The synthetic insulating hoodie world is a pretty competitive space. There are some really strong jackets out there from basically every big name company. Outdoor Research has put forward a strong new option with their SuperStrand LT Hoodie. We’ve been testing it during the cold, wet late fall and early winter that has hit the Pacific Northwest and this is our take on how this new insulated jacket holds up.
Outdoor Research SuperStrand LT Hoodie Features:
- bluesign® approved, 100% Nylon 12D Rip Stop Shell and Lining
- VerticalX™ SuperStrand Insulation 100% Polyester
- Adjustable Hood with Low-Pro™ Binding
- Zip Hand Pockets
- Left Hand Pocket Doubles as Stuff Sack
- Low-Pro™ Elastic Binding Cuffs and Hem
- Claimed weight: 10.9oz
- MSRP: $219
Lightweight, warm and an Infinite Guarantee:
I don’t usually like to do review via direct comparison, but I can’t shake the similarity between Outdoor Research’s new SuperStrand LT and the old classic Patagonia Micro Puff Hoodie. I reviewed that one back in 2017 and to this day it is my most-used jacket. I pull it on for everything from chores to ski tours. In a lot of ways, the SuperStrand LT is gunning for the same territory: the weight, construction and style are all very similar. So what sets the SuperStrand LT apart? I’ll highlight a few things.
For one, it has to be said, the SuperStrand LT is an absolute steal. At $219, this jacket punches way above its price point. It has high-quality materials and construction, as well as the very significant backing of Outdoor Research’s Infinite Guarantee. OR is just over Snoqualmie Pass from me, and I’ve shipped gear back to them multiple times over the years and been incredibly pleased with their fast, responsive service. Any of their gear is always replaced or repaired without any fuss whatsoever. That adds major value.
The fabric OR chose for this jacket is a bluesign-approved 12D nylon inside and out. 12D nylon is mostly an ultralight fabric; the lightest we really see in the industry is 7D which, in my opinion, faces major durability problems. 10D is more common, and 12D is just a touch beefier. So it’s solidly in the ultralight category but with a little ‘oomph’ to keep it going. It’s a ripstop weave, so tears tend to stay small and confined. The slightly denser 12D weave is harder for sharps to penetrate and rips to propagate.
The insulation is an all-polyester offering from VerticalX called SuperStrand. According to this press release, OR claims superior, down-like performance in terms of high loft-to-weight ratio, great compression, and excellent wet weather performance. These are standard things we expect from high-quality synthetic insulations these days, and the noteworthy bit is that OR developed their own.
The other noteworthy bit is differentiation from other synthetic ‘active insulators,’ like Polartec Alpha that OR used in their Uberlayer jacket which we reviewed in 2016. That’s a sheet-style synthetic insulation, but the perk is that the synthetic fibers are all more-or-less aligned to channel perspiration to the outside of the jacket so that it breathes during high-output activities. Those fabrics are less compressible, but more breathable than OR’s SuperStrand synthetic insulation.
Anyway, that’s kind of the technical stuff: the bottom line is that we’ve got a warm-for-its-weight synthetic jacket that’s light and compressible. How does it work in practice?
Using this during the wet, rainy late fall and early winter in the PNW meant that the SuperStrand LT spent a lot of time under another layer, or potentially in the pack. I definitely run warm and I’m not the type who can wear a puffy up a hill. With that said, it was always my go-to layer as soon as it was time to rip skins and transition. For most people, this is probably going to be similar: you might wear your puffy at camp at night, or on the downhill, or around town. For those purposes, the SuperStrand is stellar.
And while it doesn’t breathe like a purpose-built active insulator, it still handles perspiration pretty darn well. When I get sweaty on the uphill and then throw this thing on, the garment doesn’t feel heavy or damp at all. And it also stays really warm. On that note, I’m going to call this a midweight puffy when it comes to warmth: it’s definitely not a big heavy parka, but I could hang out in the 20’s with this and a good fleece and be pretty happy. Multiple laps, sweat-outs and pack stashes didn’t really phase the SuperStrand; it stayed lofted, warm and light.
Theoretically, the SuperStrand insulation is stitched into a nifty, continuous baffle design that channels heat throughout your core. It reminds me of the vertical baffle designs that had a vogue a few years ago. Did I notice a difference? Well, not really – but these things are subtle, and the concept of allowing warm air (and, for that matter, warm vapor) to move vertically in the jacket makes sense to me.
I haven’t used this for more than a few months, so it’s hard to forecast durability but I’m going to try to a little. A lot of garments these days aren’t really made with years and years of hard use in mind: it’s not because companies are being wasteful or want you to buy more stuff, it’s just a consequence of the move towards ultralight. The SuperStrand LT falls into this category, just like all of the other ultralight puffies out there: at just 10ish oz and with an ultralight 12D fabric weave, this isn’t going to last forever. Being cautious with snags, gentle with the zips (which pull easily overall) and patching tears quickly will help you get years of service out of this. But, from the factory, I have no concerns with this jacket and I think it’s a well-designed and well-made jacket.
I’ll touch on a couple more features then be done. I love that it stuffs into its own pocket: that’s always a great feature. The main and pocket zippers pull easily, and are lightweight but should last years if you don’t jam them. Lastly, the hood can slide under a helmet, but while it doesn’t have a lot of adjustment it was small enough to stay put on my head during windy conditions. The peripheral vision is good too so you don’t get blindsided while wearing it.
Fit: I am 5’11” and 185 lbs. wearing the size medium.
The Good
- Well-designed, well-made ultralight jacket with a really compelling price point
- Backed by OR’s Infinite Guarantee if anything goes bad
- High-quality insulation and bluesign 12D ripstop nylon
- All the zipper pulls work easily, it stuffs into its own pocket
- OR’s new SuperStrand insulation is a strong competitor in the world of down-like ultralight compressible synthetics
The Bad
- This isn’t an active insulator, so don’t expect it to breathe
- Wish there was a carabiner loop on the stuff pocket
The Bottom Line: Outdoor Research SuperStrand LT Hoodie
At $219, this jacket is a no-brainer. It’s nearly $100 less than Patagonia’s Micro Puff Hoodie line, and from a performance standard it’s hard to discern a real difference between the two. They’re comparable in warmth and weight, but Patagonia probably has the leg up on a sustainable and ethical supply chain. Both offer great guarantees. If you’re looking for a lightweight synthetic puffy, look no further.
Buy Now: Available from REI.com
