Black Diamond  Alpine Start Hoody - Men's

I run hot!! Climbing up towards 14k' in just a sun hoody, the wind was starting to get to me. Threw this bad boy on over top and it was the perfect layer. Blocked the wind while still allowing me to stay cool and relaxed focused on the climb.

I ordered the Alpine Start Hoody on the recommendation of a friend as it was time to replace an old wind shirt I had used and abused for years. Out of the package, the fit was spot on (I'm 6'2 and the size large is perfect). After trying it on, it went straight into my pack and then to the mountains for 6 days of alpine climbing. The simple and light design makes it a perfect accompaniment for long exposed routes in the alpine where protection from the wind, sun, etc. is essential. The helmet compatible hood is dialed for my BD Vision helmet. Nice job BD and thanks for creating a new trusted friend!

I purchased this jacket last month, and it has quickly become my favorite for the summer! It’s incredibly lightweight, yet offers excellent wind resistance along with a solid DWR treatment to handle light moisture. That said, in my opinion, it functions more like a wind shell than a traditional soft shell—you’ll only be able to fit a thin midlayer underneath. The jacket has a slim fit, but thanks to its stretchiness, you can stick with your regular size and still move comfortably.

I've probably had six or more of these jackets over the past ten years; they are our go-to company jacket for our crew. Highly recommend A++++

I have bought these Alpine hoodies for the last six years. They are my favorite jacket to wear for running even when it’s really cold they’re lightweight and can be packed away in their own pocket. I wear them in the summer, the spring, the fall, and the winter for running working out and skiing in the backcountry. I do wear them out and buy one every year so I have a fresh clean look. I have purchased about 10 of these since they came out very durable stretchy and nice strong zippers. I recommend them for anybody that wants an excellent quality product.

I've used this jacket only a handful of times and it already has a run just above the rear hem in the center of the jacket. I've worn it carrying my son in a child carrier backpack a couple of times and worn it a few times casually. In light, fine rain, the kind you can only see against a dark background, it wets out in under five minutes. The DWR is nonexistent. I stood out in the same kind of rain today to test it and it wet straight out immediately. My Adidas track pants were dry! The fit is good and it balances breathability and wind resistance well. Would not buy again and mine will be for sale. I'll go back to using my ten plus year old windshirt from another brand that has seen hard use and is still more functional than this item new!

Terrific jacket. Light, tough, breathable, minimalist. However, for such a light weight and packable jacket the main zipper is obnoxiously heavy and bulky. You can really feel the bulky #5 slider weighing down the fabric and touching your chin when it's zipped up. And the #5 coils just feel overkill and takeaway from the lightweight feel. I would much prefer a lighter VISLON zipper or at least a #3 RC zip. It also adds unnecessary weight if you're using this as a "just in case" jacket. This zipper is meant for a heavier jacket like the Dawn Patrol Shell. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same zipper and they used it for both jackets to save money on production costs. A weird and out-of-place design choice for an otherwise excellent jacket.

I run super hot while ski touring so I was looking for a midlayer that would breathe but also shed some light snowfall. The alpine start is spot on for this application. It also packs down super small to save space in my pack. The only thing I would change would be to add some side pockets, the single chest pocket is fairly small.

I bought this jacket and it is exactly what I needed as a wind breaker and light weather protection. My only reason for not giving this a 5 star review is because the pictures displayed are from the Alpine Start INSULATED Hoody. so I got tricked at first. But nevertheless, I got what I needed.

The perfect lightweight layer that stops enough wind but not too much. Breathable and packable. Use it for mountain biking, spring skiing and other cold weather activities. Has enough space to layer underneath to be usable from the teens into the low 40's for me.