Description
The Mountain Hardwear AirMesh Hoody ( shop now ) is a very very breathable, comfy, high warmth-to-weight ratio ultralight fleece. It is constructed with Octa yarn, and sold at a great price. See more photos in our Mountain Hardwear AirMesh Review . Price : $85 Weight 5 oz Fabric : AirMesh, Brushed Back, Octa Yarn, ~80 gsm Pros : Ultralight. Highly breathable. High warmth-to-weight ratio. Thumb loops. Quick drying. Surprisingly durable. Cons : Not very stretchy. Modest total warmth. Exterior face is not very soft. Potential fiber shed. Not quite as warm/breathable as Alpha Direct. Susceptible to wind. Construction & Features Like similar high tech FutureFleece from The North Face, Mountain Hardwear AirMesh Hoody is constructed with Octa fiber yarn. Its hollow core and interlocking ridges create microscopic pockets of dead air that boost its insulative properties. Unlike FutureFleece which is gridded, Mountain Hardwear AirMesh is brushed back, meaning there aren’t empty spaces. The interior surface is all just super soft fuzz. The exterior is literally mesh, and as such, it is shockingly breathable. Even just walking around lets a breeze pass through. With that in mind, we acknowledge that this very lightweight fleece would not feel very warm at all in windy conditions. Like polartec alpha direct hoodies, you may need to pair it with a wind breaker, or at least a rain shell. On the flip, when you’re not moving and it’s not windy, the Airmesh feels very warm relative to its weight. The AirMesh Hoody is a lightweight fleece jacket without any zippers, our favorite chassis for a midlayer. Going sans zipper reduces weight, reduces places that can rub or chafe, increases warmth-to-weight, and reduces cost. It’s mostly all upside. As features go, AirMesh Hoody has thumb loops and elastic around the hem and cuffs. Minimalist, but that’s really all you need in an ultralight hiking fleece jacket. Verdict A high-tech, lightweight fleece that’s this warm and hyper breathable for under $100 is a killer deal. This is one of the most well-rounded, high performance ultralight fleece we’ve tested, just know that it is ineffective in the wind without an additional layer over top.
