Once upon a time, I soaked through my down jacket while snowshoeing. Yep, I’m the type of person who is too lazy to shed layers when I’m moving. I don’t want to stop; I just want to keep going. For days like those, the Black Diamond Deployment Hybrid Hoody is a lifesaver.
The insulated chest, arms and hood are made of Schoeller® stretch-woven nylon with NanoSphere® Technology with PrimaLoft® Silver Hi-Loft. The underarms, back, and cuffs are made of blended merino wool. The hood is low profile and fits under or over your helmet.
Two zippered hand pockets are harness compatible. A mesh lining keeps things more breathable on the inside. The fit is trim and long so your jacket will fit sleekly underneath your harness.
The Deployment Hybrid Hoody has been my life saver on windy multipitch climbs. Harness compatible pockets keep my hands warm while I’m waiting to climb. The merino wool panels mean I don’t overheat and I stay warm where I need it. For hiking and backpacking, the panels help to regulate warmth and keep things breathable. Cold day? No problem. I’m warm in the front, but my back doesn’t get sweaty with a big ol’ backpack on the back. The strategically placed panels–ahem, under the armpits–means that merino wool helps to mitigate smells after days of huffing and puffing in the backcountry.
The chest zip pocket comes in very handy on cold days where you need to keep things like camera batteries warm. I tried to use this as a cooler weather belay jacket or as a stand around when it’s cold out jacket. This is where it did not excel as I got cold quickly. One thing I’d love to see would be thumb holes on the merino cuffs, but you can’t win em all. The Deployment Hybrid Hoody performs excellently when you’re exerting yourself and still need to be toasty.
Buy through Black Diamond for $249.
Photos from Lake Mackenzie in New Zealand.
Photos by AJ Baker.
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