I haven’t been shy about my love for the Outdoor Vitals Nova Jacket. But they’ve quickly become one of my favorite companies for other outdoor apparel too. Today, I’ll tell you why I think their Altitude Sun Hoodie and Ultralight Merino Wool Tern Hoodie deserve consideration as the best hiking hoodie.
Not all hiking hoodies are created equal. So let’s dive into why Outdoor Vitals doesn’t just make the best hiking hoodie out there, they might make two or three of them!
Article Overview
What Are the Outdoor Vitals Hiking Hoodies?
While they also make the Ventus Hoodie, I haven’t tested that option for their best hiking hoodie yet. So we’ll focus on the Altitude Sun Hoodie and the Tern Ultralight Merino Wool Hoodie.
Altitude Sun Hoodie
Best Use: Warm Weather Hiking, Trail Running, Kayaking
Fabric: 80 GSM 100% polyester
Weight: 4 ounces (L)
I began wearing lightweight hoodies as a kayaking guide. As an admitted sunscreen hater, I love the sun protection that the Altitude Sun Hoodie provides. But here’s the key—it’s still breathable and moisture-wicking to keep me from overheating. That’s even true of the black color that I have. I’ve worn it just as comfortably on a 60℉ hiking day as I have on an 85℉ paddling day.
Plus, the polyester fabric dries super quickly, which is a major bonus after you’ve sweat on a climb. I typically take the hoodie off and let it dry for 10-15 minutes before the descent. As a tip, this hoodie shouldn’t be placed in your home dryer, but it won’t take long to hang dry. Overall, it’s lighter and offers superior breathability compared to my past hiking hoodies.
Tern Ultralight Merino Wool Hoodie
Best Use: Cold Weather Hiking, Snowshoeing, Ski Touring
Fabric (Poly Blend): 115 GSM Merino Wool blend – 63% merino (18 micron), 29% polyester, 8% nylon, knit
Fabric (Original Nylon Blend): 115 GSM Merino Wool blend – 58% merino (18 micron), 42% nylon, knit
Weight: 5.4 ounces (L)
The first day I wore the Tern Ultralight Merino Wool Hoodie was on a roughly 20℉ hiking day at Max Patch in Western North Carolina. Yes, the sun was beaming down on us brightly that day, but I was pleasantly surprised when I quickly shed my upper layer and was comfortably hiking in just this wool hoodie. Like the Outdoor Vitals Altitude hoodie, it’s super lightweight, but the merino wool adds the right amount of insulation for added warmth on cold days.
Outdoor Vitals offers two material blends for this hoodie—polyester and original nylon blends. Mine is the new polyester blend, so I can only speak to its effectiveness. However, my experience tells me to trust anything coming from the minds of this outdoor gear company. The Tern hoodie provides unexpected warmth while maintaining its lightweight, offering the perfect balance of function, fit, and warmth.
Why Choose a Hiking Hoodie?
If you’re still hiking in cotton t-shirts, well, that’s cool, I guess. However, the benefits of moisture-wicking fabrics are well-documented. Still, I don’t see as many hikers taking advantage of the benefits of a hiking hoodie as I should. Why do I love them?
They provide warmth. When you’re out for a full day, temperature swings are commonplace.
They protect your skin from the sun. I also don’t love wearing sunscreen, so a long-sleeve hiking hoodie is an exceptional alternative to protect my skin.
They breathe well. A lightweight hiking hoodie is a great choice even in the summer months, as you get the benefits of sun protection without the sweltering feel of a traditional long-sleeve.
So, there you have it. They’ll keep you warmer when it’s cold, but still handle warm temps without overheating you, providing much-needed sun protection. After all, I plan on hiking for many years to come, so protecting my skin for the long haul is a big deal…to me.
Are There Other Outdoor Vitals Hiking Hoodies?
Outdoor Vitals makes two other noteworthy hoodies for hiking—the DragonWool hoodie and the Ventus Active Hoodie (in men’s and women’s styles).
The Ventus Active Hoodie is designed as a mid-layer for added insulation while maintaining breathability for active use. At just 7 ounces, it’s one of the lightest mid-weight hiking hoodies out there, and the perfect addition to the Altitude or Tern hoodie on cooler days.
The DragonWool Hoodie is a clearance product still available at a discounted price. This active hoodie was designed as a performance base layer or versatile sun shirt that dries four times faster than standard Merino wool.
Are you interested in other outdoor apparel or gear? Use these helpful resources:
Do you have any questions about the best hiking hoodie from Outdoor Vitals? Let us know in the comments below!
