Customer Reviews Outdoor Research Ascendant Hoodie

Very nice weight to warmth ratio. I am 5' 11", 180 lbs and the large size fits well, over a base layer. Excited about using it as a mid layer for winter camping.

The problem is you never want to take the jacket off. You stay dry and it looks good both in the backcountry and the city.

Fantastic jacket. The fits is perfect. I'm 6-1 / 172lbs and the M is spot-on. The jacket disappears on your body after about 20mins of wearing. Really remarkable!

Outstanding jacket, versatile and stylish. I am 6'2, 170 and a medium fits perfectly.

I wore this jacket up Rainier around the end of June. Was perfect for the conditions at the time, would make a great mid-layer for wetter, colder weather. I was very impressed with its wind resistance. I'm 5'11'' 190 lbs and the large fit me perfectly. The hood fits fine over a helmet, and stays in place. There are no mesh pockets inside the jacket for holding extra gloves or whatever, but it's no big deal. I just chose to stuff them inside against my body, wearing my harness over the bottom of the jacket (if you choose to do this, it works fine--the jacket is long enough). I can't speak about the long term durability of the jacket, but it seems like the liner might not be the most durable compared to the uberlayer jacket or similar competitor equivalents, because there's no inner layer of material between the liner and your body. The trade off is the lighter weight and incredible breathability of this jacket. I don't fault it for this, but if you're planning to buy a jacket that you could wear daily, you may want to choose something different for longevity's sake.

I was looking for a thin warm hoody that I could use in various situations, including ice climbing and mountaineering, while being able to easily stow it away when not needed. Original set of colors was more limited, but the new line was much more expanded - love the lime green color!

Very light and comfortable

I've used it for hiking around 35 degree temps, and running around 28 degrees or so. I'll definitely be using this as my mid layer for backcountry skiing on cold days! A little too warm for aerobic activities above 40 degrees for me, but YMMV.

Amazing jacket for a wide variety of conditions and activities. I have only used it through fall weather in NW Montana as a primary outer layer, but I know it will transition great to a staple midlayer this winter. No complaints! I wear it almost every day.

As the title says, this is a great piece! I am 5'11" 180 pounds and originally got a Medium which was a bit snug. Ended up with a large which fits well with a thin baselayer, under a shell, or on its own. The Polartec Alpha Direct is good stuff. Good warmth and breathability and superb neck feel. I am a sweater and haven't noticed the funky feeling described in other reviews.... perhaps I haven't got there yet. I've used this under a shell in just above freezing, rainy conditions while on a recent bikepacking trip and was comfortable while moving. At camp, added a puffy and was dialed. Excited to see how this handles winter rides and backcountry trips! Nice Job.

I wore this up Rainier around the end of June. Was perfect for the conditions at the time, would make a great mid-layer for wetter, colder weather. I'm 5'11'' 190 lbs and the large fit me perfectly. The hood fits fine over a helmet, and stays in place. The mesh pockets inside look adequate for holding extra gloves, etc. I just chose to stuff them inside against my body, wearing my harness over the bottom of the jacket (if you choose to do this, it works fine--the jacket is long enough). I can't speak about the long term durability of the jacket, but it seems like the liner might not be the most durable compared to the uberlayer jacket or similar competitor equivalents, because there's no inner layer of material between the liner and your body. The trade off is the lighter weight and incredible breathability of this jacket. I don't fault it for this, but if you're planning to buy a jacket that you could wear daily, you may want to choose something different for longevity's sake.

Just got this jacket and it is one of the best regulating pieces I own. I don't feel like i'm sweating in it when moving ensuring I have to stop less. Great as an active insulation piece that you can throw a jacket over when you stop for lunch. Outdoor Research as a company is my go to and this is another great choice.

Great piece and I expect to get many days of use out of it.

Great mid layer jacket. Warmer than I thought it would be. Not a problem. Can't wait to ski tour with it. I love the fit and was excited to see that it was very water resistant.

I received this for #ORInsightLab gear review. This jacket was amazing. It was very lightweight and breathable. It kept me warm on the morning hike and then cooled me down once the morning coolness faded away! A perfect item for fall weather!

I recently got a Ascendant Hoody and been very happy with it. It's comfortable to belay and wear at the crag to also going out to dinner. It've also been using it as a mid/layer and found it very versatile as I don't over heat in it. The jacket breaths great but at the same time helps keep my core temp regulated. Overall great layer!

Bought this as substitute for a light puffy and took it on a 4 day paddling trip to test. Mid Sept in the Yukon just below 64N, I was very happy with this hoodie. Light fog/rain/splashes just beaded off and it kept me warm throughout the evenings. It regulated pretty well too, I was still comfortable as friends were layering and de-layering throughout the day.

This jacket looks and fits great. It is stylish and warm and down here in the SW it is a great outer layer for late fall through early spring for hiking and general outdoor wear. I am pretty slender and the small fits great, with just enough room for a light hoody or long sleeve underneath.

I don't give praise lightly and I generally gear does not live up to my expectations. This jacket is something completely different... I love it. So comfortable and so warm. Lots to love about this jacket. It stops the wind very well and without testing it in a down-pour, it does shed light rain. I always was a medium, but I found this too snug.. maybe I have gained weight? All of my existing 'medium' gear still fits so my thought it that this jacket fits small.

I use this piece for everything from ski tours to cool mornings at the beach. The shaggy alpha insulation feels good against bare skin if you just got out of the water or if you're wearing short sleeves and exerting yourself. less sticky than typical insulating layers with nylon liners. This is an ideal mid layer in the colder months and outer layer in the spring/summer!

Wore this jacket up Shasta this summer and it worked great. Never had to take it off of add a layer unless I stopped for an extended period of time.

if you don't like to stop ! not even for changing layers... this is your hoody!

This thing is super versatile. It is great as a wind layer while on the move on a cold day, and layers surprisingly well below a soft shell or hard shell for climbing or skiing. Feels cozy and not clammy underneath. It has also replaced my cotton hoody for chilin next to the woodstove - that's an even greater technical accomplishment than keeping me warm outside on a cold day!

Bottom line, this hoody is perfect throught the whole year. Lightweight, super breathable and warm. Using it for skiing, climbing, hiking, backpacking and casual around town. Looks good and perfect in the multi layer system.

This hoody style jacket is super comfortable and perfect for the shoulder seasons. It's very lightweight, but still wind and water resistant. While the fleece material on the inside is crazy soft and comfy, I'm skeptical of the durability in the long term. I was provided the hoody for review by OR.