Mountain Hardwear Stetchdown Hoody Overview

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The Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody (males’s / girls’s) is all about balancing heat and mobility, making it good for energetic adventures in chilly climate. Its stretchy cloth and seamless baffles allow you to transfer freely, whether or not you’re climbing, mountain climbing, or ski touring, whereas the 700-fill RDS-certified down retains you cozy when the temps drop. 

In contrast to your typical down jacket, it feels extra versatile and sturdy—however it does include some trade-offs. It’s bulkier and heavier than many comparable choices, so it’s not the perfect choose for those who’re tight on pack area or counting ounces. 

Whereas it handles mild snow and wind effectively, it’s not constructed for sustained moist climate with out a shell. In the event you worth consolation, sturdiness, and mobility over shaving each final ounce, this jacket is a stable selection. Take a look at the way it stacks up in our information to the perfect down jackets.

How We Examined

We examined the Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody over a number of months in Colorado carrying it on every thing from alpine hikes in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park to chilly fall climbs at Shelf Street and informal morning espresso runs in Boulder. With temps swinging from the 60s all the way down to the kids, we obtained an actual really feel for the way it dealt with heat, mobility, and sturdiness.

Consolation

The Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody affords an honest stage of consolation, however it doesn’t absolutely ship the plush really feel we’ve skilled with different premium down jackets. 

Whereas the stretch-woven cloth improves mobility and prevents restriction throughout actions like climbing and mountain climbing, it lacks the softness discovered in additional conventional nylon-shell designs. Throughout testing within the Colorado mountains and foothills, we discovered the fabric useful however not significantly cozy, particularly when worn immediately over a t-shirt.

The match is flexible, offering sufficient room for layering with out feeling overly cumbersome. Key options just like the elastic-bound hood and adjustable hem add some consolation by sealing out drafts, and the stretch cloth prevents the jacket from driving up throughout dynamic actions. Nonetheless, testers famous that the fabric’s texture felt barely rougher than anticipated for informal, on a regular basis put on.

Whereas the Stretchdown Hoody performs effectively in energetic settings, its consolation falls wanting being a standout function, making it higher suited to these prioritizing mobility and sturdiness over an opulent really feel.

Heat

This jacket offers dependable heat for energetic use in cool to reasonably chilly circumstances (add decrease restrict?), however it’s not designed for excessive chilly or prolonged stationary actions. 

With 700-fill-power RDS-certified down, this jacket balances insulation and mobility. Throughout testing within the Colorado mountains, we stayed snug on this jacket all the way down to freezing temps—as long as we had been on the transfer. However as soon as we stopped transferring in those self same temps, we undoubtedly began feeling the coolness and wanted to throw on an additional layer.

The jacket’s thick, stretch-woven cloth and huge baffles lure warmth successfully, making it a stable selection for shoulder-season adventures. The insulated hood provides further heat and suits snugly over a hat or climbing helmet. Nonetheless, the jacket’s comparatively low fill ranking in comparison with higher-fill-power choices limits its insulating effectivity, particularly in freezing or windy circumstances.

Total, the Stretchdown Hoody performs effectively as an energetic midlayer or light-weight outer layer for cool climate, however it falls wanting being a go-to possibility for excessive chilly. It’s best for many who prioritize mobility and sturdiness over most heat, making it a sensible selection for mountain climbing, climbing, and different high-heart-rate actions.

Weight & Packability

Mountain Hardwear advertises the down jacket weight  9.3 ounces., Surprisingly, the lads’s giant model we examined weighed in at  18 ounces—practically double the claimed weight. 

At 18 ounces, the Stretchdown is significantly heavier than ultralight rivals but in addition has, in some instances, double the fill weight.

When it comes to packability, the Stretchdown falls quick in comparison with different down jackets. Its bulk—roughly the dimensions of a volleyball when compressed—makes it much less appropriate for minimalist backpacking or journeys the place area is at a premium. In contrast to many rivals, it doesn’t pack into its personal pocket or embrace a devoted stuff sack, additional limiting its portability.

The added weight and bulk stem from the sturdy stretch-woven cloth, which prioritizes flexibility and ruggedness over light-weight effectivity. Whereas this development is superb for mobility and sturdiness throughout climbing or mountain climbing, it compromises the jacket’s enchantment for these targeted on weight and packability. Finally, whereas the Stretchdown excels in versatility and ruggedness, it’s not a really perfect selection for ultralight fanatics or these on the lookout for compact, travel-friendly gear.

Climate Resistance

Throughout testing within the Colorado foothills, we encountered mild snow flurries and temporary drizzles, and the DWR (sturdy water-repellent) coating successfully shed moisture, preserving the down insulation dry. On a cold climb in Eldorado Canyon, the material additionally supplied higher wind safety than thinner down jackets, serving to to keep up heat on uncovered belay ledges.

Nonetheless, the jacket shouldn’t be designed for sustained moist climate. Like most down-insulated jackets, extended publicity to rain or moist snow will ultimately saturate the material, inflicting the all the way down to clump and lose its insulating energy. 

Moreover, the dearth of hydrophobic down additional limits its capability to face up to heavy or prolonged precipitation. For harsher circumstances, pairing the Stretchdown with a water-proof shell is crucial to keep up its efficiency.

In windy situations, the Stretchdown’s thick cloth and cinchable hem do a very good job of minimizing drafts, however the absence of wrist changes means some chilly air can sneak in.

Breathability

The Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody affords reasonable breathability, making it a very good match for actions that contain a mixture of motion and relaxation. 

The distinctive stretch-woven cloth is barely extra breathable than conventional down jacket shells, permitting for some airflow throughout mild to reasonable exertion. This makes it a sensible selection for actions like mountain climbing, climbing, or informal alpine outings, the place sustaining heat with out overheating is vital.

That mentioned, the Stretchdown’s breathability has its limits. Throughout high-output actions like uphill climbs or faster-paced hikes, we observed it struggled to dissipate warmth and moisture successfully. 

The dearth of air flow options, reminiscent of pit zips or mesh-lined pockets, meant we needed to depend on the entrance zipper to manage temperature manually. Whereas unzipping the jacket supplied some aid, it’s not a really perfect answer for sustaining constant consolation throughout strenuous exercise.

In comparison with artificial or hybrid jackets, that are sometimes higher suited to intense efforts, the Stretchdown is much less able to dealing with extended high-energy use in milder circumstances. Nonetheless, its steadiness of heat and breathability is sufficient for cooler shoulder-season temperatures and reasonable exercise ranges.

Ought to You Purchase the Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody?

The Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody is a flexible jacket designed for many who prioritize mobility, sturdiness, and efficiency in cool-weather actions. 

Its distinctive stretch-woven cloth and 700-fill down insulation make it best for shoulder-season adventures, alpine mountain climbing, and climbing, the place freedom of motion and reasonable heat are important. The rugged outer materials is extra sturdy than most light-weight down jackets, making it a reliable selection for bouldering or bushwhacking.

This jacket is probably not your best option for ultralight backpackers or these in search of a extremely compressible possibility. At practically double its listed weight in a males’s giant and with restricted packability, it’s bulkier than many options. Moreover, its heat isn’t enough for stationary use in freezing temperatures.

For these in search of a dependable, snug jacket that bridges the hole between technical and informal use, the Stretchdown Hoody is a worthy funding.

What Different Down Jackets Ought to You Think about?

In the event you’re exploring the perfect down jackets available on the market, there are a number of options to the Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody that cater to completely different wants and priorities. For extra choices, take a look at our information to the perfect down jackets.

Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody Overview: This traditional jacket affords greater warmth-to-weight effectivity with its 800-fill down and a extra conventional design. It’s an excellent selection for these in search of a lighter and extra packable jacket for informal or technical use. It’s $30 costlier however greater than an oz. lighter. 

Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody Overview: For backcountry fanatics, the Cerium offers a premium, light-weight design with 850-fill down and artificial insulation in moisture-prone areas. It’s good for these prioritizing heat and efficiency in a minimalist package deal. It is usually $100 costlier than the Stretchdown Hoody. 

REI Co-op 650 Down Hoodie Overview: A budget-friendly various with nice worth, the 650 Down Hoodie affords stable heat and sturdiness for on a regular basis use. It’s much less technical however best for informal adventurers.

Rab Microlight Alpine Down Jacket Overview: With its streamlined match and weather-resistant options, the Microlight Alpine is ideal for alpine climbs and rugged circumstances. It’s barely heavier however excels in sturdiness and technical purposes.