Review: Alpine Fit Fastpacker Alpha 90 Hoodie

A versatile mid-layer made with ultralight Alpha Direct fabric, this women’s-specific hoodie provides warmth and breathability without adding much weight or bulk.

Specs

• sizes available: XS to XXL
• fabric: 90gsm Polartec Alpha Direct 78% recycled polyester, 22% polyester
• features: elastic binding on hood, cuffs, and hem
• weight: 3.9 oz
• price: $119

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What is Alpha Direct Fabric?

This hoodie is made with Polartec Alpha Direct, an ultralight, highly breathable insulation fabric with an open, airy construction and fuzzy fibers that create loft. This unusual construction provides a surprising amount of insulation for its weight while allowing heat and moisture to escape during activity. The polyester fibers also don’t readily absorb water, so moisture can pass through the open fabric and evaporate, helping the hoodie dry quickly. This makes Alpha Direct well suited to use as a lightweight mid-layer.

My Experience with the Fastpacker Hoodie

I’ve been wearing the Fastpacker hoodie on hikes year-round as a lightweight mid-layer, and I like how comfortable and unrestricted it feels. It’s designed specifically for women, which I appreciate as someone with a small frame. The fit is nicely proportioned without feeling loose or oversized, and there’s still enough room to layer underneath. At just under four ounces, the hoodie also packs down small and takes up very little space in my pack.

The open construction also means Alpha Direct provides very little wind resistance. When I’m hiking in breezy conditions, I add a lightweight wind shell over the hoodie. I like this combination because I can wear the Alpha Direct layer when I need warmth and breathability, then add the wind shell when I need protection from the wind. I can also wear the wind shell on its own over a base layer when I don’t need the extra warmth.

I bring the Fastpacker on every backpacking trip because it’s so light and versatile. I wear it as a mid-layer while hiking and as a sleep layer over my base layer when temperatures drop at night, giving me extra warmth without adding another bulky layer to my sleep system. Any time I can get more than one use out of an item, it helps reduce my overall pack weight.

A Few Tradeoffs

Alpha Direct’s open, fuzzy construction comes with a few tradeoffs. The fabric isn’t especially durable and can snag easily on branches and other rough surfaces. Velcro is particularly problematic because it can catch and pull at the fabric. The fuzzy fibers can also shed over time, especially with regular wear and washing. For me, the low weight, warmth, breathability, and versatility are worth these drawbacks.

Disclosure: I purchased this item with my own funds.