ProView – Beringia Ultralight Mountain Hoody Review

I was skeptical of this jacket at first, but I have seen the light. I found myself reaching for the Ultralight Mountain Hoody frequently when the conditions were just a bit too cold, windy, sunny, or buggy for my t-shirt base layer this summer, but my insulated layer in my pack would be far too much.

Although I can’t say I am a mountain runner, the weather in summer around Seward, AK was a perfect testing ground for the Beringia Ultralight Mountain Hoody. With “trails” that head directly uphill starting around sea level and topping out on 4,000-5,000 ft peaks in just a few miles while heading through a coastal rainforest with high humidity, it is essential to have breathable layers that can also protect you from the elements. The Ultralight Mountain Hoody was a perfect companion for these conditions.

Performance

When performing high-output activities, I found that the hoody breathed very well. I was expecting the hoody to have more of a plastic-y feel like a windbreaker that just traps all of your body heat, but I was very wrong in this assumption. I run very warm when I am pushing it, and I am frequently juggling layers and always wishing I had something that was “just a bit more” than my base layer to get by, and I found the Beringia Ultralight Mountain Hoody to be that layer. Frequently I would be moving in the mountains and the sun would sneak behind some clouds or the wind would pick up on a ridge, and the Ultralight Mountain Hoody was the perfect layer to keep me comfortable and moving without making me sweat profusely. This hoody also works great for lightweight sun protection as well as mosquito protection.

Features

The hoody is pretty minimalistic, which is its niche, so it doesn’t have tons of features, but it has a few well-thought-out features, which is why I rated it a bit above average in this category even though there are so few features overall. First of which is the hood. The hood is large enough to accommodate a climbing helmet without restricting the movement of your head and neck. This is a common problem of a lot of ultralight jackets and soft shells, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Beringia knocked it out of the park in this regard. This makes the Ultralight Mountain Hoody a great option for scrambling when you are traveling light but frequently have a helmet on.

The jacket also comes with a double front zipper so you can improve ventilation while on the move, as well as well-engineered cuffs that stay right where you want them. However, the addition of a stuff pocket is a really nice feature that allows you to convert the jacket into a convenient fist-sized package. The only thing that is missing that I wish it had was a very minimal sewn loop near the zipper so you could clip the packaged jacket with a carabiner, but it’s mostly a non-issue due to its size.

Fit/Comfort

To start, I am 6′ 1″ and 185 lbs, and size Large fit me perfectly. The length of the arms is perfect, and the jacket has a nice cut around the waist with the back half reaching a little lower, covering part of your butt, which just means it doesn’t ride up when you sit down to get into your pack. The fabric of the jacket is very soft on the skin and also has a good amount of stretch in it. This means you can even put an insulated layer underneath it in case it gets properly chilly.

Look/Style

I got the HAV Orange and love it! It’s a soft orange, but still very bright, which makes for good visibility in the mountains and has the added benefit of giving your photos a pop. This jacket’s sleek minimalist look means it is a great layer for everything from an evening layer sitting in the park enjoying some music to scrambling an exposed mountain ridge.

Weight/Packability

With an absolutely mind-blowing weight of just 3.5oz or 100g (for a size Medium), this mountain hoody is extremely lightweight! Not only that, but once it’s packed down it’s about the size of your fist, which means there is basically no reason not to bring this jacket with you for your next mission.

Durability

I wouldn’t say this hoody has high durability due to its lightweight nature. However, with plenty of bushwhacking bouts under its belt, there are more than a few times I was sure that I had finally put a hole through it, and each time to my surprise it somehow managed to come out unscathed. It still looks brand new as I type this. As long as you don’t intend to put it through the wringer in an offwidth or something similar, you shouldn’t have to worry too much that this featherweight jacket can’t withstand some thrashing.

What Sets This Product Apart?

The high craftsmanship, featherweight, and breathability really set the Beringia Ultralight Mountain Hoody apart. Beringia is a smaller company, which means this mountain hoody is of premium quality with quality stitching and high-end fit and finish, which is where competing jackets from bigger brands are sometimes lacking.

Who Is This Product For?

This jacket is intended for individuals pursuing high-output activities in the mountains who don’t want to sacrifice comfort. It is a perfect layer for endurance athletes like mountain runners, mountain bikers, fast packers, as well as hikers, backpackers, and mountaineers who are frequently working hard carrying weighted packs. For those of you who run warm like me, this layer is great for you as well.

The Final Word

I have been very impressed by the Beringia Ultralight Mountain Hoody. Since it’s so ridiculously lightweight and packable, there is really no reason not to pack this hoody with you. You will be happy to have it when the conditions are constantly fluctuating and you can’t get your layering system just right. The premium quality and technical features mean this mountain hoody yearns to move quickly in the mountains.

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