[Review] Men’s Stretchdown Hybrid Hoody by Mountain Hardwear

The Stretchdown Hybrid Hoody by Mountain Hardwear is the perfect combination of insulation, non-restricting comfort, and packability and has been accompanying me on many adventures this fall. The Stretchdown Hybrid Hoody is a simple jacket but ready for the most complex adventures.

Speaking to the name of this jacket, the Stretchdown is made with movement in mind. The down baffles are stitch-free which means nothing is holding you back. The down insulation is still evenly distributed providing you with ultimate warmth. I like the combination of 700-fill down throughout the core and 60 g of synthetic insulation in the underarms and around the bottom hem. It’s nice to have the best of both down worlds (synthetic and down).

The fit of the Stretchdown Hybrid Hoody is spot on, though I will say if you aren’t looking to layer up you could potentially get away with a size smaller than your normal size. I’m 6’0 tall and 190 pounds and usually wear a size large in outer layers. I definitely have room to layer under my Stretchdown Hoody and I’m good with that.

While I’m overall happy with the simplistic design of the Stretchdown Hoody, I think there are a few things worth mentioning. First of all, it doesn’t have a two-way zip. I personally don’t like to wear my climbing harness over my insulating layers so I don’t love that there is no two-way zip. Secondly, there is no adjustability to the cuffs and I find that the sleeves can kind of get in the way with my hands. I do wish there was a bit of velcro adjustability so I could cinch them out of the way. There’s also no adjustability on the hood. It fits really well over a climbing harness but if I’m just wearing the hoody on a hike with a hat on, the hood seems a bit oversized and tends to fall in my eyes.

If you’re looking for a layer that you can toss in a pack for any adventure, check out the Stretchdown Hybrid Hoody. It’s sweet for climbing (and any other activity where movement is key) and moves with, not against you. Be sure to check out many of our other Mountain Hardwear reviews here.