Mountain Hardwear Stetchdown Hoody Evaluation

Backside Line

The Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody (males’s / ladies’s) is all about balancing heat and mobility, making it excellent for lively adventures in chilly climate. Its stretchy material 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—but it surely does include some trade-offs. It’s bulkier and heavier than many related choices, so it’s not one of the best decide for those who’re tight on pack area or counting ounces. 

Whereas it handles gentle snow and wind properly, it’s not constructed for sustained moist climate with out a shell. If you happen to worth consolation, sturdiness, and mobility over shaving each final ounce, this jacket is a stable alternative. Take a look at the way it stacks up in our information to one of the best down jackets.

How We Examined

We examined the Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody over a number of months in Colorado carrying it on the whole lot 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 right down to the teenagers, we bought an actual really feel for the way it dealt with heat, mobility, and sturdiness.

Consolation

The Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody provides a good degree of consolation, but it surely doesn’t absolutely ship the plush really feel we’ve skilled with different premium down jackets. 

Whereas the stretch-woven material 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 practical however not notably cozy, particularly when worn instantly 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 material prevents the jacket from driving up throughout dynamic actions. Nevertheless, 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 properly in lively settings, its consolation falls in need of being a standout function, making it higher fitted to these prioritizing mobility and sturdiness over an opulent really feel.

Heat

This jacket offers dependable heat for lively use in cool to reasonably chilly situations (add decrease restrict?), but it surely’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 right down to freezing temps—as long as we had been on the transfer. However as soon as we stopped shifting in those self same temps, we positively began feeling the nippiness and wanted to throw on an additional layer.

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

Total, the Stretchdown Hoody performs properly as an lively midlayer or light-weight outer layer for cool climate, but it surely falls in need of being a go-to choice for excessive chilly. It’s superb for many who prioritize mobility and sturdiness over most heat, making it a sensible alternative for mountain climbing, climbing, and different high-heart-rate actions.

Weight & Packability

Mountain Hardwear advertises the down jacket weight  9.3 ounces., Surprisingly, the boys’s massive 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 additionally has, in some circumstances, double the fill weight.

By way of packability, the Stretchdown falls brief 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 embody a devoted stuff sack, additional limiting its portability.

The added weight and bulk stem from the sturdy stretch-woven material, 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 centered on weight and packability. In the end, whereas the Stretchdown excels in versatility and ruggedness, it’s not a super alternative for ultralight fans or these on the lookout for compact, travel-friendly gear.

Climate Resistance

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

Nevertheless, the jacket isn’t designed for sustained moist climate. Like most down-insulated jackets, extended publicity to rain or moist snow will finally saturate the material, inflicting the right down to clump and lose its insulating energy. 

Moreover, the shortage of hydrophobic down additional limits its capacity to resist heavy or prolonged precipitation. For harsher situations, pairing the Stretchdown with a water-resistant shell is crucial to take care of its efficiency.

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

Breathability

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

The distinctive stretch-woven material is barely extra breathable than conventional down jacket shells, permitting for some airflow throughout gentle to reasonable exertion. This makes it a sensible alternative 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, comparable to pit zips or mesh-lined pockets, meant we needed to depend on the entrance zipper to control temperature manually. Whereas unzipping the jacket offered some aid, it’s not a super resolution for sustaining constant consolation throughout strenuous exercise.

In comparison with artificial or hybrid jackets, that are usually higher fitted to intense efforts, the Stretchdown is much less able to dealing with extended high-energy use in milder situations. Nevertheless, its steadiness of heat and breathability is satisfactory 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 material and 700-fill down insulation make it superb 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 alternative for bouldering or bushwhacking.

This jacket is probably not your best option for ultralight backpackers or these in search of a extremely compressible choice. At practically double its listed weight in a males’s massive and with restricted packability, it’s bulkier than many alternate options. Moreover, its heat isn’t adequate 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 Take into account?

If you happen to’re exploring one of the best down jackets in the marketplace, there are a number of alternate 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 one of the best down jackets.

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

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

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

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