HoodOrak

Excelente adquisición, me decidí a comprar primeramente un Al's Anorak y al ver la calidad del tejido y su textura en verdad que rebasó mis expectativas por mucho, yo tengo cobertores y gabanes de tejido artesanal hechos en telares de madera y hechos a mano en mi tierra Michoacán, México, en la ciudad de Patzcuaro, y obviamente se nota las diferencias entre tejidos, si menospreciar para mi los dos son excelentes, me encanta la lana, y eso me animo a adquirir mi segunda prenda, un HoodOrak Jacquard MidWeight Black, y estoy encantado es lo que esperaba y un poco más, me sorprendió ver que traía una etiqueta extra, INNES RANCH, GILLETTE WYOMING 100% WOOL, investigue y eso añadió muchos puntos extras a la adquisición de mi HoodOrak, pronto podré hacer uso del mismo, gracias a toda la gente de WeatherWool por la excelente fabricación de estas prendas. Sigan así.

This one’s for skinny people who get cold easy and burn fast.

Product: Midweight Jacquard, Small

I'm one of those sorts who optimizes my possessions to fit as many uses as possible.

Physically I'm short and very thin. (Size S in mens)

My body lacks flesh. I get cold really fast.

Genetics left me vampircally pale, so I sunburn fast and easy even with good cream.

I demand a lot from my clothes, requiring durability, stretch, temp control, and sun protection for a wide variety of activities - including heavy cycling for pleasure and frequent commuting in all weathers.

A deep hood is invaluable for the sun. I rarely bring a hat unless hiking, but typically I'm cycling everywhere and prefer a helmet.

Preferably my clothes use as many natural materials as possible, without crazy treatments or dyes that undermine the properties of those materials that keep them low maintenance. Quiet fabric is a plus. Comfort is mandatory.

Some context: I moved to another country that was colder, wetter, and drearier than the US.

I don’t have much and I prefer it that way. My wardrobe is lean and mostly wool, except for two puffer jackets of differing volume.

Light, warm, packable -
Miserably gross as active wear. Even when sedentary they gunk up fast.

When I had the budget I went looking for better options.

Saw that video of Ralph calmly wading into a freezing river in the dead of winter with a WW jacket on to prove it worked.

I immediately call to inquire, thinking I should go for the Hooded Jacket.

Ralph, owner of the company, picks up the phone.

I explain my needs worried the cycling emphasis would be the achilles heel.

Ralph informs me they’ve recently made a newer garment that has a lot of nice features that seemed nice for bicycling (my main travel mode)

While on the phone I open the website and find the Hooded Orak.

I didn’t think it was possible but I was reading the description of a garment that fit literally all my needs simultaneously.

He also suggested the neckgaiter – not to upsell me, but for the added utility, if I could afford it. He really thought it’d be useful for me.

Well, both items arrived some months ago.

Listen. It’s worth it. I wear it in almost all weather, for all activities except indoor exercise and stretching, and it’s comfortably and functionally superb.

The hood is the best I've ever worn. Comfortable, deep, protective.

I feel like a wizard. It has a drawstring and a nylon strap to adjust – excellent for bike rides where I need extra neck coverage.

I’m fully protected from the sun without getting hot (except my hands, but I have sun gloves.)

On my bike, whether it's roads or trails, I don’t overheat. I can open two huge side zippers AND can open the front by zipping upwards without splitting the garment into a pair of billowing flaps that catch the wind and fly everywhere.

It’s got x4 zipping pockets and x2 hand pockets (no zippers – at first I was sad about it but now totally appreciate not having zipper teeth gnaw my wrists while I warm my hands up).

Even in 24 C / 74 Fh weather I’m comfortable whether I’m holding still or being active.

The limit for heat was 25 C / 77 Fh – but that’s because I tried wearing it during a heatwave while trapped in a city, surrounded by asphalt & car fumes &crowds of people. Urban environments don’t breathe right, there’s so much humidity and stagnant air. Concrete reflects everything back.

Had it been similar temps in a forest I think I could’ve tolerated it better.

For the winter, provided I layered appropriately it was the perfect shell.

I used:
- zero drop boots with wool insoles
- heavy wool socks
-high gsm merino leggings
-a robust nylon pant (or wool loden if not cycling)
- a heavy merino wool baselayer (and a rougher knit wool military sweater for sitting still or sleeping in a 2 season sleeping bag)
- the WW neck gaiter
- the Hooded Orak

and was absolutely fine at -1 C / 30 Fh, despite ice, sleet, wind, and rain.

Where I live now the coldest it gets is -8 to – 12 C (18 Fh and 12 Fh) and that was fine too, but I’d add other insulation methods at that point.

This is THE most versatile piece of clothing I own; worn every day for several months now in a huge variety of weather and activities.

I've not been gentle at all, and it's still in the exact same condition as when it arrived new.

I don’t leave reviews unless I’ve tested an item in most ways I need to, and I must say – this jacket genuinely solved all my problems I’ve had with every other coat & jacket I've worn in life, except urban heatwaves.

I found a lightweight hemp hoodie for that, but I miss my Hooded Orak the entire time.

If you're like me - thin and cold all the time - do yourself a favor and buy this.

Best piece of clothing I’ve ever owned.

When I can afford to buy something from WW again I’m definitely going to see if they've got pants!

The best wool that money can get you. Weather Wool is a fantastic company. I will buy more from them!

To start, I have both one in Denim Moss, and one in Midweight Lynx. Both in medium. For reference, I'm 6'1" about 175# with a 40" chest (depending on how many pushups I've done that week haha) and 33" waist.

First, the fit: they seem to be a slightly bigger/roomier cut than the Al's Anorak, but I'm fine with that. I may get one in a size down to test fit at some point. But you can always exchange for another size if your unhappy with the fit.

The performance of Weatherwools fabric, both Denim and Jacquard is second to NONE. With proper layering: Merino T as a base layer and a WW CPO as a mid layer, I was completely comfortable checking my winter beaver trapline in 15°F weather (denim Moss one). Granted, if you plan on lower exertion activities like stand hunting or sitting in a photography blind etc. in temps like that, you may want to go with a Fullweight Anorak or AAJ. But even in much warmer temps this can be worn right over a T-shirt and still be comfortable in much warmer temps.

This design I feel like will eventually fully replace the hooded jacket as I think most of us like the extra pockets the HoodOrak has to offer. It's a VERY versatile piece that, along with the midweight Anorak; has replaced all my other synthetic (junk) or cotton hoodies/sweatshirts.

The front bi-directional zipper may be easier for some who conceal carry appendix, while the side zippers, like the Anorak allow you to be ready at all times while strong-side carrying. Asides from CCW, all the zippers allow for very nice venting if you catch yourself in a warmer than expected environment and don't feel like carrying the HoodOrak.

Not only does this replace my old hoodies, it is a fantastic piece of rain gear. I don't hesitate to go out in any rainstorm with this on. It has a better, deeper hood than most rain jackets.

The ONE thing I would like to see changed would be the the knit cuffs. I don't hate them, but feel like they would be better suited to a Fullweight HoodOrak or Anorak where you are trying to seal out the cold more. I would like to see the sleeves/cuffs like the Anorak is now.

Hopefully there will be a Fullweight version of this at some point in the future.

Got the midweight drab green. Great colour, great stitching, and unmatched softness. Looks great with the drab green whipcord underneath and some walnut denim pants. Usually go for XL but got the XXL for layering purposes and it offers enough extra room, but not so much that I’m swimming in it.
The functionality of the side zips and double main zip are fantastic. Can easily access things in my pants pockets and on my belt by un-zipping the side zip a bit.
The shock cord in the back is nice too to take out some of the extra space in the belly when not layering.
Can’t understate how comfortable and well built weatherwool’s garments feel. If you have the money and are on the fence about making your first purchase just do it, you will not regret it.