Wool Grid "Fleece" or Wool R1 Air style hoody?

[Typhon_0595]

Not exactly lightweight but this might be the ticket: https://voormi.com/products/mens-high-e-hoodie?variant=44942102266022

I weighed my OG High E hoodie in medium and it weighs ~19.6oz. My R1 fleece in medium is pretty much on point with the Patagonia website at 11.8oz. But the Voormi label has the wool content at 48%, polyester 39%, nylon 11%, Lycra 2%.

 

[The Ri Guy]

I weighed my OG High E hoodie in medium and it weighs ~19.6oz. My R1 fleece in medium is pretty much on point with the Patagonia website at 11.8oz. But the Voormi label has the wool content at 48%, polyester 39%, nylon 11%, Lycra 2%.

How do you like it? Does it get much use?

 

[Jake Larsen]

Any reason you aren’t looking at the polartech alpha options? The Sitka Kelvin active has been my favorite lightweight mid layer by FAR

I’ve tried many of the other grid fleece and merino wool blend offerings. All fell short for me, either too hot, dry very slowly, and/or have durability issues.


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[The Ri Guy]

Any reason you aren’t looking at the polartech alpha options?

I have an Ambient that I like a lot, but prefer natural fibers, or natural fiber dominant blends, where possible.

Also find it a bit hot to hike in.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Any reason you aren’t looking at the polartech alpha options? The Sitka Kelvin active has been my favorite lightweight mid layer by FAR

I’ve tried many of the other grid fleece and merino wool blend offerings. All fell short for me, either too hot, dry very slowly, and/or have durability issues.


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Too warm.

 

[Jake Larsen]

I have an Ambient that I like a lot, but prefer natural fibers, or natural fiber dominant blends, where possible.

Also find it a bit hot to hike in.

Haven’t used the ambient, it seemed a bit warmer than the Active. Interesting to get two comments on the active being hot. I run extremely warm and sweat like an absolute mother, doesn’t matter if it’s 70 degrees or zero. The kelvin active is the only mid layer I’ve ever had that can keep up with the moisture while hiking. It’s way cooler for me than any merino mid layer I’ve used. That’s the reason I like it so much, it’s comfortable in a gigantic temperature range


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[mxgsfmdpx]

Haven’t used the ambient, it seemed a bit warmer than the Active. Interesting to get two comments on the active being hot. I run extremely warm and sweat like an absolute mother, doesn’t matter if it’s 70 degrees or zero. The kelvin active is the only mid layer I’ve ever had that can keep up with the moisture while hiking. It’s way cooler for me than any merino mid layer I’ve used. That’s the reason I like it so much, it’s comfortable in a gigantic temperature range


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Patagonia R1 air out performs it for me here in Arizona. Durability isn’t great though as you mentioned.

 

[Jake Larsen]

Patagonia R1 air out performs it for me here in Arizona. Durability isn’t great though as you mentioned.

I wonder if relative humidity has something to do with that. I’m in MT, where it’s quite a bit more humid. My little time in Southern Utah desert country taught me that performance clothing sometimes changes the way it behaves in those ultra dry climates.


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[Hondo]

Marmot made a 1/4 zip hoody called the Powertherm that utilized Polartec Powerwool grid fleece. I picked one up on ebay a few years back and it has been one of my favorite pieces. Sixsite also used Polartec Powerwool in some of their base layers. Good stuff.

 

[Typhon_0595]

How do you like it? Does it get much use?

My original intention was to use it as a midlayer, but the sleeves fit snug on my forearms so I use it as a heavyweight baselayer that is worn as an outerlayer and it's not so fragile as typical lightweight merino/merino-blend baselayers. It does well for me as an insulating layer with a little wind protection but breathable enough to help not overheat for temps lower than 50 deg or in breezy situations in warmer temps.

 

[cubdriver84d]

Just came across Beringia and saw they have a hoody made from polartec wool high loft. Looks interesting. https://beringia.world/collections/mens/products/wool-air-hoody?variant=39697407082554

 

[The Ri Guy]

Just came across Beringia and saw they have a hoody made from polartec wool high loft. Looks interesting. https://beringia.world/collections/mens/products/wool-air-hoody?variant=39697407082554

Now that looks really interesting -- did you pick one up?

Too bad I just ordered a Voormi High-E to try out. Might have to snag one of these too depending on how I like the Voormi.

 

[cubdriver84d]

Now that looks really interesting -- did you pick one up?

Too bad I just ordered a Voormi High-E to try out. Might have to snag one of these too depending on how I like the Voormi.

Not yet but probably will. Do you know what percent wool the voormi is?

 

[kbraune]

https://www.rei.com/product/231546/marmot-orsa-polartec-wool-hoodie-mens?sku=2315460019&store=&CAWELAID=120217890019187698&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=117805113775&CATCI=pla-976272940073&cm_mmc=PLA_Google%7C21700000001700551_2315460019%7C976272940073%7CNB%7C71700000079806841&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAj9m7BhD1ARIsANsIIvDzY1PPyjDW-imd0YGhAoprXW_o1pu9zq-lMXHBVm5M9xHNUnK3PscaAopLEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Marmot makes a similar jacket and it’s currently on sale at rei

 

[The Ri Guy]

Not yet but probably will. Do you know what percent wool the voormi is?

Here's what they sent me when I reached out, cut out the intro and exit fluff.

"With all of our fabric we will start off with 100% wool fabric, then go back and add in some poly next to skin & nylon on top of the wool. These will help with wicking and abrasion to really showcase the wool.

Percent breakdown is the following:

55% Wool
42% Poly
2% Nylon"

I'm in a wet and swampy part of the PNW, and mine is supposed to arrive today. I'll put it through the PNW paces this weekend.

 

[ganngus]

https://www.rei.com/product/231546/marmot-orsa-polartec-wool-hoodie-mens?sku=2315460019&store=&CAWELAID=120217890019187698&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=117805113775&CATCI=pla-976272940073&cm_mmc=PLA_Google%7C21700000001700551_2315460019%7C976272940073%7CNB%7C71700000079806841&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAj9m7BhD1ARIsANsIIvDzY1PPyjDW-imd0YGhAoprXW_o1pu9zq-lMXHBVm5M9xHNUnK3PscaAopLEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Marmot makes a similar jacket and it’s currently on sale at rei

You may have just cost me some money. Going to look up reviews on it and probably buy.

 

[fwafwow]

Just came across Beringia and saw they have a hoody made from polartec wool high loft. Looks interesting. https://beringia.world/collections/mens/products/wool-air-hoody?variant=39697407082554

Please keep us posted on the Beringia if you get one.

 

[The Ri Guy]

Alright, my Voormi High-E Hoodie arrived multiple days ahead of schedule.

6', 170#, athletic build, Medium fits perfect out of the box, I am hopeful it does not shrink at all, or I may need a Large.

Not going to lie, the construction is so wildly different from what I had expected that I was actually baffled at first. They don't really do a great job at describing the construction on their site in my opinion. The sweatshirt material itself is a wool nylon blend in a grid fleece pattern, with what I would call spongy poly jersey panels across the front of the piece, as well as through the shoulders and hood. The kangaroo pocket is wool nylon fleece on the inner panel adjacent to the exterior of the piece, while the inner panel adjacent to your skin/base layer is the mesh material. These panels are not at all noticeable in practice and do not take away from the piece despite my initial "WTF" reaction upon opening the box.

The thickness of the wool itself is similar to say the Duckworth Powder hoody, but much less fragile and much tighter weave externally. I'd call them similar in warmth from a few quick tests last night and this morning, with the High-E cutting wind and breathing substantially better.

I wore the High-E yesterday from the time I got home until bed. I am notoriously cold when still, and notoriously hot when active. Walking the dogs, filling the deer feeder, etc. last night in ~40º F weather, with ~10 MPH constant wind and light rain, I was comfortable with just the High-E and a Filson Ultralight vest, which is much less insulation than I would typically wear this time of year as someone in the usually cold camp.

This morning, I did a high intensity (no rest) workout in the open-air barn, it was 37º F on the mercury, with a prevailing 5 MPH wind in my face. I typically wear a First Lite Furnace for my workouts, today I wore the High-E. 45 minute EOMOM, pull-ups and dips, followed by 10 minutes of jump rope. I had the High-E unzipped all the way by the end, but did not need to take it or my hat off, which I typically would have to do around midpoint in my workout. I was starting to feel hot midway through, but then the High-E worked its magic and kept me at a happy medium for the rest of the session. Transitioning into the 68º house, I did not need to take it off which I would normally do immediately with the Furnace. I am impressed with how this thing breathes in high intensity situations, although I do not equate that to a real-world high intensity hiking test. The internal pocket on the right breast works great, I put my XL iPhone in there while jumping rope, didn't bounce or annoy me in the slightest.

I plan to do some forestry work this weekend here in the PNW and will put the High-E through more paces.

So far, so good, although again the construction is not at all what I was expecting. I do wish it had pit-zips, although I did not need them working out, but it seems like a no-brainer feature for virtually any outdoors piece these days. The zippers on my unit do not operate smoothly enough to utilize one handed, maybe they'll break in over time. Interestingly, this is one of those rare hoods that does not seem to negatively impact ones ability to hear ambient sounds in the environment, more testing required on that. A neck gaiter works great with the scuba hood, no issues with gaiter over the nose, on the chin, or simply around the neck.

I imagine paired with a light puffy and/or hardshell, a guy really would not need much else in tandem with the High-E Hoodie for most September-October conditions.

I'd like to pick up the earlier mentioned Ridge Merino Convict Canyon Hoodie, which appears to really just be a lighter wool grid equivalent to the High-E, a Beringia Wool Air hoody, and an Atlantic Rancher Ranger Sweater (Form's recommendation) to really do a wool basis mid-layer shootout.

Will update down the road with further High-E thoughts as I put it through the paces around the homestead and back 40.