Kate Agathon

The Patagonia R1 Cross Strata Jacket is everything you’d expect in a hybrid jacket: multi-sport versatility.

 

Thoughtfully designed with cool weather and shifting mountain conditions in mind, the lightweight R1 Cross Strata Jacket is the fall jacket you’ll want to wear cycling, hiking, or running.

The R1 Cross Strata Jacket offers a functionality that the company’s popular R1 fleece can’t achieve on its own, thanks to its abrasion and weather resistant properties.

 

The face of the stretchy outer fabric is treated with PFC-free DWR to repel moisture (late afternoon thunderstorms in the mountains are still a thing even going into October) and doesn’t restrict movement.

Its stretch fabric shoulders and arms are made to provide superior overhead reach and a wide range of movement. Trust me, when you’re reaching up to grab something, you’ll be grateful for that tech.

 

The inside of the R1 Cross Strata Jacket is lined with Patagonia’s proprietary zig zag quick-drying technical fleece that is designed for comfort and warmth but doesn’t trap heat.

 

When I wore it on cooler days, the fleece provided a uniform warmth with no hot spots. I was really surprised how warm it kept me, because the jacket itself is so lightweight and not bulky at all.

 

My only construction criticisms are that I might have lined the high collar with the technical fleece to make things more comfortable and added an inner chest pocket.

Key features:

• Lightweight double-weave fabric

• Stretch fabric and shoulders designed for overhead reach

• High collar with welt zipper garage

• Partially elasticated cuffs and hems

 

The R1 Cross Strata is basically two jackets in one, so you can leave the extra layer at home.

 

How it Looks

To be honest, the practical versatility and functionality of the R1 Cross Strata is more of interest to me than its style. But, let’s talk about the style anyway.

 

The regular fit R1 Cross Strata Jacket is one of the few pieces of trendy-looking apparel that I own. Its boxy shape hints towards this season’s retro influenced styles and shapes.

 

The finishing touches are the partially elasticated cuffs and hem because they provided a touch of unexpected sheen and kind of subtly dressed up the jacket. The hem brought it all together and finished the look.

Overall, Patagonia’s R1 Cross Strata is a good cool-weather jacket for all your mountain fall and winter activities thanks to its hybrid versatility. Surprisingly warm, it doesn’t bulk up underneath a pack (I often wear one while biking) and maintains a low profile.

 

This season, the R1 Cross Strata is available in six sizes (XS to XXL) and four colors (Pine Needle Green, Black, Dulse Mauve, and Endless Blue). Only the Pine Needle Green and Endless Blue options have two contrasting colors, the rest are solid.

 

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbaby, Sansa.

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing. Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers.

 

Kate earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.