The Overview:
Getting the heart pumping during the winter isn’t always easy. Cold weather and snow can put a damper on your ability to get the exercise you need. Your gear can also affect your ability to enjoy the winter months. Too few layers or permeable fabrics will cause the body to get cold faster, burning up more calories and tiring you out quicker. Too many layers, or hyper insulated fabrics will cause you to sweat too much, and if that moisture has nowhere to go, ie wicking fabric, then eventually that moisture will cool down, chilling your body. There’s obviously a fine line between insulation and breathability, and some fabrics walk that line better than others.
Patagonia’s Capilene baselayers—which features a grid-like fabric provides next to skin warmth and breathability—got an update this year, specifically in the moisture-wicking department with Polartec Power Dry High Efficiency fabric. This secret to Polartec’s superior wicking performance is their use of different yarns on either side of the fabric, which creates two different surfaces. The next to skin surface moves moisture from the body, while the outer surface is designed to dry quickly.
The Test
Colorado recently experienced a two-week long cold snap. I’m talking single digits or low teens during the day. It was cold; the perfect time to get my cold-weather cardio on and see if the Patagonia Capilene 4 Expedition Weight hoody and bottoms were all they were cracked up to be. So, I headed to Aspen Highlands Bowl. The hike is generally 35-45 minutes for me, and always a sweaty affair since it’s a mostly steep, sustained climb. Although I certainly sweated all the way up, regardless of the cold temperatures, I noticed didn’t get the usual chill once I stopped moving at the summit. Post bowl-lap I didn’t have to go in to warm up because of wet, cold layers.
Hoody
The longer length in the back of the garment prevented me from getting cold chairlift butt. And the scuba diver-like hoody was a welcomed extra layer, which fit comfortably under my helmet. The hoody’s breast pocket is nice for holding chapstick or other essentials on warmer days, and located in such a place that even bibs won’t block access to. Thumb holes ensure that there is no bunching, which is a nice feature.
Bottoms
I generally wear shell pants, so on cold days I have to wear two base layer bottoms to keep my tush warm. To test the “Cap 4’s” mettle, I wore it alone, regardless of the chilly temps. It did what it was supposed to do. My lower half was warm the whole time. I found the wide, yoga-pant like waistband to be exceedingly comfortable. My only complaint was that I found the ankle cuffs to be a bit constricting on my calves—and I’m petite—especially considering they are generally folded up to accommodate ski boots.
Rating
4.75 (out of 5)
Design: The longer hem in the back of the hoody to prevent cold butt and bunching (if you’re ice climbing) makes this a real winner. + 1
Style: The color options and fit is quite flattering for a high-performance baselayer, you’ll definitely want to sport this in the bar for apres hour. +1
Durability: Cap 4 fabric includes a fabric treatment that uses molecular “spears” to puncture the cellular walls of bacteria that causes sweat to stink. +1
Performance: Warm, breathable, moisture-wicking…need I say more? +1
Comfort: The Cap 4 fabric is soft on the skin and lightweight, plus the bottom’s wide, elastic waistband will fit all body types nicely. However, points are docked for the bottom’s restraining ankle cuff. -.25
*Bonus: Made with recycled polyester for all you beautiful conscious people out there. Plus, “since spring 2007, Capilene fabrics have included old Capilene garments (recycled into virgin-grade polyester) collected through Patagonia’s Common Threads Initiative Recycling Program.”
*Innovation: Polartec’s double surface fabric is truly unique.
Buy Patagonia Capilene 4 Expedition Weight Hoody and Bottoms.