Customer Reviews Outdoor Research Ascendant Hoodie

I love all these polartec alpha pieces. The breathability / warmth balance is so good. The fleece lining on this piece is incredibly soft and comfy. I question its durability as bits of fleece have come off even in the first couple of weeks of using it. The weight on this piece is right on. I'll use it as a cool weather backcountry midlayer / windshirt in lieu of a light fleece and windshirt combo. Also very good for bike commuting. It fits a little tighter than the Uberlayer, which I also own. OR generally fits me very well, but this one binds a bit around the shoulders. It drapes a little funny as well since there is a seam or bit of bunching of insulation just below the sternum that makes the jacket bulge a bit. I ordered an XL, the same I usually buy at OR. I'm 6' 2", 175 lbs. 44 chest, 32 waist, 36.5 sleeve. Overall, this is a great piece. It's the kind of layer you put on over a light baselayer and never take off until the end of the trip.

I've worn this piece nearly every day since I got it. It's a great fit (with excellent arm length!) that allows for easy layering over the top. The built in thumb loops are a great addition, but OR: please make them slightly bigger - I always feel like I'm going to pull them out. I have pretty small-average thumbs and I love this feature but wish it was slightly bigger. The Polartec Alpha insulation is super comfortable and works really well (I used the Deviator a lot prior to this) and the weather-resistant outer fabric is excellent for light wind and rain. The zippered chest pocket is clutch because the hand pockets are just "stuff" pockets with no zipper. I've used it running, hiking, winter biking and ski touring and also worn it basically every day for 5 weeks. Another excellent piece from OR for year-round use.

I most all of OR's product line, this was one of the few I didn't have yet. It's great for when you are running around and just want to throw something on. It's deceivingly warm; pretty good against the wind too. I wear it down to about 30 degrees.

Great fit and perfect warmth as a mid or outer layer. The alpha direct insulation does afantastic job of regulating during active use. Perfect balance of breath ability and wind resistance. Feels durable, low weight for the versatility. I got this in an xl which is what I wear in everything and the fit is perfect. I have worn this over a thin Baselayer and over a wicking tee + thin Baselayer + 100 wt fleece. Perfect fit, I have to add that OR is tops in hood design and this piece has a great hood design.

Heres the deal, when ski touring, walking around town or anything outdoors when its winter time I'm usually on the colder side of the fence. I was pleasantly surprised when I tried this jacket out, great warmth to weight ratio without being a smaller puffy (down or synthetic) that I usually wear. Today was its first test on the skins, after a brief ceremony welcoming it into the collection the test was on and it excelled. It breathed well when I was working hard in the warmer temps, and once that frigid alpine wind kicked up it blocked out the bad, and kept in the good. I'm stoked on this mid-layer & I suggest you add it to your collection too!

This should almost be a requirement for living in the PNW. I have easily cut the bulk of my layering system down by 30% with the purchase of this jacket while losing ZERO warmth. It is now my go-to softshell for the winter. It's a trim fit, yet provides a completely free movement in your arms for rock or ice climbing. What's the most amazing is how after 5min of putting it on you won't feel like you have a "jacket on". To me, when I put something on and never feel it again that's how I know it's right.

Love it. Very versatile. Likely to get another one

I was loking for that midlayer to wear all the time. so not to always be adding and subtracking layers thi is it

Exactly what I was expecting. Size as a base layer. I am normally between a Med and Lg for most layers and happy I went with the Lg.

This hoody is crazy warm for the weight but still breathes enough to wear it casually. I wore it as a mid-layer ice fishing all day in below zero temps and it was great for warmth and way less bulky than the normal sweatshirts I would wear. As far as fit, I went with a large and it fits well. I am 6' 1" 170lbs with a 35" sleeve. the trim fit kept it snug enough around my midsection and the sleeves are the perfect length.

I use this jacked for walking around town, trekking through snowy woods, as a warm-up jacket for cross-country skiing and I keep it in the car for all occasions. It's absolutely awesome and people compliment me on this jacket. I normally get OR tops in small but a medium was perfect this time (I am 5'6 and 145 lbs).

I've had this jacket for about 7 months now. I had my doubts but I have never been more glad to be wrong. The outside fabric seems delicate...but after backpacking, climbing, running, and sleeping on this thing...the fabric still holds. Now that being said, at the 7th month mark I am seeing some of the internal fuzzies start to come out...which is to be expected I suppose. But it has be dreading the end of this awesome jacket. I wear it building trails. I wear it at work. I wear it around town. I wear it if it is overcast out and I am not sure if its going to rain but still want to be warm. I wear it climbing. I wear it biking. I wear it down to sub 40 degrees with a long sleeve underneath and can be comfortable. If you get warm, just unzip it half-way and you'll be fine. My only complaint is that the hood fits awkwardly over by head. But it does keep my ears and neck very warm and snug. It is definitely meant to be a light shell or mid-layer. I have never been more impressed with a hoody type jacket. Buy this. You will not regret it.

I've used this on multiple ski tours in the past month since getting this jacket, and am still surprised on how this eliminates layer breaks. I ski in the PNW where the moisture content is generally higher. Two of the ski tours had temperatures that ranged from -2c to -15c during the trip. The only time I had to put on my shell is when we were climbing a ridge with high winds at -16c. It has also kept me dry while jogging in freezing rain last week.

This jacket has been great so far. Very comfortable. Super Light, and compresses enough. Warmer than I expected, but breathes well. Works great as a mid-layer on a cold/wet day, or outer layer on less cold/high output days. Can't speak to water resistance on wet days. My body temp runs really hot so I'm not the best person to attest to the claims of being a layer that does not need to be removed and replaced during differing stages of output, but so far performs better than my most recent similar go-to Merino layer. My only wish for this jacket would be to have the side pockets zippered.

Great breathable hoody. It is light weight, stretches, and wind resistant. I am 5'10", 180lbs, 32" waist, athletic build and fits very well. The hood compresses for casual wear but not tight enough for alpine adventures unless with a helmet. Warm with base layer down to 25F.

I've only had the jacket for a couple of weeks, so my experience with the jacket is not extensive. However; I have worn the jacket nearly every day. It is very comfortable. I am about 5'10" and 190lbs. I chose a large and it fits great. I could get away with a medium if I didn't wear anything too substantial underneath. I wanted to have room to layer a bit underneath and the large has worked perfectly for that. It is very warm for the type of jacket that it is. I was using an arcteryx Atom Lt before this jacket. For me, this jacket is warmer than the Atom Lt. The type of fabric that is actually against the skin feels warmer than it should given the weight of the jacket. On very windy days I put an OR Furio jacket over it. It's a fantastic combo. Heavy base layer+ascendant+furio has been good down to single digits if active. Very happy with the jacket. Will eventually get another one in black.

A really great mid-layer that's useful for a lot of different activities. I really like how light weight it is and the athletic fit.

These OR sunsabeeches got it right fo'sho! It's light, packs very well and can take abuse. I can put in a Med-Small backpack and still have plenty of room. It's warm but not too warm. This might very well be THE only jacket needed for year-round in San Diego. This singular item just replaced 3 Patagonia jackets (those are not easy to part with...#RIP_PattyJackets). It does fit tight but I was expecting that. I'm 6' - 170-175lbs, Athletic with a wide back and it's snug but not constricting due to the elastic fabric. I'm able to fully reach, bend, and extend my arms forward w/o restriction. The hoody fits around the dome equally as impressive. Nearly 100% windproof when you tighten the hoody, meaning no air flowing by your neck or ears. These nerdy designers did proper research and earned their paycheck! Well done

OR reinvented the mid-layer. That's a very versatile jacket as a mid-layer in the winter, by itself for spring and fall and all the time with a pair of jean and an a cold beer !

Wear everywhere do everything layer that can be worn without a shell and is so comfy you don't want to take it off. Insanely light and fits great, versatility also means I expect to reach for and wear this more often than my plain fleece mids.

I bought this jacket to replace a light primaloft jacket that has seen better days. When I first put on this jacket, I thought it would not be warm enough. But then I took it out for a little fast climb on a local route, and was amazed how much heat I could generate inside this thing! I found it was even warmer than the primaloft; and it stretches so nicely and breathes somewhat, I am planning to use it for xc skiing. It's a little roomy for me, as I wear a women's medium. But I wanted this colour so I bought the men's small, and it will be fine!

This jacket is awesome. I love how light it is and how comfortable it is. I had to pick one up for my wife, I liked it that much.

this is a wonderful jacket. I was surprised by how lightweight (thin) it was, yet it keeps me extremely comfortable on cold days. I've worn this casually, on hikes, shoveling snow for 3 hrs, and under my Foray Jacket as an insulative later. The fit is great and the jacket seems very durable. The advertised color (vintage/hot sauce) was true in person. Understanding this is marketed heavily as a mid-layer, I see why there are no zippers on handwarmer pockets; I really wish there were! It isn't a deal breaker and the chest pocket is great, I just don't feel super comfortable putting my belongings in them. Pocket zips would be worth any added weight, and I'd happily purchase again. This layer would be a great alternative for days when a down jacket might get too wet. Melted snow soaked the outside but I stayed warm and relatively dry in this great OR product

I recently ordered the Ascendant Hoody. The jacket is everything I wanted, lightweight, warm, and stylish. The only issue is the sizing might be a little small (the large fits snuggly but not too tight). I work at REI in Bend and my co-workers are all impressed!!

I don't know how, but this jacket keeps you comfortable anywhere from 20F to 55F. It makes no sense!! Just throw it on over a t-shirt and you're good for 90% of anything you want to do. I use it for everything from grocery shopping, to winter bike rides, to running, to ice climbing, to skiing! It breathes remarkably well so you never really build up any sweat, which saves you from the post exertion freeze. It fits rather close to the body, so if it's really cold out it's easy to throw a puffy over it whenever you are static for more than water break. Also, as long as you take proper care of it, the DWR sheds light rain remarkably well so I never bother putting a shell on when it sprinkles. If the winds get over 15-20 mph then shell up, it's great at stopping light wind but the heavier stuff will push through. In short, because of this jacket OR has helped me trim my closet to one puffy, one shell and this bad boy. I'm 6'1", 200lbs, athletic build (so I tell myself anyway) and a large fits perfectly.