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Warm, breathable and incredibly quick to dry
Snow Peak says:
The Alpha Direct 90 Hoodie is built around Polartec Alpha Direct, a fabric that manages to deliver warmth and breathability in equal measure. Using the medium-weight 85g/m² version of the fabric, it keeps you warm while its mesh construction lets heat and moisture escape so you're not left clammy or overheated. It also dries quickly and holds onto its loft even when wet, so it keeps performing whether you've worked up a sweat or gotten caught in light rain. That mix of warmth and breathability makes it a great outer layer on its own through autumn and spring, and just as effective layered under a shell once temperatures drop, trapping heat for extra warmth when you need it. It's just as at home in everyday life as it is out on the trail.
Our Verdict
At 156g (Medium), the Snow Peak Alpha Direct 90 Hoodie is exactly why we rate Polartec Alpha Direct so highly. It delivers surprising warmth for the weight, breathes exceptionally well, and dries incredibly quickly.
The open construction lets heat and moisture escape far more readily than a conventional fleece, which makes it particularly comfortable when moving hard. Add a windproof layer over it and it gets considerably warmer, so the same piece covers a wide range of conditions depending on how you layer it.
I like the half zip for extra temperature control, and the thumb holes help keep the sleeves in place under another layer.
The trade-off is almost no wind resistance and less durability than a standard fleece, so it needs a little more care around rough surfaces and Velcro.
- Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear
Features
- Polartec Alpha Direct fabric
- 1/2-length zip
- Thumb holes
Specifications
- Small weighs: 150g
- Medium weighs: 156g
- Large weighs: 170g
- XLarge weighs: 176g
Material & Construction
- 100% Polyester
