Erin Trail

Mountain Hardware Butter Up Hoody (Lilac Glow, $65)  

Initial Impressions

This is the perfect layer for active folks.

Detailed Review

I do a lot of active things outside when it’s cold and I’ve struggled to find *THE* perfect cool – to – cold layer.  Usually, the sleeves aren’t right, the collar bothers me, or the fabric is too light or too heavy. After testing and reviewing the Mountain hardware Butter Up Hoody, I can confidently say that this shirt is perfect.  

Testing conditions: running in cool to cold temperatures.  Coldest was 33 degrees F with a 16 mph wind.

Fit: This shirt fits true to size and is a nice loose, but not too loose cut.  The sleeves are a comfortable length with thumb holes so you can use your sleeves to keep your hands warm.  The arms are cut big enough where you can roll the sleeves up to mid forearm for additional venting – and they’ll stay put for the duration of your run.  The fabric is buttery smooth and light.  It has enough heft to it that I didn’t notice any wind cutting through. I run with a pack and the fabric of the Butter Up Hoody didn’t pull or show any negative wear, even in areas that came into contact with hoop-and-loop closures of my pack.

The three-piece scuba hood is something I don’t really use – but – it also wasn’t annoying. The collar and the hood itself lays down flat and doesn’t move.  I’m thinking that the hood would be handy on those run mornings where it’s cold enough to start with a beanie, but then you overheat and end up holding the beanie for the rest of your run.  The hood fits securely and didn’t bounce around or get dislodged during testing.

Overall Impression

The Mountain Hardware Butter Up Hoody is the perfect cold weather running layer.  It fits and functions at a high level, becoming almost unnoticeable, thus allowing the wearer to focus on what they’re doing.

Erin Trail