Kate Agathon

The Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody is one of my all time favorite down hoodies because of its style and stretch.

How it looks

First of all, I like the look of its unique baffle design that doesn’t make me look like I’m auditioning for the role of the next Michelin Man. I like the fact that the jacket is a matte color and its overall stylish appearance is an exercise in understated versatility.

Furthermore, I appreciate how the not too-tight, not too-loose standard fit allows for layers underneath, but still retains some of its overall structure so it doesn’t look like I am wearing a potato sack.

 

Mountain Hardwear’s distinct baffle construction keeps it simple by eliminating stitching by interweaving yarns from a single piece of durable stretch fabric. In other words, you can still look stylish wearing down outerwear and avoid looking like you’re about to embark on some super grueling expedition.

I was primarily interested in the Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody because I wanted the technical function of outdoor gear with a more refined, modern look.

Additionally, I have worn the Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Pants for a couple of years now (absolutely love them!), and was interested if the hooded jacket from the same collection would become as much an intrinsic part of my winter wardrobe as the pants are (why not try the set?).

Since it arrived, I can definitely assert that I do see it becoming a winter wardrobe staple. I just really like the style!

Paired with leggings, technical pants, or jeans, the Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody looks good with everything. It can be worn anywhere as the modern look makes it equally suitable for meetups in the city, or when you want to switch it up and recreate outdoors.

 

How it delivers

The abrasion-resistant fabric is stretchy and moves with you.

 

If you have worn other down jackets, you know that most are constrictive by design. Therefore, it is so nice to have the stretch factor for increased movement and flexibility for a change.

 

Constructed from 20D durable stretch doubleweave, the Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody’s insulation features 700-fill RDS®-certified down. It is not the warmest down jacket I’ve owned, but there isn’t a glaring difference either. If the conditions are extremely cold, I’ll either simply wear another jacket or add another layer underneath.

 

Although it is not as light or as packable as other down hoodies, it is still lighter than synthetic fill jackets. Since it is shoulder season and winter is approaching, I don’t plan on carrying it on the bottom of my pack as a “just in case” layer. I plan on actually wearing it, so I’m not too concerned about packability.

 

When we received our first real snow storm earlier this week, the Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody kept me warm (thanks, insulated hoody and cuffs with elastic bindings!) in the rapidly falling snow and blowing wind while I was taking the dogs out for their morning walk.

 

On non-snowy days, the Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody continues to keep me adequately warm, and I don’t experience any cold spots where down might have traveled or shifted (a sometimes issue with earlier models).

 

The hoody boasts two zipper hand pockets, a secure chest zip chest pocket with media port, and an internal drop pocket to stash sunglasses or phone. Basically, just the right amount of pockets to be useful.

The durability of its fabric offers some relief in knowing that it isn’t as prone to holes and by process, leaked down as other down jackets are.

 

Feel good

Lastly, you can feel good about what you’re wearing, because the Responsible Down Standard certifies down against animal welfare requirements and tracks it from the source to the final product.

The Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody is available in six colors (Blackberry, Outer Dark, White Sage, Talc, Black, Dark Storm Heather) and five sizes (XS-XL).

Final thoughts? The Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody is a stylish down-fill addition to your closet that will keep you warm wherever you go. If you want the warmth of down with the performance of stretch, this is the jacket for you.

 

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbaby, Sansa.

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing. Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers.

 

Kate earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.