Outdoor Research Ascendant Hoody Review

And it costs less than many insulated jackets that are lessversatile.

Outdoor research ascendant hoody review. An outer shell and inner insulation. While i expected this weight saving decision to impact warmth that wasn t the case. The outdoor research ascendant hoody is a unique insulated jacket that uses polartec alpha direct insulation on the interior giving it a fuzzy and cuddly feel while using a soft shell like material on the exterior. Our verdict light and highly breathable the outdoor reseach ascendant hoody is hailed by some as the perfect mid layer the ascendant is the first jacket we ve tested to use polartec alpha direct a version of polartec that doesn t require an inner lining to hold it in place saving weight and adding an extra element of comfort.

The most unique in our review the outdoor research ascendant hoody is a hybrid between an insulated jacket and a softshell combining both to create a niche layer that works well on top of light base layers or underneath a heavier jacket. It performed well against some top tier softshell jackets and didn t quite measure up against others. Outdoor research ascendant it turns out the ascendant is the next iteration of or s very successful uberlayer jacket. Despite its plush toy like appearance the polartec alpha direct synthetic insulation worked great.

It is meant for medium warmth and extreme breathability while exerting yourself and does this better than most jackets. The outdoor research ascendant hoody unlike many other active insulation pieces has only two layers.