ProView – Outdoor Research Shadow Wind Hoodie Review

I am an all-weather kind of girl and was stoked to try out an Outdoor Research windbreaker. This wind hoodie checked all my boxes in terms of size, comfort, stretch, and breathability for my active adventures. I tested this hoodie hiking along the windy Northern California Coast and rock climbing on coastal boulders in the San Francisco Bay Area. Spring is notoriously windy and so this was the perfect time to put this wind shell to the test!

Fit/Comfort

I ordered a size small and it fit as expected. The sleeves are the perfect length (not too short)! The women’s hoodie has a feminine fit, making it slightly slimmer in the torso. There is enough space to wear a long-sleeve or even a lightweight sweater underneath, which is perfect for colder weather.

This material also has phenomenal stretch! The fabric, while durable, is extremely soft and doesn’t constrict movement like other tougher materials (like cheaper rain slickers and shells). When climbing, I could perform all moves with ease including high reaches, mantles and side pulls. I could barely even tell I was wearing it!

While I was definitely getting my blood pumping, I never felt overheated wearing the windbreaker. The fabric felt very breathable and didn’t leave me sweaty.

Look/Style

Overall, the wind shell has a very flattering fit. However, I am not a fan of the Limonata color. It was a bit too light of a color for me and also will show stains over time.

Features

Outdoor Research added a lot of great features to this shell that adventurers are sure to appreciate!

Sometimes women’s clothing slacks on the pockets, making them too shallow, small, or for aesthetics rather than function. Not Outdoor Research! These pockets are nice and deep, as well as the side chest pocket. However, the chest pocket is in a slightly inconvenient place for women, which may be a drawback.

The brimmed hood is great! I am a sun hoodie advocate and love having that extra protection. Being able to roll up the hood with the clasp in the back of the shell is a great feature for those anti-hoodie adventurers out there! However, when wearing the hood in extremely gusty conditions, I noticed that the fabric is very loud when fluttering around your ears. This was a bit annoying, but not a dealbreaker.

I also appreciate the drawstring to customize the fit of the waist. I definitely use this to keep the shell snug to my torso.

Lastly, the packability of this shell is amazing. While the chest pocket can double as a stuff sack, I found it more efficient to just fold it up and squeeze it into my pack. When folded, it is just slightly bigger than the size of my hand!

One feature I do wish that Outdoor Research had incorporated is thumbholes in the sleeves. This would help keep the sleeves in place and the sun off my hands when climbing.

Function/Performance

This windshell is great as advertised! It exceeded my expectations and I will definitely be using it for more adventures in the future! As someone who lives an active lifestyle, having a shell designed specifically for high-output aerobic activities is just what I need during the gusty fall and spring seasons.

Durability/Construction

While I originally thought this material felt flimsy, lightweight and easily torn, it proved me wrong! I always end up doing the unexpected when adventuring and this windshell kept up with me (and came back with no holes!). This product is also Bluesign-Certified, which shows Outdoor Research’s commitment to creating environmentally-conscious products.

The Final Word

Outdoor Research’s Shadow Wind Hoodie is a durable, stretchy, packable, ultralight wind shell perfect for adventures that get your blood pumping! It was a great companion to have while climbing and hiking along the coast in the San Francisco Bay Area. I love the fit, big pockets, softness of the fabric and the incredible stretch (which is so important for rock climbing). The main recommendations I have are to consider changing the colors offered (at least for women) and adding thumbholes to the sleeves. With that all being said, I am stoked to take this windbreaker out on the trail again and would highly recommend it to others.

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