Outdoor Research Ascendant Jacket Review

Light and highly breathable the outdoor reseach ascendant hoody is hailed by some as the perfect mid layer the ascendant is the first jacket we ve tested to use polartec alpha direct a version of polartec that doesn t require an inner lining to hold it in place saving weight and adding an extra element of comfort.

Outdoor research ascendant jacket review. 10 10 would buy again. The ascendant was completely soaked but managed to keep my upper body warm for the entire race while not overly warm. It works great as a mid layer in cold weather or an outer layer in cooler temps. The outdoor research ascendant hoody is a unique insulated jacket that uses polartec alpha direct insulation on the interior giving it a fuzzy and cuddly feel while using a soft shell like material on the exterior.

It has that light touch of warmth that backcountry skiers and alpine climbers look for when they re moving fast on the uphill. The women s ascendant hoody also retails for 249 but comes in slightly lighter at 10 9 ounces and is available in different colorways at the time of publishing these include black and. It performed well against some top tier softshell jackets and didn t quite measure up against others. Unlike most midlayers the outdoor research men s ascendent hooded jacket is an insulated layer that s actually designed for the ascent.

After taking it for a proper adventure i can certainly say that this jacket will be one of my mainstays. I was going to wear my or boost but it was too thin and lacked insulation. We brought the men s ascendant hoody skiing in the coast mountains of british columbia and outdoor research makes the same jacket in a women s version. Polartec alpha insulation keeps warm while allowing total air permeability which means the jacket begins to breathe the moment you.

The most unique in our review the outdoor research ascendant hoody is a hybrid between an insulated jacket and a softshell combining both to create a niche layer that works well on top of light base layers or underneath a heavier jacket. Building on the glowing reception of our uberlayer jacket we ratcheted up the breathability while cutting the weight a little more to build the ascendant collection pertex microlight movement mirroring stretch fabric and polartec alpha insulation create the perfect combination for skinning uphill belaying or layering under a ski jacket on cold days at the resort.