Outdoor Research Vesper Insulated Hoodie

Review by Kate Agathon

This season, the all-new Outdoor Research Vesper Insulated Hoodie offers the company’s most versatile lightweight insulation.

Offering multi-season warmth, stretch, and breathability the Outdoor Research Vesper Insulated Hoodie is a lightweight jacket you’ll want to take with you mountain biking, hiking, or just around town.

Cooler Temps Arrive

Although temperatures along the Front Range are still reaching up to the 70s, up here in Colorado’s high country early morning frost has been present for weeks. It has even snowed a couple of times in the county since the hoodie arrived.

In the mountain community where I live, we have a short summer, a medium fall, and a very long winter/spring season.

In other words, while the Front Range is still wearing shorts and tank tops, those of us who live in mountain communities are wearing heavier joggers and mid-layer jackets such as this one.

And we regularly wear those mid-layer jackets most of the year because they add a warm, insulating layer when the temperatures drop, but can be removed during high-output recreation. Temperatures change so quickly in the mountains, mid-layers just make sense.

Thankfully, the Outdoor Research Vesper Insulated Hoodie is the ultimate shoulder season jacket for mountain living.

Features

Let’s jump into the features.

The Outdoor Research Vesper’s Insulated Hoodie construction alone says that it was designed for mountain life and values (recycled materials are good for your conscience and the environment).

Constructed from bluesign® approved nylon and spandex, the mid-layer hoodie is filled with a combination of VerticalX Eco SR™, 55 percent Repreve® Recycled Polyester insulation, 35 percent Sorona®, and 10 percent Polyester Insulation 45 G/M2.

I initially wore it hiking and walking the dogs. However, it performed so well that I brought it along while mountain biking on chilly, windy days. How could something so light provide so much warmth? I often asked myself.

Another added bonus of synthetic insulation is that it doesn’t leak the way down filling does.

Finally, you can rest easy knowing that the low-profile Outdoor Research Vesper Insulated Hoodie comes with its Infinite Guarantee- gear guaranteed to perform throughout the lifetime of the product.

Overall Look

I wore the Ligonberry color – in my opinion, more of this season’s orange red than true red depending on the light.

Even though it is a standard fit, it didn’t look overly boxy. Hitting at the waist, there was enough room to wear another layer underneath without it being too confining.

The hood fit snugly over my head and trucker hat, and the adjustable drawcord hem kept the elements out when I was mountain biking.

I also appreciated the zippered exterior pocket to stash essentials like chapstick and keys and keep them close by.

And the streamlined aesthetic? It just looked good.

Overall Thoughts

The OR Vesper Insulated Hoodie is light, warm, and packable.

Thanks to its stretch properties and wind-and-water resistant shell, the Outdoor Research Vesper Insulated Hoodie is a practical insulated jacket designed for high-output activities in alpine environments- perfect for mountain living.

The Outdoor Research Vesper Insulated Hoodie is available in six sizes (XS to XL) and five colors (Ligonberry, Winterberry, Fjord, Aurora, and Black). All models can pack down into the chest pocket for maximum portability.

The versatile Outdoor Research Vesper Insulated Hoodie is a good mid-layer option for high-output activities if you want something warm, breathable, and packable for alpine adventures.

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, and mom to her furbabies, Sansa and Benjen.

 

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment 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. She and her husband, Paul, live in Summit County with their dogs, Benjen and Sansa.

Kate earned a BA 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 two terms 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.

The Dr. of Stoke has been part of the Engearment team since 2016.