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The hood is spacious enough to fit over a helmet yet contoured to sandwich beneath one, too. Plus, the hood has an integrated laminated visor to help prevent obstruction of vision. The stretch-knit cuffs aren’t bulky. Overall, this layer is comfortable and articulates well during big-movement activities from skinning to climbing. The OR Vigor is a lightweight fleece and is not wind-resistant. It also sports an oddly shaped hood that is shallow with a low collar. The combination leaves more of your face exposed to the elements. If you need a hood that offers more coverage for, say, wearing underneath a helmet, then the Patagonia R1 Air Hoody is a better choice for an active layer. The Vigor is best for milder weather, as a layering piece, or to be worn on the go. If that's what you're looking for, you'll find that the Vigor offers a good value. One of our reviewers recently put the R1 Air to the test on thru-hikes of the Appalachian Trail and the Tahoe Rim Trail, using this as his primary midlayer. From week-long freezing rain storms to chilly Sierra climbs, it kept him toasty yet ventilated, and was a perfect layer for all sorts of weather and temps. Its recycled polyester knit-fleece fabric offers cozy next-to-skin comfort, and adequate warmth for shoulder season adventures, or as one of your layers for colder missions in the mountains. We did find it to offer subpar wind resistance compared to some similar fleeces. Additionally, while the raglan sleeves used are comfortable, they are somewhat tight along the arms, limiting the layers you can add underneath or the ability to roll the sleeves up much to dump heat.
The Arc'teryx Kyanite Lightweight Hoody scores high marks across the board. It is incredibly comfortable, super lightweight, and offers a fantastic weight-to-warmth ratio, making it a great choice for rigorous activity. The slim cut is streamlined enough to fit underneath a second mid-layer yet is warm enough to wear as a standalone layer on breezy cool days. The snug-fitting hood stays put and doesn't restrict vision, but it's also stretchy enough to fit over a wool hat. A lightweight, high-mobility mid-layer hoody that's as great for long-distance hikes as it is for overnights One of the greatest properties of fleece is it’s inherently breathable, even when the blend includes a weather treatment. That said, if you tend to run hot and pull on a heavyweight fleece, the warmth can outweigh the breathability.The North Face fleeces are a classic, and with good reason – they last for years and are thoughtfully designed. The newly-launched and well-priced TKA Glacier fleece is an easy choice if you’re after a versatile fleece you can wear in all seasons, and we love its retro styling. The Kyanite Hoody doesn't breathe as well and is not our first choice for hard-charging pursuits. A more breathable, gridded fleece like the Outdoor Research Vigor is better suited to handle perspiration. We wish the Kyanite Hoody had thumb loops, and the zipper is a weak point in a stiff breeze. While the cut works well in the shoulders, the hips are narrow. If you have curves, you may need to be careful about sizing. Despite these grumbles, this is the fleece we reach for when temperatures plummet.
Heavyweight designs (300 gsm) are created for the heart of winter and standstill activity. Without precipitation, this layer can also function as an outer layer in cold weather.The snag-free synthetic material is treated with durable water repellent (DWR), allowing precipitation to drip off while being air-permeable yet capable of barricading a breeze. One area that did let it down was fit. I know this is a subjective thing, but I found the sleeves to be particularly short, riding up whenever I was at full stretch. In a similar vein, the garment felt restrictive across the shoulders and chest on occasion, hindering range of movement and comfort. The cuffs are adjusted by Velcro, meaning you can get a snug fit when wearing gloves or not, and the hem has a drawstring adjuster to keep any cold air from getting in at the bottom. There’s also a high, fleece-lined collar and a volume adjuster and stiffened peak on the helmet-compatible hood to keep your face and ears protected when it’s really blowing a hooley. Berghaus has used a strategic body mapping construction to improve insulation and stretch on the areas where you need it most, while not compromising on breathability, and it definitely seems to make a difference. This lightweight fleece has a highly breathable design that's ideal for active adventures in mild weather
The fit was spot on for me, just large enough to get a couple of layers underneath but still a snug fit when used independently. The designers have elongated the sleeves to prevent the material riding up when reaching or scrambling, while the fabric has a little stretch in it too. Body-mapped fabric seems to be the standard in high-end versatile layers these days, and the Ascender Summit Hoody sure does deliver in this department. The upper torso and top of the arms are protected with windproof Pertex Quantum Air overlays and lined with silky smooth brush mesh. This is a super light material that traps heat around the core with its high loft.
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