Ortovox Merino Fleece Hoody

Field Notes: Taking this hoody into the mountains is like bringing a hammer to a construction site. It’s literally made for the job. The Merino Fleece is unique in the marketplace, built with a truly innovative combination of the finest Tasmanian-sourced Merino wool and polyester. The Ortovox fleece exterior is a smooth poly, but the inside is where you’ll find the magic. Merino fibers are interwoven into the interior of the hoody, giving you all the performance we have come to expect from the textile – super-fast wicking, warmth retention and comfort even when wet. Out on the trails, the Merino Fleece was super comfy when we worked up a sweat and kept us toasty when used as an outer-layer even when temperatures dipped into the low 40s. Thumb loops and an ergonomic fit kept the Merino Fleece in place when we got moving. The fitted hood sits snug on the head, which allows it to be worn without blocking peripheral vision and doesn’t restrict movement due to the elasticity built into the entire hoodie. Bottom line is that Ortovox has created a truly versatile, singularly different hoody that offers the buyer an opportunity to not look like every Tom, Dick or Harry on the mountain and still get the performance they need. 

Pros: Premium materials and quality construction.

Cons: Chest pocket is too small to be functional for most items.

Tester Comments: “Where has Ortovox been all my life. The build and materials are top quality, with top performance to match. Merino wool is amazing, especially with the way Ortovox uses the fibers—it’s hard to tell there’s even wool in there. It’s one of the most comfortable hoodies we tested.”

Key Attribute: Materials