15 May 2014

Outdoor Research's CATHODE HOODY

Outdoor Research's CATHODE HOODY 


Here are the 3 available colours.

Notice the darker elasticized and breathable textile on both sides, lower part of the sleeves and the frontal part of the hood.

The new Cathode Hoody by Outdoor Research is a light jacket built with 60 grams of PrimaLoft® placed in the crucial spots where greater warmth is needed, id est, the front, the back, the upper part of the sleeves and the hood.

This is combined with an elastic and super breathable Schoeller® textile on both sides, lower part of the sleeves and the frontal part of the hood, which allows you to climb with a total freedom of movements as if it was a second layer. Plus it's water resistant thanks to the Pertex® Quantum finish.

It weighs only 377 grams in size L and it fits in one of the two pockets placed strategically high so that you have access to them while wearing a harness or a rucksack with the belt on.

The hood is helmet compatible and, in fact, the elasticized textile makes it adapt super nicely. When we are not using the helmet but making use of the hood, the extra Schoeller® fabric perfectly adjusts around our forefront and feels cosier. 

We've used this jacket for climbing –being careful not to tear it with some aggressive rock surfaces– as well as a piece of casual clothing in the city when the temperatures are not extreme. Being way less bulky than a feather jacket, it looks better, it's more elegant since we don't look like Michelin's tyre puppet...

Summing up, the Cathode Hoody is a jacket that we specially liked for its lightweightness, the freedom of movements it provides and its aesthetic. It's neither as warm as a feather coat or other jackets with more synthetic fill, nor as waterproof as a Gore-Tex or similar, but it accomplishes both when it's not super cold or it's pouring rain.

This is a garment which our critical minds haven't been able to find a con except for the one we always point out in all the OR jackets we've tested: it lacks a double-ended zipper. This aside, it's highly recommendable!!

Some of its main features:

  • Left hand pocket doubles as a stuff sack.
  • Fully adjustable hood with stretch fabric panels.
  • Zippered and completely insulated Napoleón pocket.
  • Waterproof.
  • Two zippered hand pockets placed over the harness/belt line.
  • Two internal front-zip stormflap.
  • Drawcord hem.



Are you looking for something warmer? If so, have a look at the reviews we carried out on these feather jackets: 
Floodlight Jacket (waterproof) and Transcendent Hoody.

We also reviewed one of their Gore-Tex jackets (Axiom Jacket) and one of their Soft-shells (Cirque Jacket).




0 comments
Favorites