GEAR REVIEW: Patagonia Capilene Air Baselayers

By Will Rietveld

The new Patagonia Capilene Air baselayers (top and bottom) are their warmest. They remind me of the old fishnet underwear that was warm and breathable by trapping a lot of air between it and an overlayer. But the comparison ends there. The Capilene Air baselayers are more high-tech than was ever imagined at the time of the fishnet underwear. They are made of an air blasted 51% Merino wool and 49% recycled polyester yarn, and utilize a new knitting technology that creates a 3-dimensional garment that is nearly seamless. They are noticeably lightweight compared to other garments providing the same warmth. And I found them to be very versatile. Read on for the details.

The Patagonia Capilene Air baselayers Top and Bottom are knitted from a yarn consisting of 51% Merino wool and 49% recycled polyester and have very few seams.

 Specifications and Features

Manufacturer	Patagonia (www.patagonia.com)
Model	Capilene Air Crew Top and Bottom (a hooded Top is available)
Weight	Measured weight size men’s Large: Top 7.3 oz, Bottom 6.9 oz; manufacturer specification (size Medium): Top 5.2 oz, Bottom 5.9 oz
Fabric	5.6-oz (190-g) 51% merino wool/49% recycled polyester seamless box-stitch knit comprised of 18.5-micron-gauge lofted wool
Features	3D fabric is soft against the skin, very stretchy, and brushed + nearly seamless to eliminate chafing
MSRP	$129 each

Description

The thing that impresses me most about the Capilene Air baselayers is how S-T-R-E-A-T-C-H-Y they are. Their 3D knit allows them to stretch way out to be worn over something else, and then contract right back to a trim-fitting baselayer. They don’t stretch out and remain baggy.

 

Close-up of the Capilene Air knitted fabric.

I followed Patagonia’s size charts and found that I would take a size Large in both garments, so that’s what I tested. I’m 6 feet tall and 165 pounds. When the baselayers arrived, both fit loose and seemed to be one size too large. It turned out that this was fortuitous, which I will explain shortly.

The size you choose depends somewhat on how you intend to use them. If you want to use them only as a baselayer – with a body-hugging fit – go one size smaller than the Patagonia size chart. If you want them to be versatile – so they can be worn as a baselayer, midlayer, or outerlayer – go with the Patagonia size chart. It will fit a little loose, but acceptable, as a baselayer.

Testing

 

I tested the Patagonia Capilene Air baselayers on a total of 46 outings including car camping, backpacking, day hiking, snow walking, cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, snow shoveling, igloo building, and volunteering on a Christmas Tree lot. This photo shows the Capilene Air Top worn as a midlayer, and the Bottom worn as an outerlayer in camp.

I tested both the Top and Bottom as a baselayer, midlayer, and outer layer. That’s the versatility I mentioned earlier – opting for a looser-fitting size allowed me to wear the baselayers any way I desired.

For example, I frequently donned the Top over my hiking shirt, like a fleece pullover, when I need a little more warmth. In camp, for more warmth, I wore the Top as a midlayer over my hiking shirt and then donned an ultralight down jacket and a windshirt or UL rain jacket over the underlayers to seal in the heat.

The Capilene Air Top worn as an outerlayer on the trail in early morning cold temps.

The bottom is a little less versatile because I rarely hiked in it. I mainly wore it as a baselayer or midlayer in camp. Again, it was very convenient to simply put it on over my hiking pants or shorts. It would be very warm for more sedentary situations, like ice fishing, car camping, or cabin wear.

I found it best to simply think of the Capilene Air garments as layering garments, and use them accordingly to regulate temperature. I did not wear them as baselayers on the trail, unless the Top was the only layer I wore, or I wore it under a windshirt in cool temperatures. When the Top is covered by one or more midlayers it is too cumbersome to take it off when I get overheated. Temperatures needed to be in the single digits F, or lower, to comfortably wear them as baselayers while hiking, snowshoeing, or skiing.

For hiking or cross-country skiing on cool winter days in the 20s F, the Top as a single layer under a windshirt is sufficient. When temperatures are in the teens F, the Top as a baselayer or midlayer under a windshirt is sufficient. For snowshoeing and skiing, especially if its windy, I add a hardshell to stay dry if I crash (snow sticks to the fabric like it does to fleece).

 

The Capilene Air Top worn as a baselayer under a heavier weight merino wool shirt while snowshoeing. The combination was comfortable in early morning colder temperatures and on the descent, but I overheated on a 1000-foot steady climb.

I also found the Capilene Air to be very breathable, but again it’s important to wear it as part of a layering system and use it accordingly. For example, wearing the top alone hiking when the temperature is in the 30s F can be very comfortable, even with a light breeze, but it gets chilly if the wind picks up, so time to don a windshirt and it’s comfortable again using the front zipper to regulate temperature.

Since the Capilene Air layers are knitted, one would suspect that they would snag easily. But I did not find that to be the case. I often wore the top as a single layer for hiking when temperatures are above freezing, and bushwhacked through brush on many occasions without damage. However, I did find two drawbacks: 1) the fabric pills somewhat on the underarms from wearing it as an outerlayer, and 2) debris and lint of all kinds readily stick to the fabric, and also Velcro.

After many wearings, the underside of the sleeves are pilled somewhat.

 Assessment

The Capilene Air baselayers are lighter than a typical wool baselayer and (in my opinion) provide a lot more warmth and versatility. But the Capilene Air (especially the Top) goes beyond a baselayer. It’s best to think of it as part of a layering system where it can function as a baselayer, midlayer, or outerlayer depending on the conditions, activity, and convenience. If it’s worn simply as a baselayer for active pursuits, you are very likely to overheat. For more sedentary situations it provides loads of warmth.