Black Diamond

Alpine Start Insulated Hoodie - Men's

Wonderfully executed and solid midlayer

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Size Bought:

Large

Height:

5' 11"

Weight:

205

This is probably the best hybrid jacket on the market currently. It’s light, packs down small, and offers more warmth and weather resistance than you’d expect. The hood is not insulated and has no bulk, so it layers like a champ under a shell. And best of all is the durability. The 40-denier shell and Polartec Alpha insulation make this one of the most durable insulated pieces on the market.

I love this jacket

Alpine start has been my go to for seasons now. Lightweight perfect for light rain and wind. Now just for even better with added insulation where you need it for colder days on the trail in the alpine and around town during this cold days.

Good

unique placement of insulation is a personal preference. . .

Very light, very warm, looks amazing

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.

Great Mid Layer

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.

Great hoody

Feels soft and buttery and keeps you warm. Ideal if you don't want to get super hot when moving, but need some heat at the beginning.

Perfect for summit day

This is a great layer that provides the warmth and weather resistance needed for summer summit days. It's light and packable which helps keep the weight down to the minimum

Warm Where You Want It

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.

Beats out Arcteryx Atom LT

I’ve used a ton of midlayer pieces lack this- ATOM LT, Nano-Puff, etc. this is far better. Fit and finish is on par with Arcteryx, but this performs and feels much better.

Versatile

I’m 5’ 8” tall, 190 lbs and wear a large. I’ve worn this hoody in temps ranging from the mid 20’s to 50 f. The fit is regular. I’m a Patroller on a small mountain in NC and this hoody provides plenty of protection in cold temps working on setup when you’re active. With a light base layer it’s all I need for a cold day.