I’m sure we’ve all been in the situation where we’re out on a run and the weather has taken a turn, but you’re committed to getting the run done. It’s not wet or cold enough for a full on waterproof insulated jacket, but too damp and blowy to just continue in a T-shirt. This is where tops like the Featherlite come into their own.
The Featherlite Hoodie is another addition to Montane’s Featherlite range. It’s a lightweight (125g in size L) windproof jacket, and honestly it’s very similar to the Featherlite Trail jacket. The most obvious difference is that the Hoodie has a hood! The other noticeable differences are the lack of thumb loops on the sleeves and no chest pocket to pack it away in to. The Hoodie is made from the same Wind Barrier Dynamic fabric and has the same Durable Water Resistant (DWR) coating. It features a full-length zip, fully adjustable hem, two zipped front pockets, semi-elasticated cuffs and the hood is also semi-elasticated for a close fit.
When you’re wearing the jacket, it’s close fitting but never tight, (at least if like me you’re average height and carrying a little extra weight), and the stretch in the material allows for easy movement and also allows it to fit over your running pack if you need to get it on without having to take off your pack. It’s also very quiet on the move with no obvious rustling when you’re running. Even running at pace, I never felt overheated when wearing the Hoodie, although on occasion the semi elasticated cuffs have held on to some of the sweat that I produced, which made taking it off fun! The DWR copes extremely well with showers even after a few cycles through the washing machine.
As I mentioned before, the Hoodie lacks a dedicated stuff pocket, but it can be squeezed into either of the front pockets, although using the zip is a little fiddly. Alternatively, you can roll it up into the hood and it packs down to about the size of an orange, so it’ll fit into your running pack or belt easily.
The Featherlite Hoodie has pretty much become my default jacket for running, its versatility and light weight mean it is always in my running pack and honestly I’m a massive fan, but, and it’s a fairly big but, it is £90 currently, whereas the Featherlite Trail Jacket can be found cheaper online!
So, would I recommend the Featherlite Hoodie?
If having a hood on your windproof is a must have and money isn’t an object then absolutely YES, but if a hood isn’t a deal breaker then honestly I’d go for the Featherlite Trail Jacket.
Review by Craig Jackson
Montane Men’s Featherlite Hooded Windproof Jacket in Acer Red
Click here to view