Engearment

Kate Agathon

The Black Diamond Coefficient Hoody is the ideal shoulder season midlayer. Slim fitting and cozy, it provides just the right amount of warmth on crisp, cool days.

 

How I Use It

At this time, I use it mostly as an outer layer for walking the dogs on cold mountain mornings and early evenings when the temperatures dip into the 30s. During those times, it’s not quite cold enough to wear a puffy jacket, but it is too cold to wear just a windbreaker.

The features I find most useful on those walks are the hood (my ears get cold so easily), the zipper (easy on and off and helps regulate temperature), and the stretch cuffs with integrated thumb holes that add another layer of protection from the cold.

 

I also wear it in the warehouse where I work on the weekends because I don’t have to keep adding and removing layers whenever we have to pull up the garage-style doors to receive shipments.

 

Even though I’m constantly on the move replacing stock or preparing items for shipping, I don’t overheat and get sweaty and the material isn’t restrictive. More importantly, I don’t get cold when the doors are up.

I’m looking forward to wearing it more as a midlayer for nordic skiing and more active pursuits later this year. But, at the moment I wear it mainly as an outer layer for walking the dogs during cooler parts of the day and inside the warehouse.

 

How It Fits

Now that we’re entering the season where you need to layer up before and after work, the Black Diamond Coefficient Hoody provides enough warmth to keep the cold away and not overheat.

 

I can’t think of another midweight hoody that provides just the right amount of warmth as well as this hoody.

 

As far as midlayers go, it’s pretty thin and fits close to the body so that you can put another layer over it and it doesn’t bulk up (the thumb holes are nice because they keep the arms in place when adding another layer over it). It also packs down pretty flat, so that it makes a useful spare layer to pack in your backpack.

I normally don’t like to wear clothing that is slim fit because they’re usually too tight and extremely unflattering on my middle-aged body. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised that despite the slim fit, hoody wasn’t constrictive- I could wear it and forget about it!

 

Additionally, the longish length helped to make the hoody look attractive- even on my average body.

 

The only feature that is missing are hand pockets. Rather than stashing items in a chest pocket, I prefer to keep keys, ID or chapstick closer to waist level; especially if I’m using it as an outer layer.

 

Key features:

• Polartec® Power Dry® high-efficiency fleece with a gridded interior

• Fabric wicks moisture and breathes easy for comfort during activity

• Low-profile, under-the-helmet hood

• Zippered chest pocket secures small essentials

Overall Impression

The minimalist Black Diamond Coefficient Hoody is available in six colors (Dark Patina, Black, Pine Smoke, Fig, Azurite, and Ice Pink) and five sizes (XS to XL).

 

My overall impression of the Black Diamond Coefficient Hoody is positive. With its near-perfect weight and warmth, I know it is the layer I will be wearing all shoulder season!

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.