baselayers under them on camping trips or alpine adventures. I believe that sizing up also adds a lot to the comfy vibes and I am happy with the size I chose. All in all the Nano-Air Light Bottoms are true to size.

In true Patagonia fashion, they're made in a Fair Trade Certified™ factory. The waistband and cuff fabric are certified as bluesign® approved, the insulation is 93% recycled. They are part of the 1% for the planet initiative.

Whether you're an avid chilly weather adventurer, or someone living in a cold climate, Patagonia's Nano-Air Light Bottoms are sure to be your go-to pants for shoulder season through the winter!

My review is independent of the supplier and reflects my own opinions. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links at no additional cost to you.