Reviews > Clothing > Shirts > Ibex Shak Hoody > Jennifer Williams > Field Report

Field Report: Ibex Shak Hoody

TESTER BIO
Name: Jennifer Williams
Age: 27
Gender: Female
Height: 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m)
Weight: 120 lbs (56 kg)
Bust: 34 in (86 cm)
Waist: 27 in (69 cm)
Hips: 36 in (91 cm)
Sleeve: 30 in (76 cm)
Email: jensmail78 (at) yahoo.com
Sunnyvale, CA, USA
Date: January 24, 2005

Backpacking Background:

I grew up horseback riding, skiing, camping, and hiking, but I just started backpacking about three years ago. All of my trips have been one or two night stays. My trips normally range from coastal trails in the redwoods to mountainous terrain in the Sierra Nevada. I tend to hike where I encounter rain and dampness. This year I am looking forward to making some longer trips in northern California and gaining more experience. I am not a lightweight backpacker yet, but would like to reduce my current pack weight significantly.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Manufacturer: Ibex Outdoor Clothing LLC
Year of manufacture: 2005
URL: www.ibexwear.com
Listed weight: 15.2 oz (431 g)
Weight as delivered: 14 oz (400 g)
Size: women's small
Color: Black
Material: 100% New Zealand Merino Dense Knit Wool
MSRP: $140 (US)

Product Description:

The Shak Hoody is a wool, mid-weight layer with a fitted hood, partial zip front, and thumb holes in the sleeves. See my Initial Report for a detailed description.

FIELD INFORMATION

Central and Northern California Coasts:
During the first phase of testing I went on an overnight backpacking trip in Castle Rock State Park and two day hikes in state parks and along the same redwood range. The trails ranged in elevations from sea level to 6000 ft (sea level to 1800 m). Daytime temperatures were around 65 F (18 C) and evening temperatures on the backpacking trip were around 30 F (-1 C). On the backpacking trip I carried a 25 lb (11 kg) pack. On all three outings I used the Shak Hoody as my outer layer, over a silk-weight base layer. The weather was sunny and calm with only a bit of fog in the early mornings. I did not end up sleeping in the hoody as I was not particularly cold in my sleeping bag.

Wasatch Range, Northern Utah:
Since the snow was scarce around Lake Tahoe during this testing phase, I used the Shak hoody while snowboarding in the Wasatch Range near Salt Lake City, Utah. The Wasatch Range varies between 7000 and 11,000 ft (2100 and 3300 m). Temperatures were around 30 F (-1 C) on the first two days and 22 F (-6 C) on the third day. I wore the Shak Hoody as a mid-layer over a silk camisole and under a waterproof outer shell. I did not use my typical day pack or my helmet.

FIELD TEST

The Shak Hoody performed well on all of my hiking and backpacking trips. The weather was unusually dry and warm for this time of year, so I was unable to test it in much fog or rain. While hiking the hoody felt warm without being too hot. When I would work up a sweat, it breathed enough to keep me from overheating. Being able to partially unzip the front was a big help with that. When I did work up a sweat the hoody dried pretty quickly and did not feel that wet next to my skin. It seems to block some of the wind when worn as an outer layer, but certainly not all of it. This was not a big issue unless I had not been active in a while and was already on the cool side. The hoody was as warm as other mid-weight layers I have used and might be a bit warmer, but I am still undecided on this. At night on the backpacking trip I used a fleece outer layer over the hoody and stayed pretty warm. I used the hood occasionally if I was not very active or around camp in the evenings and it definitely helped conserve some heat, but I still feel that it is too shallow and does not cover enough of my forehead. I enjoyed having the thumb holes and extra long sleeves to keep my hands warm. I frequently took my thumbs in and out without difficulty depending on how warm I was. I was often able to pull my hands up into the sleeves to put my thumbs in the holes without using my other hand, but it definitely requires the opposing hand to remove them.

While snowboarding, the Shak hoody was a warm mid-layer on the first two days. It fit well under my outer shell and kept my inner temperature well regulated while standing in lift lines after warming up on the slopes. On my third trip to the slopes the temperatures were colder and there was a lot of wind. I found myself feeling cold while on the lifts and standing in line. I did not bring a warmer base-layer on my trip to Utah, so I switched to an expedition weight mid-layer for the remainder of the trip. I think that if I had had a long sleeved base-layer instead of a camisole I would have been able to wear the Shak Hoody on some of the colder days. With just the camisole, my lower limit was about 25 F (-4 C). I used the thumb holes under my mittens and they kept my sleeves in place and were comfortable for my hands. It was easy to take my thumbs out of the thumb holes when I would take my mittens off to eat. I really like having the extra sleeve coverage on my hands when I take my mittens off to do various things. I did not use the hood because when I would put it on with my outer layer it felt like the hood was too short and the outer layer was pulling down on it. However, while I wasn't using it, the hood tucked away under my shell and I didn't notice any excess bulk. The only other restriction I noticed was that the zipper attachment is too small to grasp with mittens or gloves on. This made things a bit difficult when trying to regulate my temperature.

SUMMARY

Overall, the Shak hoody is comfortable to wear. All of my base layers fit well underneath it and the hoody fits well under all of my various outer layers. With the exception of the hood being a little too short, the Shak Hoody fits very well. It is a little less stretchy than my synthetic mid-layers, but it is not restrictive either. The fabric still appears new after many washing and wearing cycles. There is no visible pilling or snags even though it has come in contact with my shell's Velcro many times. The hoody is easy to wash in the gentle cycle, but the intructions say to lay it flat to dry and I have found that it takes the hoody a long time to dry. I have a mesh drying rack for my sweaters that allows air to reach them from underneath, but despite this optimal setup, the Shak Hoody seems to take anywhere from a half day to two days to dry. This seems a bit long considering that it is inside my apartment in minimum temperatures of 65 F (18 C). Other than that, it is very easy to care for.

Likes:
*Extra coverage of sleeves and thumb holes
*Half zipper to regulate heat

Dislikes:
*Hood is too short and too shallow
*Zipper attachment is too small to grasp with gloves on
*Long drying time after washing

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