Gear Review – Whitewater Fishing Spindrift 120g Merino Hoodie

Overview:

Hoodies are the one piece of technical gear that accompany me on virtually every outdoor adventure in every season: fishing, hunting, hiking, beach days, boat days, bike days, warm weather, or cool.

And I've used all the materials: bamboo, synthetics/poly, and wool.

I'll be honest, while I really like the idea of bamboo, I'm far less enthused about the reality, at least in the experiences that I have had (and I've tried the popular brands). Maybe I just don't get the hype - I've never been impressed with the comfort or moisture management, the fabric tends to be a little "delicate" for my uses, and I've experienced issues with fit and shrinkage (even when washing/drying according to instructions) every time.

I'm more prone to grab poly, or poly-blend synthetics for those reasons - they tend to be more comfortable, far less prone to any type of shrinking, better at moisture management, and a little more durable. The biggest downside to synthetics is that they can get "funky" after a sweating a lot or wearing for several days, and once it's there, that funk never seems to fully go away, even with frequent washing. The other drawback I've found is that, opposed to shrinking, synthetics can often stretch over time, affecting fit.

Wool, Merino wool specifically, is typically my top choice. While Merino is not without it's own issues – requiring specific washing/drying care, like bamboo, the material can be somewhat "delicate," and some brands that I've used have stretched/lost their shape over time – it still wins hands-down for moisture management and temperature regulation, being naturally anti-microbial (no funk even after multi-day use), and naturally UV-protective.

The latest hoodie to join my lineup is the Spindrift 120g Merino (82% 17.5-micron Merino Wool, 16% Nylon, and 2% Lycra) from Whitewater Outdoor (typically $140, currently on sale for $105).

Over the summer I've put it to work hiking and angling in Michigan, rafting/fishing/camping in Colorado, trekking through Austria, and fishing in Slovenia – in all types of temps and conditions.

Here's what I found:

What I Like:

Merino: As a Merino product, the Spindrift provides all the benefits I love about wool: great wicking, moisture management, and temperature regulation, natural anti-microbial properties for multi-day use without the "funk," and it provides UPF 50+ sun protection.

Feel: It's safe to say that the Spindrift is the most comfortable next-to-skin hoodie I've ever owned. It's lightweight, 120g, Betaspun® yarn, featuring 82% 17.5-micron Merino Wool, 16% Nylon, and 2% Lycra, and flatlock seems makes for an incredibly soft feel with just the right amount of stretch.

Fit: In addition to the incredible feel of this garment I really like the fit: snug enough but not overly tight, the right amount of stretch, and long enough in the arms and torso without feeling overly big or bulky. (note I am 6 foot, 185 pounds with a longer torso and I ordered the Large).

Hood: Hoods on "hoodies" run the gamut - some are too big and loose, some are too small and tight; the Spindrift finds the sweet spot with a hood that's large enough to comfortably wear over a hat but snug enough to not feel pointless or in the way.

What I Don't Like:

Delicate: While the material blend of the Spindrift is designed to resist abrasion and piling, it still can be a little "snaggy" around sharp fishing hooks, prickers or errant branches. It's up for adventure, but you do have to be a little careful. A small trade off for the incredibly soft feel in my opinion.

Price: It's just a fact, you'll pay a little more for Merino than you would for poly or even bamboo, and the Spindrift is no exception. That being said, in the world of quality Merino hoodies, the Spindrift is very competitively priced.

Perfect For: The Spindrift is marketed as a fishing/sun hoodie and it certainly excels at that, but this versatile, all-season piece is well suited to a number of outdoor activities from hiking to boating and even hunting if used as a base-layer.

Overall Rating: 5/5

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*Images by Ryan Miller/Roasted Media