Backside Line
The Outside Analysis Vigor (males’s / ladies’s) is certainly one of our favourite fleece jackets to put on when circumstances are chilly, however we’re prone to additionally break a sweat. It’s the lightest full-zip jacket on our record, so relating to high-output actions, we attain for the Vigor. Its quick-drying grid fleece gives the proper quantity of heat and airflow to maintain you comfy even whereas chugging uphill.
The Vigor is sort of a beefed-up baselayer, so it’s an awesome go-to for all the pieces from mountaineering to snowsports – something that requires thermoregulation and moisture administration. We additionally love the full-seat protection.
The value of the Vigor is great too, with comparable fleeces costing considerably extra. We suggest the Vigor to anybody trying to rating an awesome deal on a flexible, high-performance jacket for his or her lively way of life.
We examined this fleece all through the autumn on cool morning hikes and chilly evenings by the fireplace pit. We love the scuba hood for sporting beneath helmets alpine climbing and whereas backcountry snowboarding.
We additionally love that the layer transitions from mountaineering as an outer layer to a midlayer for backcountry snowboarding. It is a perfect layer for early morning ascents when it’s chilly out, however you’re producing physique warmth. The professionals far outweigh any cons for this well-priced fleece.
Fast Specs
Outside Analysis Vigor
Most Breathable Fleece
CleverHiker Score:
68
Worth:
$120
Measured Weight:
12.9 oz.(Males’s M)
Fleece Weight:
Light-weight
Execs
- Reasonably priced (particularly for technical put on)
- Light-weight
- Extremely breathable
- Fast-drying
- Simple to layer
- Good mobility
Heat
The Outside Analysis Vigor gives a great mid-layer stage of heat. It’s not as heat as a few of the warmest fleeces on our record, however it’s nonetheless an awesome choice for cool mornings on the path.
This skinny, lighter-weight fleece won’t carry out nicely as an outer layer in frigid winter temperatures until you’re actually working up a sweat. We wore the Vigor on a cool crisp Colorado day deep within the Rocky Mountains and round city on informal walks.
This thermoregulating layer has Outside Analysis’s signature ActiveTemp cloth therapy, which implies it regulates your temperature throughout high-energy hikes, runs, and ski tour laps. It’s a stable mid-layer fleece to pair with a jacket for added heat. The hood additionally provides extra heat by slowing warmth loss out of your head.
Consolation
The Outside Analysis Vigor was very comfy each as a townie layer and as a technical path layer. Its stretchy materials strikes along with your physique. Whereas not a heat fuzzy fleece, it’s extra of a second-skin fashion fleece.
It is extremely light-weight and stretchy, and we shortly forgot we had been sporting it. Outside Analysis designed the Vigor with a flat-seam building, which provides consolation, particularly with layers, and eliminates any likelihood of chafing. Light-weight and free vary of motion are the 2 excessive factors for consolation right here.
Sturdiness
Our testing confirmed no put on and tear on this fleece. The bluesign-approved 94% polyester and 6% spandex materials stood as much as commonplace hikes and a few scrambling over tough rocks. If the Vigor encountered a pointy department otherwise you had been to take an enormous crash, then the material would possibly tear, however this must be one thing out of the peculiar.
In your common hikes on a path, the Vigor goes to carry out nice and may final a very long time. When washing this fleece, it could be higher to air dry it because it has high-performance sweat-wicking know-how. That would assist extend the lifetime of the Vigor, however there’s no concern of pilling or fraying right here.
Weight
This fleece is 12.9 ounces, making it one of many lighter fleeces on our record. Whereas testing the Vigor on hikes within the Rockies, we discovered it to be a wonderful light-weight layer that’s straightforward to hike in. We needed to scramble over just a few rocks, and the Vigor moved with us whereas by no means weighing us down. It additionally packs into a light-weight ball in regards to the measurement of a softball and stows away simply right into a backpack. When it comes to compact and light-weight fleeces, this is likely one of the prime choices on our record.
Options
There will not be a ton of options with the Outside Analysis Vigor; nonetheless, for being such a fundamental light-weight layer, it has some good options. Our favourite is the 3-panel hood with binding. Typically, fleeces which can be this mild will sacrifice a hood and pockets for fewer ounces, however Outside Analysis included a pleasant hood right here, together with a zipper chest pocket and two hand pockets.
The fleece is quick-drying, sweat-wicking, and breathable. It additionally has UPF 30 solar safety, which is good for cloudless days on the path. It has a full zipper and thumb loops on the sleeves, which makes it straightforward to layer. Whereas the Vigor is a minimalist design, it has some good options that got here in helpful whereas we examined it.
Ought to You Purchase The Outside Analysis Vigor?
The Outside Analysis Vigor is a superb fleece for the value (and OR is kind of beneficiant with their gross sales, so preserve a watch out for them!). The worth right here is off the charts and gives an awesome steadiness of light-weight heat and luxury. It’s not an off-the-cuff cumbersome/fuzzy fleece however extra of a technical layer that’s designed for any outside exercise the place you’ll be working up a sweat.
If you need a light-weight, breathable layer for the path or mountain climbing, or a mid-layer for winter sports activities, that is the fleece for you.
What Different Fleeces Ought to You Contemplate?
Patagonia R1 Air Evaluate: An identical fleece to the Outside Analysis Vigor, the R1 Air is a light-weight, technical, breathable fleece. It doesn’t have a hood or hand pockets, however apart from that, these two fleeces have comparable designs and chest pockets and work for a similar actions.
REI Flash Hyperstretch Evaluate: Just like the Outside Analysis Vigor, the REI Flash Hyperstretch isn’t the warmest fleece, however it’s comfy, light-weight, and wicks sweat on high-energy hikes. The Flash Hyperstrech is one other light-weight fleece that works nice for backcountry hikes and longer ventures.
