An Alpha Direct Hoodie is Lighter, Warmer, and More Breathable Than Any Other Fleece
The collective ultralight jury has voted, deciding that a five ounce Polartec Alpha Direct hoodie is the best way for hikers and backpackers to save weight on mid-layer insulative apparel without sacrificing warmth or functionality.
Compared to all other fleeces, a Polartec Alpha Direct hoodie has significantly better warmth-to-weight, breathability, less water absorption, and much faster drying time, at the expense of lower durability and zero wind resistance. When paired with an ultralight windbreaker, these two layers synergize to create a modular, sub 10-oz system approximating the warmth of a heavyweight fleece or a thin summer-weight puffy jacket. Wear either or both as-needed, and you will be comfortable across an exceptionally wide range of temperatures and conditions, whether on the move or standing still.
The paradigm-shifting efficacy of these unique garments, juxtaposed with their limited small batch availability, is the impetus for our industry-first buyer’s guide. We want to help you upgrade to an Alpha Direct hoodie, understand its limitations, and use it optimally in the backcountry. That’s why, below the recommended hoodie reviews, you will find a plethora of critical buyer information and pro usage tips. This is not your typical fleece!
Jump ahead to learn about Polartec Alpha Direct Fleece Fabric, creating an ultralight layering system, and buyer considerations. If you’re purchasing an Alpha Direct Hoodie, you must pair it with an ultralight windbreaker! And while you’re here, don’t miss our guides to sun hoodies, merino wool hoodies, alpaca hoodies, and traditional lightweight fleece.
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Cover Photo by Simon Pratt
Recommended Alpha Direct Hoodies
As the best all-around option, we recommend 90 gsm Alpha Direct Fleece Fabric (as opposed to 60 gsm or 120 gsm). 90 gsm is the most versatile throughout the widest range of temperatures, and comfortable to hike in. Because most of the hoodies in this guide are constructed with 90 gsm Alpha Direct, performance and weight are quite similar across the board. Each 90 gsm hoody is a minor variation of the exact same garment. As such, you almost can’t go wrong, and which is best for you largely boils down to a combination of current availability, price, and your personal color, pocket, fit, and hood configuration preferences. Because of high demand and small batch Cottage Industry production runs, inventory is constantly in flux. You will likely need to shop multiple brands to find your preferred build.
- Minimalist: LEVE Outdoor Co. Alpha 90 Hoody
- Minimalist: High Tail Designs Alpha 90
- Minimalist: Timmermade Alpha 4004
- Minimalist: FarPointe Alpha Cruiser
- Minimalist: Alpine Fit Fasterpacker Alpha 90
- Minimalist: Burgeon Outdoor Alpha Hoodie
- Minimalist: NW Alpine Haleine Alpha 90
- Kangaroo Pocket: Senchi Designs Alpha 90 Hoodie W/ Pocket
- Kangaroo Pocket: Beyond the TrailheadRip-Back Hoodie 90
- Kangaroo Pocket: Lightheart Gear 90 gsm W/ Kangaroo Pocket
- Half-Zip: Senchi Designs Alpha 90 Hoodie W/ Half Zip
- Extra Warmth (120gsm): Sambob Alpha Hoodie 120
- Mainstream Availability: Backcountry Highliner Primaloft Air-Perm
A Marketplace for Alpha Direct Hoodies
Only one retailer in the world sells multiple brands worth of Alpha Direct hoodies – Garage Grown Gear. GGG is a specialist marketplace for ultralight gear and apparel, and we’ve seen them stock a number of the hoodies featured in this guide. But similar to the manufacturers, inventory is constantly in flux. If you’re shopping for an Alpha Direct hoodie, we recommend checking out Garage Grown Gear first, where you are likely to find multiple options in one place. What’s more, they even stock accessories, including alpha direct hats, leggings, and camp socks!
Comparison Table
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| Model | Price ($) | List Weight Medium (oz) | Made to Order** | Hood | Bonus Features |
| Alpine Fit | 119 | 3.9 | No | Balaclava | W’s specific fit, ponytail port |
| LEVE Outdoor Co. | 105 | 4.0 | No | Standard w/ Cinch | None |
| FarPointe | 95 | 4.2 | No | Standard w/ Drawstring | None |
| Senchi Designs W/ Pocket | 105 | 4.5 | No | Balaclava | Kangaroo pocket, Elastic Trim, Complimentary wash bag |
| Burgeon Outdoor | 110 | 4.5 | No | Standard | none |
| High Tail Designs | 98 | 4.8 | Yes | Balaclava | Elastic Trim |
| NW Alpine | 99 | 5.0 | No | Balaclava | Elastic Trim |
| Senchi Designs W/ Zip | 115 | 5.0 | No | Balaclava |
Half Chest Zip, Elastic Trim, Complimentary wash bag
|
| Timmermade | 96 | 5.0 | Yes | Standard | None |
| Lightheart Gear | 130 | 6.0 | No | Standard w/ Cinch | Kangaroo Pocket, Thumb Loops |
| Sambob Alpha 120* | 130 | 6.5 | No | Standard w/ Cinch | Elastic Trim, 120 gsm |
| Beyond the Trailhead | 112 | 6.1 | Yes | Balaclava w/ Cinch |
Kangaroo Pocket, Neck buttons, Elastic Cuffs, Shock Cord Waist, thumb loops
|
| Backcountry Highliner* | 99 | 6.6 | No | Balaclava |
Kangaroo pocket, thumb loops, elastic trim, stow pocket
|
*All stats refer to Alpha Direct 90 gsm garments, unless otherwise noted
** Made to order garments are not in stock and require a production lead time ranging from days, to weeks, to months
LEVE Outdoor Co. Alpha 90 Hoody
LEVE Outdoor Co. is a new Cottage Industry brand sewing gear in Placerville, CA and Scio, OR! Welcome aboard LEVE! Their Alpha 90 Hoody, made by a husband, wife, and grandma trio team, is completely minimalist. The only feature is a hood cinch. Fine by us! The featureless build, in conjunction with a slim fit (size up if in between sizes), is why it’s the single lightest list weight for an Alpha Direct hoodie we could find on the internet.
- Weight: 4.0 oz
- Price: $105
- Hood: Standard with Cinch
- Bonus Features: None
- Sizing: Unisex, runs small
- Made To Order: No
- Notables: Lightest list weight. Minimalist. Slim fit, size up if in between
FarPointe Alpha Cruiser
The FarPointe Alpha Cruiser is a completely minimalist design, with its only feature being a drawstring hood cinch. As such, a size medium weighs only 4.2 ounces and it’s one of the very lightest and most affordable models available. FarPointe manufactures ultralight apparel gear on the Oregon coast.
- Weight: 4.2 oz
- Price: $95
- Hood: Standard with drawstring
- Bonus Features: None
- Sizing: Unisex
- Made To Order: No
- Notables: Lower-than-average price. Minimalist.
Alpine Fit Women’s Fastpacker Alpha 90
The Alpine Fit Womens Fasterpacker, is a rare Alpha Direct hoodie made specifically with a women’s fit and ponytail port. Beyond that, it’s quite minimalist, with the only features being thumb loops, and an elasticized hem, hood, and cuff. Designed by a former materials developer at Lululemon.
- Weight: 3.9 oz
- Price: $119
- Hood: Balaclava
- Bonus Features: Ponytail port. Elastic Cuffs, Hem, & Hood Opening. Thumb loops.
- Sizing: Women’s
- Made To Order: No
- Notable: Women’s fit. Minimalist.
High Tail Designs Alpha Direct 90
High Tail Designs is a thru-hiker mainstay, founded in southwest Virginia by an industrial designer/thru hiker, trail name Dos Eggrolls. They manufacture ultralight gear and apparel like the Alpha Direct 90, and are notable for artist collection print fanny packs and stuff sacks.
- Weight: 4.8 oz
- Price: $98
- Hood: Balaclava
- Bonus Features: Elastic Cuffs & Hood Opening
- Sizing: Unisex
- Made To Order: Yes
- Notable: Full coverage Balaclava-style hood. Minimalist.
Timmermade Alpha Direct 4004
Dan Timmerman, of Timmermade, has been sewing ultralight clothing and sleep systems to great effect, and he’s one of our favorite Cottage Industry designers. Here’s a quote we love from his about section, “I’m a big fan of spending the day pushing the limits, but then being cozy and comfy, almost luxurious, at camp and I spend many hours thinking about how to do this in an ultralight package.” That is a great philosophy, and great too are his Alpha Direct 4004 design.
- Weight: 5.0 oz
- Price: $96
- Hood: Standard, no cinch
- Bonus Features: None
- Sizing: Unisex
- Made To Order: Yes
- Notables: Completely minimalist, no features.
NW Alpine Haleine Alpha Direct 90 Hoody
Oregon-based NW Alpine is a mountaineering apparel, and Haleine, means “breath” in French. It’s another great minimalist, 90 gsm model with an ultralight weight, and no features beyond elasticized hem, cuffs, and hood.
- Weight: 5.0 oz
- Price: $99
- Hood: Balaclava, no cinch
- Bonus Features: Elastic trim on hem, cuffs, hood
- Sizing: Unisex
- Made To Order: No
- Notables: Minimalist
Senchi Designs Alpha Direct Hoodie W/ Pocket
Formerly known as the “Lark,” we strongly recommend Senchi Design‘s Alpha Direct Hoodie W/ Pocket. Portland-based Senchi has been cranking out Alpha Direct apparel for years now, and we’re pleased to see the addition of a Kanagroo pocket into their line. Like their half-zip, it features elastic trim around the cuffs, a balaclava hood, and a complimentary wash bag plus repairs. In speaking to Senchi’s Designer, Ryan Windus, we were very impressed by his in depth knowledge of working with Alpha Direct.
- Weight: 4.5 oz
- Price: $95
- Hood: Balaclava
- Bonus Features: Kangaroo pocket, Elastic Cuffs, articulated.
- Sizing: Unisex
- Made To Order: No
- Notables: Elastic Trim. Complimentary wash bag and free repairs.
Burgeon Outdoor Alpha Direct Hoodie 90 gsm
Burgeon Outdoor manufactures premium hiking apparel in New Hampshire, and utilizes an array of Polartec fabrics including Alpha, Delta, and Power Wool. If you like a large and loose hood and won’t be hiking directly into strong wind, this Burgeon is a great option. Without a scrap of elastic trim to be found, the hyper minimalist feature set makes it even lighter than its peers.
- Weight: 4.5 oz
- Price: $110
- Hood: Standard, large and loose
- Bonus Features: None
- Sizing: M’s & W’s
- Made To Order: No
- Notables: Minimalist. Hood susceptible to blowing off.
Lightheart Gear Alpha Direct 90 w/ Kangaroo Pocket
Featured in cover photo! The Lightheart Gear Alpha Direct 90 with Kangaroo Pocket is an outstanding hoodie with all of the ultralight bells and whistles including top notch thumb loops and the namesake pocket. The cuffs with thumb loops truly allow you to reretreat your hands into the garment, and in a summer context, likely replace the need for liner gloves. Really great feature! A kangaroo-less version is also available for $115. What’s more, you can really crank up the flair with their exceptionally unique printed Alpha Direct fabrics. Lightheart Gear, based in Fletcher, NC, produces an assortment of ultralight gear, including tents, rain jackets, clothes, and accessories.
- Weight: 6.0 oz
- Price: $130
- Hood: Standard, with cinch
- Bonus Features: Kangaroo pocket, thumb loops, unique print colorways.
- Sizing: M’s & W’s (including plus sizes)
- Made To Order: No
- Notables: Most expensive. All of the features. Cool print colorways.
Beyond the Trailhead Alpha Direct Rip-Back Hoodie 90
Beyond the Trailhead, based out of Wisconsin and founded in 2020, makes the exceptional Alpha Direct Rip-Back Hoodie 90 with literally all of the features! We’ll take the kangaroo pocket, but we’re extra keen on the unique button cowl/hood design that converts into a neck gaiter. V cozy! You can also pay $21 extra to purchase a double layered hood, which we assume eliminates the need to carry a beanie, though have not tested personally.
- Weight: 6.1 oz
- Price: $92
- Hood: Balaclava, with cinch
- Bonus Features: Kangaroo Pocket, Thumb loops, Neck Buttons, Elastic Cuffs, Shock cord cinchable waist, option for double thickness hood
- Sizing: Unisex
- Made To Order: Yes
- Notable: All of the bells and whistles. Cool hood feature.
Senchi Designs Alpha 90 Hoodie w/ Half Zip
We dare you not to think Senchi Designs is a cool looking brand! They frequently drop/release new batches of Alpha Direct apparel, including hoodies, crew necks, and leggings at 60 gsm and 90 gsm. We recommend the 90 gsm Hoodie with half zip, (formerly known as “Lark”) which has good looking and functional elastic trim, articulated sleeves, and is most differentiated from the pack by the half-zip pullover configuration. We respect this feature because it adds venting, and makes on/off easier, which may be especially valuable to those with large torsos or chests. However, it also adds bulk, potential for zipper failure/snagging, a bit of weight, and isn’t strictly necessary, given how breathable Alpha Direct already is at baseline. Likely that’s why they’ve excluded the zip from the 60 gsm tops. So there’s a pros and cons. But a great overall Alpha Direct Hoodie design nonetheless, and we’re glad someone offers a half zip! Plus, this one comes free repairs and a complimentary microplastics-reducing wash bag!
- Weight: 5.0 oz
- Price: $115
- Hood: Balaclava
- Bonus Features: Half Chest Zip, Elastic Cuffs/Hem/Hood Opening, Articulated sleeves
- Sizing: Unisex
- Made To Order: No
- Notables: Half-zip. Elastic Trim. Complimentary wash bag and free repairs.
Sambob Alpha 120 Hoodie
For people who always run cold, only intend to wear their AD hoodie while static, or for use during shoulder season/winter, we recommend bumping up from 90 gsm to 120 gsm Alpha Direct. This version of the fabric is 33% heavier, quite a bit fuzzier, and noticeably warmer for only a couple of extra ounces of total garment weight. And within the 120 weight genre, we love the Sambob Alpha Hoodie. This garment comes in two unisex fits (narrow and wide), uniquely beautiful color block patterns, and its minimalist chassis features nothing more than elastic trim and a hood cinch – perfection. And of course, it’s superbly cozy. Alpha 120 feels like wearing a cloud.
- Weight: 6.5 / 7.2 oz
- Price: $130
- Hood: Standard w/ Cinch
- Bonus Features: Elastic trim
- Sizing: Unisex narrow or wide fit
- Made To Order: No
- Notables: Warmer than Alpha 90. Elastic Trim. Small batch color blocking.
Backcountry Highliner Primaloft Air-Perm
The Backcountry Highliner PrimaLoft Air-Perm is a Polartec Alpha Direct clone made from Primaloft Active Evolve. It is available exclusively from Backcountry.com, and is much easier and faster to acquire than most of the cottage industry models listed above, but with a marginally inferior performance. Previously, we listed the Eddie Bauer Super Sevens hoodie in this slot, but that one is no longer available, and had a worse feature set, so we’re pleased to swap it out. See more in our full-length Backcountry Highliner Review.
Compared to Polartec Alpha Direct, Primaloft Active Evolve is extremely similar. Like PAD, PAE utilizes a lattice weave structure onto which a grid of lofted fleece tufts are sewn. It’s softer and comfier to the touch, and stretchier. However, it also sheds more fuzz, absorbs a bit more moisture, dries a tad slower, lofts a bit smaller, and isn’t quite as warm, thus has lower warmth-to-weight ratio. While all of those differences are individually marginal and it would be hard to tell them apart while wearing, they add up to paint a clear picture that original Polartec Alpha Direct is the superior fabric.
We appreciate its minimalist feature set, which includes a kangaroo pocket (yay), thumb loops (yay), a self-storage pocket (unnecessary), and elasticized trim around the hood, cuffs, hem, and pocket.
- Weight: 6.6 oz
- Price: $99
- Hood: Balaclava
- Bonus Features: Kangaroo Pouch, Thumb Loops, Elasticized Trim, Internal Stow Pocket.
- Sizing: M’s & W’s
- Made To Order: No
- Notables: Mainstream availability, kangaroo pocket, PrimaLoft Active Evolve.
About Polartec Alpha Direct Fleece
What is Polartec Alpha Direct?
This bizarre insulation has been around for less than a decade, so if you aren’t up to speed on Polartec Alpha Direct, here’s the story. This insulative fabric is constructed with a dense grid of high loft, super fuzzy, polyester tufts, sewn to a structured mesh fabric that holds it in all place. By itself, you can think of it like the guts of synthetic puffy jacket, divorced from its shell. Alpha Direct was never designed to be worn on its own, but rather, paired with an exterior shell fabric. The face fabric blocks wind, while the Alpha Direct insulates, breathes, and wicks. We first got our hands on Alpha Direct via the Outdoor Research Ascendant Hoodie circa 2016, which effectively married an exterior windbreaker with an interior layer of Alpha Direct, sans interior liner.
But when the Ultralight Cottage Industry got a hold of this material, they divorced it from the shell and began selling garments of purely Alpha Direct, without any exterior shell. They did this knowing the savvy hiker could choose to add a modular windbreaker shell overtop when they wanted. The modular system is much more more useful and versatile than a combined garment.
The effect of an Alpha Direct hoody is an ultralight fleece jacket, usually weighing about five ounces, that is decently warm on its own, but with virtually zero wind resistant and more breathable than anything else you have ever experienced. In fact, it’s so breathable that most heat simple drifts off and dissipates in the slightest breeze. You can feel air coursing through it just by walking! It’s biggest downside is likely the low durability, but treat it with respect and you shouldn’t have issues.
Pros of Alpha Direct
- Ultralight
- Ultra breathable
- High warmth-to-weight ratio
- Soft and comfortable
- Exceptionally quick drying
- Absorbs very little water
- Hydrophobic
- Versatile
- Synergistic with windbreakers
- Made with some % recycled materials
- Just durable enough
- Lightly stretchy
Cons of Alpha Direct
- Low durability
- Zero wind resistance
- Somewhat sheer
- Sticks to, and easily damaged by Velcro
- Sheds fuzz, wash with a Guppyriend Bag to reduce microplastics
- Small twigs, pine cones, and other scratchy objects stick to it
- Relatively Expensive
- Not all that warm on its own
- Inconsistent availability
Creating an Ultralight Layering System Using An Alpha Direct Hoodie
Unlike your typical fleece pullover, an Alpha Direct hoodie should be thought of as part of a system, rather than as a standalone garment. Due to Alpha Direct’s total lack of wind resistance, it’s important to carry a windbreaker jacket with you to wear overtop. Combined, these two mimic the insulation level of either a thicker than average fleece, or a thinner-than-average sweater weight puffy jacket. You can also use your rain jacket instead of a windbreaker and achieve a similar effect for less weight. However, this is far less comfortable because rain jackets are less breathable, less stretchy, and feel clammier.
Ultralight Alpha Direct Insulation System
- 4.9 oz Alpha Direct hoodie (avg weight from our list)
- 3.7 oz Patagonia Houdini
- 8.6 oz total
Example of Traditional Fleece
- 13.0 oz Patagonia R1 Air Hoody
Analysis
The advantage of the Patagonia R1 Air is that it’s warmer than the Alpha Direct Hoodie by itself, more durable, and faster to take on/off than the combination of an AD hoodie and Windbreaker. The R1 Air is also more breathable than the Houdini windbreaker.
The advantage of the AD hoodie + windbreaker is that it’s 33% lighter weight, absorbs less moisture, dries faster, is modular and versatile, is much more breathable without the windbreaker, and is warmer and more weather resistant with the windbreaker.
Result: The alpha direct hoodie + windbreaker combo outperforms the R1 Air Hoody in virtually every way that matters most from an ultralight backpacking perspective, but is not strictly superior in every way.
Buyer Considerations
Is an Alpha Direct Hoody Right For You?
If you are an ultralight backpacker who cares deeply about lowering base weight, then yes! An Alpha Direct hoodie is likely the right choice for you. But check yourself and be realistic before buying. This ain’t your grandpa’s fleece. An Alpha Direct hoodie is likely going to be the single least durable mid-layer you’ve ever worn. Not only is it incompatible with bushwhacking, rock climbing, and many other forms of “roughing it,” but plenty of folks are simply too hard on their gear. If you have a track record of taping up puffy jacket holes, puncturing sleeping pads, patching tents, replacing pants, and otherwise damaging your outdoor gear, then an Alpha Direct hoodie is likely not a good choice for you. The same is true for people who hike with dogs, or are prone to tripping, falling, scraping themselves, and are otherwise clumsy on the trail. If that’s your style, we encourage you to check out our guide to lightweight fleece jackets, which are much more durable at the expense of only a modest hit to warmth-to-weight ratio.
Why Don’t Mainstream Outdoor Brands Make Alpha Direct Hoodies?
For starters, mainstream outdoor brands are usually 5-10 years behind the Cottage Ultralight Industry when it comes to adopting cutting edge lightweight materials into their product line. What’s more, most of the mainstream brands sell to audiences who are inexperienced with caring for ultralight gear, and would immediately eviscerate an Alpha Direct hoodie, rather than using it with the proper care it deserves. Lastly, many of those brands warranty their products, and the previous point would be exacerbated by a multitude of returns and negative reviews, rendering the design investment pointless. That’s why we were surprised to see largely non-technical Eddie Bauer manufacture an Alpha Direct Hoodie (the Super Sevens Fleece), and why we were not surprised to see Beyond Clothing choose 186 gsm fabric instead of standard issue 90gsm in their Alpha Aura Jacket.
Price
At time of publication, $90 to $100 seems to the going rate for an Alpha Direct Hoodie, with outliers as low as ~$74 and as high as $150, depending on features and brand. As ultralight gear goes, we feel they’re a pretty good value for the weight savings you are likely to achieve.
Weight
Because they’re mostly all made with the same 90 gsm fabric, there is very minimal weight difference between models. For the most part, they weigh five ounes, +/- one ounce. The weight differential stems from a combination of fit (looser fitting garments are made with more fabric and are heavier), and features (zippers, elastic cuffs, kangaroo pockets etc). A super minimalist model without bells and whistles is generally superior in the sense that its performance is largely the same but weighs 20-25% less (the difference between a 4oz and 5oz garment, for example).
What About Kangaroo Pockets?
Kangaroo pockets are the overall best pocket configuration for puffy jackets and fleeces. They’re very useful, doubling as a large storage space and hand warmer, and we love them on most outerwear. However, they are at their absolute worst on an Alpha Direct Hoodie. That’s not to say they are unwanted, unwelcome, or strictly bad, just that you should lower your expectations for this feature on these garments. That’s because the fabric is so light and airy that any object heavier than a pair of gloves or beanie will pull awkwardly down on the pocket, bounce around as you move, swing back and forth, stretch out the pocket, and generally just not sit well. Put something too heavy in there, like a water bottle, and you might blow out the pocket stitching completely.
What’s more, by the time you get to camp and temperatures drop, you will likely have added a windbreaker overtop of your Alpha Direct hoody, covering up the kangaroo pocket and rendering it functionally useless. There’s also something to be said about the near-perfect minimalism of a feature-less Alpha Direct Hoodie, and how adding pockets and doodads can detract from that. As a positive, it does add a bit of additional core warmth. But it also increases manufacturing costs. Roughly $15-35 dollars, depending on who you purchase from. So whether or not to choose a model with a kangaroo pocket is mostly up to your personal preferences. The good and the bad come out in the wash, leaving us largely ambivalent to this feature.
Standard vs Balaclava Hood
With Alpha Direct Hoodies, you generally either get a standard drapey hood, or a balaclava fit. The designers manufacturing them seem to be split about 50-50 on this. And neither is strictly better or worse than the other, it just depends on what you like and how you will use it. A standard hood is comfier around camp or wearing as head insulation with a quilt. A balaclava performs better in wind or under a helmet. Both do great overtop of a cap. If you’re reading this buyer’s guide, you likely have enough experience with hoods to know whether you prefer balaclava or traditional fit, and you should stick with what you like. A couple hood features to call out is that if you opt for a standard hood, we recommend choosing a model with a cinch or drawstring-tie-off closure system to ensure the hood stays up in wind and can trap maximum heat in the cold. Another pair of notable features come from the brand Beyond the Trailhead, and their Alpha Direct Rip-Back 90 Hoodie. We nod to the neck buttons, which when used, create a neck-gaiter-like cowl. They also offer a dual layer hood (2 layers of 90gsm alpha direct), which we have not tested, but likely could eliminate the need for carrying a beanie. Cool features!
60 vs 90 vs 120 gsm Alpha Direct Fabric Weight
Alpha Direct is typically offered in three fabric thicknesses, measured in grams per meter squared (gsm). There is 60 gsm, 90 gsm, and 120 gsm. We believe 90 gsm is the best and most versatile overall fabric weight of Alpha Direct fleece. It offers the best blend of warmth, durability, and weight. We don’t see much point in the 60 gsm variety, as it’s not warm enough to replace a fleece. The 120 weight version is the second choice, and perfect for people who run cold, for use in temps around freezing or below, and for those who only intend to wear at camp and never while hiking. That’s because, despite the breathability it’s a bit too warm to wear on the move in calm conditions, too warm to wear on the move layered under a windbreaker, not warm enough to substitute as a puffy in true cold conditions, and not warm enough on the move in strong wind. Despite 120’s higher warmth-to-weight ratio, it’s less versatile.
Half-Zip & Quarter Zip Configurations
In studying the marketplace, we have seen some manufacturers design their Alpha Direct Hoodies as either a quarter, or half zip pullover, but we are unimpressed by this feature. For starters, it adds structural bulk, weight, manufacturing cost, and an additional failure point. But we also don’t see much purpose. Traditionally, half-zips are great for venting, but Alpha Direct is already so preposterously breathable that opening up a zipper is hardly additive. It would provide a non-zero amount of extra venting, but the benefit is so small that we don’t recommend seeking it out. Like kangaroo pockets, half-zips are at their least effective when paired with an Alpha Direct hoodie.
Elastic Cuffs & Hem
Some manufacturers design the cuffs and hem and hood trim to include elastic, rather than fold over and sewn. This is definitely desirable, as it protects edges from wear and tear, and gives the fabric a degree of stretch, finished look, and extra durability that static sewing does not.
How to Make it Warmer
For cooler weather trips, we recommend adding an ultralight puffy jacket into the system, like the Zpacks Goose Down Jacket. A down jacket also acts like a windbreaker overtop of the Alpha Direct hoodie, preventing heat from drifting off as you walk. That said, we don’t recommend cutting the windbreaker from the system, as its still useful in cool-not-cold temps, and when on the move in cold temps.
Alpha Direct Hoodie Conclusion
At Adventure Alan & Co, we’re always looking for functional ways to reduce carried pack weight. Upgrading from traditional fleece to a Polartec Alpha Direct Hoodie is an effective way to achieve this that most hikers have yet to adopt. Between us, we own countless fleeces, yet for all serious backcountry missions, we choose Alpha Direct nearly every time. It is warm, comfortable, breathable, quick-drying, and extremely versatile when paired with a windbreaker. We recommend them very highly and hope you decide to pick one up. Let us know what you think in the comments and happy trails!
If you’re purchasing an Alpha Direct Hoodie, you must pair it with an ultralight windbreaker! And while you’re here, don’t miss our guide to traditional lightweight fleece.
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Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!
Thank you for the comprehensive introduction. I see what you mean about stock fluctuating a lot. Once it’s cold enough to carry a down jacket as you mention, why would you still need the Alpha hoodie?
Hi! Good question. I almost always carry both a down hoodie and alpha hoodie, which combined weigh about 12 oz. Because of the high breathability, an alpha hoodie is comfortable to hike in when its cold (whereas a down hoodie would get sweated out) and comfortable to wear when it’s too cold for just a base layer but not warm enough for a down jacket. It adds extra warmth to the system on top of a down hoodie. It’s comfortable to sleep in. It creates modular and redundant warmth. Largely, this answer also addresses, why would you carry a mid layer, and alpha direct hoodies happen to be the best possible mid layer.
What an excelent review! All main points were analyzed…
Thanks for sharing!
Best regards!
Thanks!
Good overview. You might want to add Superior Fleece as well. They make all AD weights, 2 hood designs and men’s and women’s.
Why do you feel 60g/m2 is not useful?
I agree that it’s not nearly as warm as a mid weight fleece, but that is a pro as much as a con.
I find my AD 60 garments quite useful: they are lighter than a thin or midweight baselayer, while still being as warm as a thermal weight baselayer. So, if I think I will need another layer on top of my baselayer, for warmth, or a separate set (like sleep clothes for wet conditions), AD60 is the lightest option.
Even in winter, on most days I’m only wearing a shell and baselayer. It needs to be pretty cold before the AD60 hoody gets layered between those. And I’ve hardly ever worn my AD 90 while active.
Typically, if I need more warmth, for static use, or things like skiing downhill in cold and snowy weather, I just go for a high loft synthetic or down insulated garment.
I’ve been tracking AD fleece for three years now, and Superior has been sold out of Alpha every time I’ve checked. I can’t review it and won’t recommend it if people can’t get it. Nothing against their designs or quality though! I bet they’re good.
As far as Alpha 60, perhaps I cam down a bit too harsh on it. But my take is that 90 gsm is higher warmth-to-weight ratio, a closer approximation to the level of warmth people get from your bog standard fleece, and viable for both standard and active use, while 60 gsm is less than a standard fleece, not got for static use, and thus less useful. The weight difference between them ends up being only an ounce or so for a size medium garment.
Discovery Fabrics sells the Alpha and Alpha Direct fabric for those creative enough to sew their own. Some good patterns out there, LearnMYOG.com has an easy pattern. Recently Discovery Fabrics posted a few ready-made Alpha Direct hoodies on their website, seems like 60 gsm weight only at this time.
Great to point out; thanks for the share. Hope they get some 90 gsm in stock and happy sewing to all!
This is a great article! I have the Eddie Bauer jacket and got it for around $50 bucks. They run a special it seems once a year where you can buy 3 items for $50 each if I recall correctly. I’ve had mine for a couple years now and used it quite a bit and it hasn’t had any notable damage yet. I think the kangaroo pocket with the drop in with a snap is pretty handy too for gloves or a beanie. It feels very secure.
Nice! The Super Sevens! We also liked its chassis, appreciated the kangaroo pocket, and it’s an unbeatable value if you can get it for $50. But ultimately found the PrimaLoft Active Evolve to slightly underperform Alpha Direct in terms of both durability, and warmth to weight.
Alpha direct probably has the best warmth to weight ratio but the second best is a fleece fuzzy on BOTH side that cost nothing. The problem is finding one as most brands don’t make those because they look cheap. Mine was 6$, 140gsm 5,2oz, no pockets, no hood, no zip. So paying 100$ for a fragile alpha direct is a bit tough. Also I wonder why the big brands usually make fleeces that are just too warm to hike in (>250gsm fleeces).
Nice article.
Thanks! Yes, classic “polar fleece” is still a surefire option and agreed that it’s lighter and better than many of the “premium options out there.
Just do as the Scandinavians do and buy a brynje and a thin wool base layer and skip a mid layer
The Brynje mesh baselayers are great for cold weather, but for a majority of summer hiking season when staying cool is a bigger issue, I would recommend wearing a thin base layer by itself, with a separate midlayer (like Alpha Direct) to add on as needed.
While I love my Brynje mesh baselayer (for colder temps), I don’t have a use for the wool shirt. It also weighs much more than an Alpha Direct. What benefit does it offer?
So, instead I wear a mesh baselayer all the time, and pack an Alpha Direct, to add for colder days and times.
I have on occasion also worn AD next to skin, wear it works very similar to the mesh baselayer, but with more warmth.
And of course, the other use case is summer. For us in the Midwest, summer nights are pretty warm and humid. A high loft down or synthetic jacket is too warm and sticky. But, a traditional fleece is actually heavier than those.
Alpha Direct is the perfect ‘warm’ layer for us here in summer. Just enough warmth for summer evenings, or underneath a rain jacket in a cold thunderstorm, and very light and easy to dry. Also comfy to sleep in in.
One frustrating thing about Alpha options is that few manufacturers are making them in women’s specific sizes. I have found one that I’m excited to try – Magnet Designs – because it appears they’re making them with actual real life women in mind, which can’t be said for many others.
Great feedback and very fair point. Will look those up.
I appreciate the comprehensive review and most everything y’all put out, so thank you for your work!
Fit isn’t mentioned too much here and I value a relatively longer and more slim cut for an athletic build. Any recommendations?
Thanks so much, Wes! Really appreciate that.
I haven’t personally worn them all, Alan and I were testing together. I found the Leve hoody to be trim fitting, but fairly standard in regard to center back and sleeve length. The Lightheart Gear model was looser fitting than average, and longer in sleeve and center back length. I don’t have a specific recommendation that would be both more trim and longer than average. A few possible solutions come to mind – Timmermade does custom work and may be able to accommodate a specific request. Leve does as well, though I’m not sure if customizations can be done for fit, or just fabric/color/features. Good luck in your acquisition!
Thank you great overview and recommendations.
I was wondering if it makes sense to get one without a hood, even lighter and still carry a warm hat when needed. Not as comfortable and warm under windshell though without a hat.
None of the models forego the hood ?
Hi Matthew – Thanks for saying!
Alan and I both prefer hooded models which is why all of the recommendations are for hooded models. The hood component weighs about half an ounce and is very comfy. The hood on an alpha direct hoody likely has a higher warmth-to-weight than any random warm beanie/hat, though admittedly, less total warmth. If the goal is shaving grams and you already wear a sun hoody, an alpha direct hoody, a down hoody, and a shell hoody, then you may not even not even need to bring a warm hat. All that said, most if not all of these brands also make hoodless pullover versions of their Alpha hoody. If hoodless is your style and preference, it wouldn’t be wrong to go for that; wear what you like, it’s not a huge deal either way. You may also be interested in an alpha direct hat, also available from GGG.
Hi. What a fantastic and informative review! We have had what seems to be a brief foray into Alpha direct here in the UK. Rab made Flash and Phreak jackets in Alpha direct, Montane the Hydrogen and Rab Alpha direct with pertex outer fabric. Sadly, there seems to be no development and to my knowledge, these items are not manufactured anymore. OMM supply the core hoody plus in primaloft evolve. I have some of these pieces but eagerly await your review of the Beyond 190 jacket. Too warm? Best wishes, Krish
Thanks Krishna!
Really appreciate the comment and brief history of AD in UK. Fascinating! Perhaps it was a bit ahead of its time 5-10 years ago. If my memory serves from long ago, I remember hearing some industry rumblings that the fabric was difficult to source for a while, and that caused some brands to drop it entirely! The Beyond Alpha Aura is a fascinating and interesting piece of gear, but for 95% of hiking, we’d say just go with a 90 gsm weight, as per all of the cottage industry models listed. It’s definitely a sweet garment though, and interesting/notable study piece.
Sitka Ambient jacket & hoody use Primaloft Evolve, I believe, facing inward, and cover it with a very breathable shell fabric. About 1 lb, however, but exceptional product.
Interesting! We’ll have to check that one out. Thanks for the tip off.
One other comment that should be mentioned is that Alpha Direct and Velcro are not compatible. Velcro will tear it apart and folks with Velcro closures on their rolltop backpacks will immediately regret either their backpack or Alpha Direct hoodie choice!
Great point! Have definitely run into that issue. We’ll add a note, thanks for the suggestion!