The Arc’teryx Naga is a fitted Polartec Powerstretch Hardface garment with thumbholes and a slick, scub-style hood. The Naga works well as a base layer or sized up for wear as a mid layer. Available now, $199 in Wolf (grey) or Croc (green).
Tag "fleece"
Triple Aught Design, better known to most of us as TAD, redesigned their “Ranger Hoodie” earlier this year. With the change in weather coming upon us, and our never ending search for quality items to review, we took this one on along with some other upcoming outwear reviews to let you all know what works and what doesn’t. Its never to early to start thinking of Christmas, and its never to soon to own quality gear.
The TAD Ranger Hoodie is made of DWR-treated Polartec WindPro, which makes it rated to stop four times more wind than other fleece. The DWR coating is a nice touch, but fleece is never going to be the first choice of anyone going out into wet weather. At least with a DWR treatment, short trips or light rain isn’t going to get you soaked. Up here in the Pacific North West, its coming into six months or so of rain, and our long term testing is going to really be putting this to the test. I have no doubt based on short term use that the Ranger Hoodie is great in chilly weather as a stand alone piece, but I think being up on Mount Rainier and out on the Carbon Glacier an outer shell is gong to be needed as well when the cold rain and snow kick in. I’m willing to try layering up and just using the Ranger Hoodie, but I’ll have a hard shell in my pack just case…
My initial thoughts on the TAD Ranger Hoodie is that someone really did their homework. The fit of the size large (in loden green) is almost like it was tailored for me. My extra long arms fit without any trouble, and the thumb holes make for a nice touch for if I’m doing a lot of reaching around and don’t want to sleeve riding up. Like most outerwear I own, this has pockets on the upper arm along with velcro. The upper pockets are well sized, and not placed to far to the rear, which is a pet peeve of mine. The chest pockets are fine, and along with the upper sleeve pockets both have media ports so your iPod won’t get cold or wet.
Consider this a brief overview and a thumbs up from a first look. This TAD Ranger Hoodie will hit the mountains in the next few days, and after we’ve spent enough time to really get to know it, we will let you know how it does. Click the picture to see the product specs as given by TAD.
The guys out west are keeping their promise. The releases keep coming. One more and we can say they are on a midlayer-tear. This week they are releasing the Pathfinder jacket. It’s a slim-fitting, hoodless fleece that layers easily thanks to the slippery, hardface outer surface. Released just this morning for $189.
- Polartec’s 336 weight Thermal Pro fleece, warm and breathable
- DWR Polartec Hardface fleece, water and abrasion resistant face that doesn’t pill
- The hardface surface makes it easy to slip into your outer layer as there’s less to “grab onto”
- A single panel running from the cuff, up the arm, and down the torso to the bottom hem enables full range of motion
- Active fit accommodates baselayers and is streamlined enough to wear under another outer layer when needed
- Two front pockets sewn into the seam for easy access and large storage
- Wrist pocket for ID or headphones
- Thumbhole loops built into the seam
We haven’t heard from our friends at Triple Aught Design in a while, but they just told us us they are pushing out some new gear this spring. The first item they’ve shared with us is a new, lighter version of their Ranger Hoody fleece. On sale tomorrow, the Ranger LT has been designed for year-round use. In spring & fall weather the LT wears as a lightly insulated outerlayer. Add a shell for full winter warmth; keep it in the truck for cool summer nights. BTW- The guys have given up the TAD Gear acronym/moniker and will be known as Triple Aught Design.
Some design bullets:
- An active fit streamlined enough to wear under another outer layer when needed
- 6 strategically placed pockets (including 2 chest pockets with media port and D-rings, 2 upper arm pockets with Velcro patches, media port and d-rings, a left forearm pocket for ID and rear hunters pocket
- Polartec Wind Pro fleece (288 weight) with a DWR finish
- Highly breathable and constructed to support a full range of motion
- An aero hood that provides head protection and warmth
- half mitt sleeve and thumbhole cuffs with the thumbholes in the seams (so they stay closed when not used).
- vented pits (not pit-zips)
- chafe guard at the zipper top
- guide wires and media ports for headphones
- Removable glow-in-the-dark Ranger Eye velcro logo
Available in Black, ME Green and UE Gray, The Ranger LT is $219, or $215 without Velcro on the upper arms.
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The Prada of battlewear has come up with a super-packable alternative to your trusty-but-bulky fleece. The Atom uses a light, lofty insulation called “coreloft” to keep you warm during stop-and-go activity in cool to cold weather. What’s really cool is the huge, breathable powerstretch side panels that lets your stink out when your internal furnace is pumping.
The mid-layer weighs in at a measly 10.6 ounces and repels a light rain and deflects more wind than a wind-stopper fleece. Other features include a luxurious brushed collar, a longer cut, insulated zipper flap, an internal pocket, an athletic cut and longer sleeves that will allow you to shoot prone without exposing your wrists to the chill — or the enemy. Available for $160 in fall ’09. Arcteryx
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