More versatile than your base layer and more breathable than your storm shell, the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Hoody exemplifies the soft-shell concept. From days of bouldering at the Buttermilks to cool springtime hikes deep into the canyon, and everything in between, the Ferrosi Hoody can handle it all.
On Performance and Design…
A really useful tool can do more than one thing, and that is the philosophy behind the idea of a soft-shell; it maximizes the all-round performance of a single piece of apparel to such an extent it replaces the need for multiple layers. Towards those ends, the Ferrosi Hoody (available for men and women) delivers in spades, offering a singular garment that ensures comfortable performance across a vast array of conditions.
Tipping the scales at a meager 13.3 oz, the Ferrosi Hoody ensures that you can adventure forth in confidence knowing the jacket would never weigh you down. Despite the feathery weight, the team at Outdoor Research ensured that this jacket isn’t light on the features you want from an adventure ready soft-shell.
The bread and butter of this jacket is the soft-shell fabric (86% nylon, 14% spandex). The jacket breathes as easy as morning breeze and provides excellent range of movement making it perfect for multi-season camping, climbing or just running errands around town. Moreover, the Ferrosi will astound you with a level of wind and water resistance you wouldn’t expect from a soft-shell of this weight.
As any outdoor enthusiast knows, trekking across exposed alpine terrain or shimmying through granite chimneys is no walk in the park. Which is why the Ferrosi Hoody is outfitted with tough stretch Cordura on the shoulders and arms. The material stands up to the beating that your adventures dish out without sacrificing the flexibility you need.
Notes from the Field…
The Outdoor Research design team deserves credit for, in our opinion, a spot on fit. Often times the fit of outdoor apparel takes one of two avenues. On one hand it can error on the side of an overly athletic fit, forcing the user to size up. The flipside is a more generalized fit that feels bulky and leaves you swimming in apparel that is supposed to work with you, not against you.
The Ferrosi rides that perfect, and often, mythical line that exists somewhere between an athletic fit and a more standard fit. The result is a soft-shell jacket that mirrors your movements, doesn’t leave you feeling claustrophobic, and never gets in your way so you can get after your adventure.
Some soft-shell options include a polyester fleece liner for added warmth and next-to-skin comfort. While this can be an added creature comfort, the downside is that it adds weight, eliminates some of the flexibility, and makes it virtually unpackable. Part of the beauty of the Ferrosi however is that it packs down easy, leaving plenty of room in your pack. And even without a fleece lining, it still has plenty of next-to-skin comfort.
Bottom Line…
More than just versatility, the Ferrosi Hoody from Outdoor Research is about freedom. Beautiful, protective, unrestrictive freedom for your mountain adventures.
*Gumption Gear Review received the product samples featured from Outdoor Research at no cost, and receives no monetary compensation for this or any related review. The items featured were provided solely in return for our honest views and opinions.