Customer Reviews Arc'teryx Fortrez Hoodie

Im always looking for kit that can help me slim down my pack, the Fortrez is a great mid layer with big pockets and a great hood and balaclava system that covers a lot of bases. Long enough to keep you covered when climbing and wicks really well to keep you dry. Its become my go to jacket, washes well and is tough. I've used with the phase base layers and they are a great Combo. Be aware they come up large!

I feel like Arc'teryx must have secretly taken my measurements when they created this hoody. I have never had a midlayer fit so well. I'm 6'2, and 155lbs so I have a difficult time finding clothes that are long enough. The arm length is spot on giving me enough room to move freely. I was worried about the torso length because other reviews had complained that it wasn't long enough. I think Arc'teryx nailed it perfectly. The Fortrez comes just below my belt and I haven't had a problem with it ridding up. This is definitely an athletic fit so if you are on the larger side you may have trouble with it. Performance wise, this is also the best fleece I have ever worn. As soon as I put it on I decided to go outside and see how it performed. The temperature here has hovered around freezing for the past few weeks. I was extremely comfortable wearing the Fortrez with a light baselayer. The large hand pockets have mesh on the inside which allowed me to regulate some of the heat by lowering the zipper. The mesh also allowed my body heat to warm my hands when I used the pockets. The hood is very fitted and once again seems like it was made especially for me. I had no problem fitting the hood under a helmet for climbing and it has kept my head warm in very windy conditions. The baraclava is a brilliant idea and proved very successful. I really love the hardfleece because it seems to stand up to abuse much better than any of my other fleece midlayers. The hoody is soft on the inside and is very comfortable next to my skin. The outside is almost like a softshell and seems to handle harnesses and backpacks without pilling. I haven't had the Fortrez long enough to say for sure but it seems like it will stand up to years of hard work (and play). Arc'teryx has once again impressed me with their workmanship on this piece of clothing. I haven't had any of the zipper issues that were mentioned in other reviews (I have the green color). Every inch seems well constructed and made to last. Price wise this is an expensive fleece but I'm not sorry at all for dishing out the extra money. This fleece is head and shoulders above anything else I have worn and seems like it will outlast my other layers as well. If you have the chance to get this hoody you wont be disappointed. The Fortrez has become my new favorite piece of clothing and will likely remain my go to hoody for years to come.

I was somewhat skeptical at first but this jacket proved me wrong. It is lightweight, warm and extremely comfortable. Zipper worked great....all the way up! I have used it for cold, dry weather activities and it performed above expectations. I like it so much I am getting one in another color.

Sehr schnes Fleecejacket mit berragender Optik. Schn athletisch geschnitten. Die Scuba Kapuze macht jede Bewegung mit. Ganz ordentliche Wrmeleistung fr so ein dnnes Jckchen. Wunderbar als Zwischenschicht an klteren Tagen. An gemigten Tagen auch super als Stand-alone Jacke geeignet. Angenehmes next-to-skin Tragegefhl.

As other reviewers have mentioned, this is a great, versatile mid-layer, but the length of the torso and the length of the sleeves are a bit... odd. I wear this hiking, skiing, and biking, and it's perfect for all of them. It really shines for commute-type cycling where temperature control is important. The hood is thin enough to be worn under a bike helmet, and the built in baclava really comes in handy (especially in these pandemic times! No more "I forgot to bring a mask!). HOWEVER, the sleeves... I'm 5'11", 165lbs, 32 waist, 39 chest, 33 sleeve and have a size Medium. The sleeves are at least 2" too long, and the back comes down to completely cover my butt. Fit around the chest / shoulders is great. Perhaps the torso length makes sense for tucking into ski pants - but it's a lot of extra material. I've decided to find a good tailor to re-work the the sleeves by taking off an inch and putting in a thumb-hole (or take off 2" and do no thumb-hole). If they reworked this and released a "Fortrez 2" I'd serious consider buying another one because, outside of quirky fit I love it!

The synthetic fiber can handle a light drizzle easily as it's quite water repelling. The fabric on the inside is weaved into a very comfortable and soft pattern giving a great feeling to the jacket. The arms are a bit long though, but the sewn-in mask is a nice gimmick.

I love the concept of this piece. It has excellent features. The down side is the fit. I am 6'-1"tall and 165 pounds with about a 40"chest and 33"waist (pretty much the same size as the model shown in the ads). I have tried a small and found the sleeve and torso lengths to be perfect for me but the jacket is too tight in the chest and under the arms. I had to purchase a medium to get the needed room in the chest but the overall torso length and sleeve length is too long. I found the same issue with the Delta LT zip which I originally purchased in Medium as well. That size is usually perfect for me in Arcteryx clothing. I found it to be much too long in the sleeves and later replaced it with a size small. Given my height, weight, chest and waist size, I was a little surprised with the fit of this piece.

I bought this jacket hoping it would be like my beloved Hyllus which is near the end of its days. It isn't as warm and is more permeable. Good for cool (not cold days) except as a mid layer which is also does well as it's not bulky. Bring back the Hyllus!!!

I bought this jacket hoping it would be like my beloved Hyllus which is near the end of its days. It isn't as warm and is more permeable. Good for cool (not cold days) except as a mid layer which is also does well as it's not bulky. Bring back the Hyllus!!!

With my luck they'll make a drawstring on the future version after I dropped the loot

The Fortrez is great on all fronts, except for the zipper performance. When zipped up to the chest/below the neck, with any stretching or movement that pulls at the chest, the zipper undoes easily, which is less than ideal for a performance fleece. If zipped up to the top, it is less of an issue, it is only when zipped up to chest height or below.

This is a great piece that I wear nearly every time I head into the backcountry. Holds and dissipates heat as needed and provides another layer of protection. The neck gaiter/ integrated balaclava is a great idea, however the piping along the edges is made of the same material or similar to the cuffs of the jacket. This is a bit rough for me. Microfleece or another softerfaced fabric would be the only change on the jacket. It fits like most other arcteryx pieces.

I wear for my morning run in fall and winter months. Also great to have on chilly nights at a football game or campsite.

This is a great mid layer for winter activities that has just enough warmth to keep you comfortable without overheating. If it's really cold for ski touring or ice climbing, I'll throw my atom on top of this below my jacket. Otherwise I wear this on almost every outing in the rockies in the winter. It's also got just the right amount of wind protection that it can be my outer while it's warm on the uptrack or ice climbing approach. The baliclava is nice, but no game changer. The only downside is the zipper. Constantly opens and takes a star of my rating.

This is a great mid layer for winter activities that has just enough warmth to keep you comfortable without overheating. If it's really cold for ski touring or ice climbing, I'll throw my atom on top of this below my jacket. Otherwise I wear this on almost every outing in the rockies in the winter. It's also got just the right amount of wind protection that it can be my outer while it's warm on the uptrack or ice climbing approach. The baliclava is nice, but no game changer. The only downside is the zipper. Constantly opens and takes a star of my rating.

This Fortrez Hoody is a lovely little piece with some nice features. I use it over a base layer and that's good for gentle hikes at around 10 deg C, or down to 5 if you're moving uphill. The hardfaced fleece will guard against a gentle breeze, as will the nifty integrated gaiter. As the temperatures drop and winds pick up, I typically either whack on a Proton AR for more wind resistance and insulation, an Alpha SV if the wind is up but the temperatures not too bad, or both the Proton and Alpha if the weather's really turning for the worse. Surprisingly, despite being polyester fleece, the Fortrez smells only slightly after several hard days on mountains; it's not quite as odour-resistant as high-quality merino wool, but of course dries quicker and is cheaper. My only point against is that it is a little long in the body for a thin midlayer, but then again as a 5'4" chap I normally wear XS, and this is only available in S.

This Fortrez Hoody is a lovely little piece with some nice features. I use it over a base layer and that's good for gentle hikes at around 10 deg C, or down to 5 if you're moving uphill. The hardfaced fleece will guard against a gentle breeze, as will the nifty integrated gaiter. As the temperatures drop and winds pick up, I typically either whack on a Proton AR for more wind resistance and insulation, an Alpha SV if the wind is up but the temperatures not too bad, or both the Proton and Alpha if the weather's really turning for the worse. Surprisingly, despite being polyester fleece, the Fortrez smells only slightly after several hard days on mountains; it's not quite as odour-resistant as high-quality merino wool, but of course dries quicker and is cheaper. My only point against is that it is a little long in the body for a thin midlayer, but then again as a 5'4" chap I normally wear XS, and this is only available in S.

Great hoodie. Works well as a mid-layer or outer layer for high-output activities like alpine climbing, provided conditions are dry. It sheds very light moisture but nothing more than that. Very wind-permeable so not great for very windy conditions. The fit is a bit strange as the waist hem loosens up and doesn't stay snug around my waist. I'd prefer a tighter fit in my mid-layer. Love this piece though and have used it on many climbs.

Lives up to its name. Used it first in the Himalayas at 11,000' in sub 20f...super warm for its weight...snug fit...needs better zipper pulls for use with gloves.

I love the new fit! This is a great hoody for any sort of aerobic activity. Comfort, breathability and stretch are out of this world. not the sleekest looking thing for streetwear, because of the hoody and the slightly high pocket placement but who cares, this is for pushing your limits in the outdoors. One small problem is that one of the sleeves is starting to tear after only 4 months of use, I hope it will stand up in the long run, which is the reason it doesn't get 5 stars

This hoody feels great and it's also very stylish. I have only tried it as a casual jacket so far, but it seems breathable enough, at least on your bike... Not too warm, and that's a plus in my opinion. I'm 183cm / 83Kg, and size M is perfect due to the stretch. (But with 12% elastane you'd think it would be even more stretchy, but I don't consider that a problem) It is a bit baggy around the waist, but overall the fit is good and this is a good product.

This hoody feels great and it's also very stylish. I have only tried it as a casual jacket so far, but it seems breathable enough, at least on your bike... Not too warm, and that's a plus in my opinion. I'm 183cm / 83Kg, and size M is perfect due to the stretch. (But with 12% elastane you'd think it would be even more stretchy, but I don't consider that a problem) It is a bit baggy around the waist, but overall the fit is good and this is a good product.

Perfect mid layer for hiking, ski touring and maybe even certain climbing applications (in my opinion), however it fits too loose around the waist so I have never purchased one. I mean this more as a constructive opinion for the Arc design team. I have this issue with several Arc pieces including some of their insulated offerings (that don't have a draw cord). I made the mistake once of purchasing an insulated jacket that fit poorly around the waist and didn't have a draw cord. It let drafts in and didn't keep me warm. That being said under a shell you might not notice it but still. I understand that weight is a concern however I would gladly carry a little more weight for a draw cord in some of their pieces. Although with the fortrez I think they just need to make it slimmer around the waist. I have a very similar hoody that doesn't have a cord but it fits well against my waist. And the thing is I think if you were my height but wider that it could still fit because the fabric has enough stretch to accommodate different sizes. I should mention I am 6feet tall and 165ish pounds with a 28-32waist depending on the brand. So I am on the slimmer side for my height. I know people much wider than myself that have the same issue. And It's not outrageously too big or anything. Just enough to make it a deal breaker. Anyhow Arc is my favourite outdoor apparel brand, and I really like this piece. Just think the fit needs to be refined.

Perfect mid layer for hiking, ski touring and maybe even certain climbing applications (in my opinion), however it fits too loose around the waist so I have never purchased one. I mean this more as a constructive opinion for the Arc design team. I have this issue with several Arc pieces including some of their insulated offerings (that don't have a draw cord). I made the mistake once of purchasing an insulated jacket that fit poorly around the waist and didn't have a draw cord. It let drafts in and didn't keep me warm. That being said under a shell you might not notice it but still. I understand that weight is a concern however I would gladly carry a little more weight for a draw cord in some of their pieces. Although with the fortrez I think they just need to make it slimmer around the waist. I have a very similar hoody that doesn't have a cord but it fits well against my waist. And the thing is I think if you were my height but wider that it could still fit because the fabric has enough stretch to accommodate different sizes. I should mention I am 6feet tall and 165ish pounds with a 28-32waist depending on the brand. So I am on the slimmer side for my height. I know people much wider than myself that have the same issue. And It's not outrageously too big or anything. Just enough to make it a deal breaker. Anyhow Arc is my favourite outdoor apparel brand, and I really like this piece. Just think the fit needs to be refined.

As with the rest of my Arc'teryx wardrobe, this piece feels very well constructed and like it will serve its purpose and last a long time. My complaints are that it doesn't slide well over baselayers and it is way too tight around the neck when zipped up all the way. Funny that it doesn't slide well over baselayers because it's touted as sliding well under outerlayers! It feels more comfortable over the Phase baselayers than the Rho's, probably because the Phase layers are less bulky and tighter fitting. I've never had problems with the fit of any other Arc'teryx item, I wear mediums in everything, but when zipped up all the way this jacket cuts into my neck and right under my chin. Maybe it will stretch out and relax with more use, but for now I hardly ever zip it up all the way because of the discomfort, and that defeats the purpose of this jacket.