Arc'teryx  Cormac Hoody - Men's

I bought the cormac hoody about a month ago and I liked the color and fit.

This is a pretty simple but high functioning piece, allowing you to move at medium to high output from spring to fall while keeping your skin safe from the sun. The hood frames the face well and fits neatly over a hat or under a helmet, while the thumb loops ensure you can prevent back of hand burns while traveling over snow and at altitude. It is a synthetic fabric, so while it's great at the intended functions, it doesn't naturally keep smells away like Merino, something to consider for expedition use when it won't get a lot of washes.

This is a solid garment for protecting your skin in the sun on a mild to warmer day. I received the Serene Heather color which is a very attractive shade of blue. It looks somewhat questionable in photos online as I typically prefer darker shades of blue but it looks great in person. It fits true to size and like most Arcteryx tops, it hugs the body well without being loose at the hips or too short in the arms. I typically wear medium tops and am shown wearing a medium. I'm 5ft11in, 155lbs, 39in chest, 34in waist, 34in arms. There is definitely additional room should you have a wider chest or waist. I like that it has thumb holes to prevent the sleeves from sliding down should I be doing an activity that requires arms being extended overhead. The fabric is of a high quality - light, soft and airy - very comfortable against the skin and you can wear it on a warmer day without overheating. It's not super thin and delicate either - it's got a solid weave so it can withstand some abuse without ripping. The only thing I'm not in love with is the hood - the shape and fit of that could be improved.

I received this product for free from the REI Trailblazers sampling program in exchange for my honest review. I was always a bit of a skeptic of long sleeved/hooded light layers (I run hot and sweaty). However, I've come around...especially on cooler weather or higher altitude exposed hikes/climbs. This was perfect on a June Mt. Adams climb when temps/winds near the top were close to freezing and gusty. Anything other than that, I would definitely choose a lighter color, as this ran a bit hot for me on a number of lighter hikes in warmer weather. I will say I love the Serene Heather color fashion-wise...just not functional in warm weather and sunny conditions. Only other comment--the thumb holes in the sleeves were a bit too short for me in the large size; my long gangly arms were probably the issue but then again I don't use those often so not any sort of deal breaker.

The shirt is very light weight and comfortable, breathed well, and provided a good degree of flex for multiple activities. I also thought the color was unique and I received several positive comments on how it looked in public. I trialed the hoodie on several 3.5 mile runs, a day of kayaking, and a 25 mile bike ride. It was very versatile in each scenario and I was pleased to find its UV protective properties worked well despite the light weight material after a day on the water in 91 degree temperatures and direct sunlight. While running it hardly feels like it is there, breathes well, and moves well. The hoodie is a nice added feature on cooler outings to maintain some extra warmth. This can easily be worn as a base layer for added warmth and a breathable material or as an outer layer that looks nice and is athletic in fit.

I was on the coast of Lake Michigan, hot summer day in July. Though the sun was beating down, I was able to stay protected without overheating. This hoodie provided enough protection so that I was the only one that didn't get burned in the sun. It's very comfortable, very nice looking and I'd recommend buying one if you're in the mood for a light layer that also offers sun protection.

Aside from a quick evening trail run, I wore the shirt for a day of boating and fishing in the hot sun and wind on Naragansett Bay. I’m typically a size Large but I have long arms and prefer “tall” when I can get them. This shirt fit PERFECTLY even after washing and air drying. Sleeves are exactly the length I like. The body length is spot on (not too long, not too short. I’m 6’1”, 195 pounds and not as slim as I used to be. The fabric is super comfortable, almost like wearing nothing. The color is unique and I did get compliments. The hood fits well and is like to think I have normal sized dome. It would stretch to fit a block head but may be a little big if you have a small or narrow cranium. Even with the hot sun and the glare off the water, I was as cool as a (sea) cucumber! I appreciate that the fabric actually kept me cool and protected from the sun. The wind was a non-factor, too. This shirt is comfortable, stretchy for an active lifestyle, keeps you cool in the heat, offer great sun protection with the thumb-hole sleeves and hood, and although I caught no fish I looked darn good doing it!

This shirt/hoodie did it all, no matter where I went. I never washed it to test it's limits on odor/long term use. I used it in dry heat and 90 degrees/humidity with constant sun exposure. I always felt comfortable and dried fairly quick, The slightest breeze brought even more relief. Then I traveled to a mountain/alpine region with only this shirt as my base layer since my budget was really stretched to make the travels happen. From 20 to 60 degrees it did well in rain and snow with appropriate additional layers. Went into canyons with cool mist to high altitude sun exposure and always felt protected. After all that sweat, dirt, and activities, it never had a bad odor. Then I had to quickly leave to another region. Only to find out, as I prepared my outfit for a river run, that I lost my arc'teryx somewhere. I do hope who ever finds it appreciates it as much I did, it was really a good piece of gear. Thank you Rei for offering it(getting it to me quickly too) and hopefully I will be able to buy a new one sooner than later. Highly recommend the Cormac hoodie. Make sure you always account for your gear before rolling out. Take Care & Safe Travels Everyone!

I love big days in the alpine, but have paid the sunburn toll a few too many times. When I know I will be out in serious UV, this is my trusted top. From spring ski mountaineering to summer scrambling, the Cormac is versatile and can act as a base layer to mid depending on the user and temps. A few examples: 1. Summer trail run. Acts as a base layer (no shirt under) that I can wear all day at low to moderate output. 2. Spring ski mountaineering. Layer with a merino shirt under and a puffy / shell on top as needed. The only tweak I would make on this piece is to make it a bit more breathable, but that is personal preference. For most temps and most output levels, it is perfect to keep you protected from the sun.

Many issues with this piece. I’m 5’8’’ 160 lbs and I’m in between sizes. Bought the small originally, but was super tight around the forearms and a tad on the short side. Exchanged for a medium and it’s big everywhere. First problem I noticed was all the threads around the cuff/ thumb hole area. Cut those down and every wash a couple reappear. I believe it will be a short time before this falls apart in the wash. Another problem is the hood. It is massively oversized. It might be good if you were wearing it over a helmet. If there is wind over 10 mph it will flap like crazy. The neck is extremely oversized to the point where you lose sun protection. It hangs down at the front of my neck, so that area will get burnt. Also, there is a weird crease in the middle of the hood at the top that the shirt came with. Kind of makes the hood come to a point. I have several of the Arc’teryx remige summer hoodies from a couple of years ago that I have none of these problems with. This is another case of arc taking away a great product and replacing it with one of poorer quality. Of course, that’s just my opinion.