jack of all trades, master of none

By johndiggity Ranked #1236 - Men's Fleece Jackets October 15, 2009

unlike hercules, who was renowned for his godlike strength and not much else, this jacket is pretty comfortable in a variety of different conditions and climates, yet fails to really shine at doing one thing exceptionally. it sheds light rain, yet becomes soaked in a downpour. it will keep you warm above 40º, but needs some additional help insulating when the mercury plummets. after using this piece almost daily for over two years now, and i hate to say it, the hercules hoody is basically a glorified $350 sweatshirt.

if you plan to use it standalone, it is at its best in a misty cool climate, where the light rain will bead on its surface and the plush fleece interior will keep you pretty warm, but restrict your mobility if you are layering anything that is not smooth faced underneath. this jacket is very breathable, but at the expense of wind-proofing as anything more than a gust will cut right through this jacket.

usually arc'teryx gear is pretty well constructed and thought out. however, i've had some problems with this jacket as far as durability and design features. for one the drawcords to cinch the hood and the hem are terribly placed and a real bitch to pull and adjust. the hem drawcords are situated in the pockets, making operation with any glove heavier than a liner a real chore. likewise, the hood pulls are located inside the hood making adjusting the hood when it is up, almost impossible. did i mention the tension? i had to pull so hard one of the plastic retaining caps came off the hood drawcord.

another problem is the zipper, which lack a garage at the top, and would chafe, but this zipper fails to stay all the way zipped and is always open about a half an inch or so.

if i had to do it over again, i would have saved up for a super water resistant shell to combine with a nice insulating fleece layer, or something with more insulation like the kappa sv that can truly standalone on chillier days. my advice to potential buyers would be to consider your uses as you can get more versatility with your money elsewhere.

View Details: Arc'teryx Hyllus Fleece Hooded Jacket - Men's

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