Help me understand lightweight hoodies
March 21, 2019 1:16 PM Subscribe
I have purchased a number of hoodies in my day, but a new style/fabric has caught my eye. All my hoodies are fleece, thick and only made from cotton (I think). While travelling recently, I saw people wearing thinner, lightweight hoodies that might be made of some sort of high-tech fabric. These are thinner than standard hoodies and look like they have a tighter weave.
I would like buy one, but am having trouble figuring out what to search for. ‘Light weight hoodie’ turns up light weight fleece, which isn’t really what I am going for. I don’t want the ‘fuzzy’ fleece fabric as this is still fairly bulky. My requirements: light weight; folds down small so it can be shoved into a backpack; grey or maybe black; no brand logo preferred, small logo acceptable; must have a full zipper; not fleece; must ship to Canada; ideally <$100. What am I looking for, and where can I find it?
I would like buy one, but am having trouble figuring out what to search for. ‘Light weight hoodie’ turns up light weight fleece, which isn’t really what I am going for. I don’t want the ‘fuzzy’ fleece fabric as this is still fairly bulky. My requirements: light weight; folds down small so it can be shoved into a backpack; grey or maybe black; no brand logo preferred, small logo acceptable; must have a full zipper; not fleece; must ship to Canada; ideally <$100. What am I looking for, and where can I find it?
Under Armour makes a lot of those, as do the other big name sports wear companies.
Something like this?
Under Armour Hoodie
posted by Ftsqg at 1:21 PM on March 21, 2019
Something like this?
Under Armour Hoodie
posted by Ftsqg at 1:21 PM on March 21, 2019
Adding, you can find a lot of those type hoodies at Winners/Marshall's type stores.
posted by Ftsqg at 1:22 PM on March 21, 2019
posted by Ftsqg at 1:22 PM on March 21, 2019
You could look into the Borod hoodie by North Face. It hits all your requirements. It is a bit pill-y, though.
posted by sacrifix at 1:23 PM on March 21, 2019
posted by sacrifix at 1:23 PM on March 21, 2019
I just quickly browsed MEC's website and there seemed to be a number of options, one of which should meet all your criteria?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:28 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:28 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
Uniqlo is good for this, I just saw a few options on their Canadian site.
posted by peanut butter milkshake at 1:38 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by peanut butter milkshake at 1:38 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
Yeah I would suggest the Uniqlo Airism hoodie. They come in a million colors (I have a fuchsia one from last year's line).
posted by matildaben at 2:01 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by matildaben at 2:01 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
They may be for light rain coverage and eick sweat as others noted; mine are meant for the sun and have metal woven in the thread for ~50 Upf sun protection.
posted by tilde at 2:02 PM on March 21, 2019
posted by tilde at 2:02 PM on March 21, 2019
Outside your price preference, but I have an Icebreaker RealFleece (87% merino wool) Mt Elliot hoodie (Amazon link) that is perfect for travelling. I don't see it any more on the Icebreaker site, so it has probably been superseded. This seems close (and is on sale atm). There are plenty of merino wool options out there, but I am very happy with mine.
posted by Tawita at 2:11 PM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Tawita at 2:11 PM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
Backcountry.com probably has something that suits you, and they do ship to Canada... BUT what I actually think you want is a "softshell jacket". These are mostly going to be outside your $100 price range, but with sales, you can definitely find something that works for you. The lightest weight soft shells tend to be half-zip though, so that doesn't fit your criteria.
posted by larthegreat at 2:12 PM on March 21, 2019
posted by larthegreat at 2:12 PM on March 21, 2019
I have a merino hoodie from Chrome that I got on sale at REI for about $100. It's AMAZING and lovely, but lists at $189 because Merino.
posted by uberchet at 2:22 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by uberchet at 2:22 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
This is my goto lightweight hoodie on Old Navy's Canada site
posted by disaster77 at 2:50 PM on March 21, 2019
posted by disaster77 at 2:50 PM on March 21, 2019
Seconding icebreaker as a good brand, if you can find one on sale. It seems like EMS doesn't actually have icebreaker hoodies, but a quick skim through their hoodie sections shows a few similar products that have a range of prices. They'll be cheaper if you can go into the store and find the sale rack.
posted by nat at 3:13 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by nat at 3:13 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
Lululemon has hoodies for both men and women. Awesome material.
My sister got me one the previous Christmas and I wear it daily about half the year. Still looks new.
A bit pricey, but worth it.
posted by porpoise at 3:23 PM on March 21, 2019
My sister got me one the previous Christmas and I wear it daily about half the year. Still looks new.
A bit pricey, but worth it.
posted by porpoise at 3:23 PM on March 21, 2019
"Windbreaker" might be a useful search term.
posted by pompomtom at 3:52 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by pompomtom at 3:52 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
I'm wearing a similar one from H&M's fitness section right now - high tech finish on the outside, super cozy thin fleecey layer (but not fuzzy at all) on the inside. FWIW they call it an "outdoor jacket" but it's a sporty hoody, from their online sportswear section (female), in the men's it's called a "hooded sports shirt".
posted by lafemma at 5:23 PM on March 21, 2019
posted by lafemma at 5:23 PM on March 21, 2019
You may have seen some of Patagonia's mid-layer hoodies, which are usually sold as Capilene or Capilene Air (which is a merino blend.) Mid-layers are designed to insulate between a wicking base layer and a waterproof/windproof outer layer. The term "mid layer" may help you find what you're after.
Source: I work at REI in several departments, one of which is Clothing.
posted by workerant at 7:39 PM on March 21, 2019 [3 favorites]
Source: I work at REI in several departments, one of which is Clothing.
posted by workerant at 7:39 PM on March 21, 2019 [3 favorites]
I have a merino wool hoodie from AllSaints - very thin, lightweight and not itchy. I think Icebreaker (plus others) sell merino hoodies.
posted by chr at 12:08 AM on March 22, 2019
posted by chr at 12:08 AM on March 22, 2019
I think you're going to want to look at athletic and athleisure brands. Hiking, running, and "active" hoodies are going to be thin, wicking, and poly or wool blends.
posted by rawralphadawg at 3:07 AM on March 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by rawralphadawg at 3:07 AM on March 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
Yep, these are pretty easy to find in athletic brands, though you might want to shop in person so you can be sure you get a weight and fabric you like. Even Target probably has something along these lines.
I like Gap’s brushed tech jersey - it’s closer in weight and drape to t-shirt fabric and not fleecy at all, but still soft and cozy. Similar fabrics are pretty common in athletic brands, but this might give you a good starting point.
posted by Metroid Baby at 4:45 AM on March 22, 2019
I like Gap’s brushed tech jersey - it’s closer in weight and drape to t-shirt fabric and not fleecy at all, but still soft and cozy. Similar fabrics are pretty common in athletic brands, but this might give you a good starting point.
posted by Metroid Baby at 4:45 AM on March 22, 2019
I own a couple of what you are looking for, from Carhartt and from Merrell. I'd recommend this Carhartt one. You might have luck searching for Jersey Knit Hoodie.
posted by Jacob G at 7:26 AM on March 22, 2019
posted by Jacob G at 7:26 AM on March 22, 2019
The UNIQLO ones just got marked down today from $29.99 to $19.99.
posted by matildaben at 7:53 AM on March 22, 2019
posted by matildaben at 7:53 AM on March 22, 2019
Seconding Patagonia. You might like their R1 layers, though they are spendy. My Techface R1 jacket is a three season staple for everything from casual wear to actual backpacking. Workerant has it right that the "midlayer" term will likely find you what you're after.
Here's a link to a search for fleece on Outdoor Gear Lab. I trust them for a lot of gear recommendations, and all of these are going to be more techy fabrics due to their use.
posted by teslacoilswoah at 8:48 AM on March 22, 2019
Here's a link to a search for fleece on Outdoor Gear Lab. I trust them for a lot of gear recommendations, and all of these are going to be more techy fabrics due to their use.
posted by teslacoilswoah at 8:48 AM on March 22, 2019
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posted by miratime at 1:21 PM on March 21, 2019