Berghaus Kinetic Powerstretch Hoody

Review by Erin Trail

The Berghaus Kinetic Powerstretch Hoody is a high performance active insulation layer, thanks to the use of Polartec® Power Stretch™ Pro® as the fleece fabric.

Details

• Polartec® Power Stretch Pro® has an advanced dual-surface knit construction with anti-pilling finish, that insulates and regulates body temperature, while allowing unrestricted movement and durable shape recovery
• Fabric: 56% Polyester / 34% Polyamide / 10% Elastane / Trim: 85% Polyamide / 15% Elastane / Trim: 100% Polyester
• SCUBA hood with stretch bound opening
• Merrow stitch seamed construction that allows for a low bulk finish
• Two hand pockets with concealed YKK zips
• Integrated thumb loops
• Articulated sleeves

Fit and Function

I am a women’s size 12 (UK) according to the Berghaus size guide.  I found the Berghaus Kinetic Powerstretch Hoody to be a fairly slim fit, slimmer than the Rain Motion Jacket. Staindrop Hike Jacket, and Pendower Wind Jacket.  The fleece fabric is VERY stretchy, so I didn’t find the slightly tight fit to be an issue.  I’ve been able to wear a light merino layer beneath the jacket, so I think that layering is still completely doable with the slim fit.

My favorite thing about the Berghaus Kinetic Powerstretch Hoody is the Polartec® Power Stretch Pro® fleece.  It is SO soft.  And while being crazy fuzzy and soft, it’s also capable of high performance.  The knit of the fleece won’t pill or pull – it just stays fuzzy no matter how worn it is.  The PowerStretch Pro® is also SUPER stretchy.  The fabric has a nice 4-way stretch that enables the hoody to move with you.  The fabric is also pretty tough.  I didn’t experience any issues with pulls (cat claws or pine trees) or pilling on either side of the fabric.

The SCUBA hood fits well and stays put, even while hiking or sleeping. The neckline is lined with a lighter fleece fabric and the zipper is covered at the top, so you can keep the hoody fully zipped without irritating your neck or face.  The front full zipper works well.  Getting the zipper started is easy, as is opening and closing the zipper.  The front zipper pull is also a good size.

The pockets are nicely sized and placed.  The pocket backing is a lighter mesh, giving you an option to dump heat by opening the pockets.  The pockets are plenty big to store a phone. I do with that the pocket backing was tacked into the hoody to offer an internal drop pocket.  The zipper pulls are my main gripe – the pocket zippers are fully concealed, which looks nice, but the metal pulls are a thin, smooth, metal shape that’s a bit hard to grab onto, especially if you hands are cold.

I brought the Berghaus Kinetic Powerstretch Hoody with me on two camping trips.  The first trip was a bikepacking trip at nearly 12,000 feet elevation.  The hoody squished down into my front fork bag well.  I wore the jacket anytime I was cool: hanging out in the shade, a post-dinner hike, and sleeping.  The hoody was super comfortable and was the perfect layer for a trip like this.  My other camping trip was a van trip, at approximately 11,000 feet. Again, the hoody provided just the right amount of warmth at elevation.

As we head into colder, winter months, I’m excited to use the Berghaus Kinetic Powerstretch Hoody as an active insulation layer for skiing and as a jacket for colder runs or fatbiking rides.

The Berghaus Kinetic Powerstretch Hoody is available for both men and women.  Men’s sizes range from XS to 3XL and comes in three colorways.  Women’s sizes range from 8-12 (UK sizing) and comes in two colorways.

Erin Trail

Trail Boss of Stoke

Erin Trail on her mountain bike at the World Tri Cross Triathlon World Championship race

Erin Trail on her running at the World Tri Cross Triathlon World Championship race