Black Diamond  Alpine Start Insulated Hoody - Men's

For reference I am 6’ 150lbs and the M fits great per the size chart. This is a great but very technical windbreaker, with insulation alpha in key areas. Should work great for morning runs and bike rides. Knocking a star because it is so technical, and I found the insulation in some areas add weight to the jacket, where other areas are just a shell (very light). Having both in the same garment makes it a bit awkward to wear, but makes sense for its intended purpose. Hopefully I can find more reasons to use it over my regular (non insulated) alpine start, which I deem superior to this insulated version just for the flexibility it provides with layering.

Love this piece, it's designed with a really interesting prioritization of warm zones and weigh-cutting, never seen a jacket quite like it. Packs down to a micro pouch and weighs basically nothing - but it's honestly hella warm. I wish the hood had a bit more structure so it didn't do that limp floppy hood thing, but that's my only real critique.

This jacket fits great and is ideal as a midlayer. The athletic fit makes it easy to throw a hardshell over without feeling bulky. It keeps you warm in cold conditions but does not overheat when temps rise, which is exactly what you want from a versatile insulation piece. Great balance of warmth, breathability, and layering performance.

Lightweight, warm, and comfortable. Keeps your heat in if you are hiking in below freezing temps. Sleek and mostly water proof. One downside is that over sweating can leak through from the inside out to the outer layer.

I was initially a little hesitant to get this over the first light stretch hoody or another company’s offering due to the areas that don’t have insulation. After using it a couple of times I have loved it! It has insulation where you want it (the chest, back, and the outside of the arms). This leaves the sides of the torso and the undersides of the arms protected and able to cool down quickly! For snowshoeing, hiking, or skinning it is great! Keeps you warm but not too warm and the wind and water protective outer layer is exceptional! It kept me protected against 30 mph winds and I was warm! For dry or slightly wet conditions this replaces 2 layers (fleece midlayer and wind breaker) and is almost as light as my old midlayer.

I wore this to CIM as my travel jacket. Worked great around town from 44-62 degrees Fahrenheit. I wear this running and so far I have worn it as low as 13 degrees Fahrenheit with a long sleeve and up to 30 Degrees with a t-shirt. The venting is amazing and keeps my body temp regulated while running. Hood cinches down well and doesn't bounce. Packs so well into the pocket to put in a hydration vest or carry on luggage. Highly recommend this instead of a puffer jacket. This will be in my mandatory gear for 200 mile races and ultras.

The Men’s Alpine Start Insulated Hoody is one of those pieces you end up reaching for all the time. It is lightweight, comfortable, and warm enough for chilly starts without overheating once you get moving. It does a great job blocking wind and handling light weather, and it layers easily under a shell. Packs down small, feels durable, and just works whether you are touring, hiking, or moving fast in the mountains.

I think this is a great layer to be worn specifically for heat generating activities. It takes a little getting used to the feeling of the jackets as there is no insulation along the inside of the arms, through the pit section and all down the sides. The insulation feels quite cozy on the chest and back, but lots of heat is lost in the non-insulated sections, which I think is a good thing. I find this jacket to be nice for runs on chilly mornings (5-20°F, I run hot) and to ride into work in the wintertime. The jacket dumps generated heat but insulates nicely to the areas exposed to wind. I haven’t gotten to ski tour as there isn’t any snow in Colorado, but I could see this as being a really nice layer for the skin track on a windy morning. Just don’t buy this thinking it will be a nice cozy layer for normal activities. It is meant to be worn while you are generating heat.

There’s nothing I don’t love about this hoody! I’ve used it from the upper 20’s to the mid-50’s (F), and it is super comfortable for active pursuits. Love the color, the fit, and how light it is. The light insulation is in all the right places, and it’s obvious that this is a quality piece of kit. Just what you need to take the chill off on a cool to cold day without overheating!

Fantastic mid layer that’s on the lighter end compared to other packable puffies. Material is exceptionally soft, sheds light moisture effectively, and packs into a very light bundle. I’m 6’4” slim but lanky and ordered a Large. Might be worth sizing up to an XL to get slightly longer sleeves but didn’t want to get too baggy around my torso.