Mountain Hardwear Hooded Compressor PL Jacket - Men's Review

Likes
The Compressor Jacket shines when it comes to the details. All the pockets are lined with a luxuriously soft fabric that is warm and comfortable. The chest pocket has a hole for headphones to snake out of, which is a detail that makes me more likely to grab this jacket than others on a cold day when I am headed on an adventure. The insulated hood adds extra warmth and weather protection while being large enough to fit over a helmet. It has a cinch cord to keep it on your head and a mini brim to shield your face from snow. There is a net pocket on the inside, just like in the Zonal jacket, to keep extra essentials. Like The North Face Redpoint jacket, the Compressor is insulated with Primaloft Eco, which is a bonus for environmentally conscious consumers.

Dislikes
I have to admit that I am rather thrown off by the fact that this jacket is called the “Compressor” and it does not stuff into itself. It squishes down relatively small and could be stuffed into a pack, but you could not bring it along on a long route very easily unless you had a pack with you. The hand pockets are also really small, which is a definite contrast to the Zonal jacket that has especially large hand pockets.

Best Application
This is the perfect jacket to pack along for belaying or skiing because it compresses small, is warm and has a cinchable hood that fits over a helmet. It is not the jacket you would bring to clip on your harness, and is a little bulky to wear as a mid-layer, especially because of the hood. It is a warm and stylish jacket, even for wearing around town.

Value
At $200, this is one of the more expensive jackets in the review, though it is also one of the few jackets with a hood, which adds to the expense. It's worth the extra money to get this extra feature if you plan on wearing this as an outer layer because it adds so much warmth and protection. If you would rather have an insulated mid-layer, try the MontBell Thermawrap, Patagonia Nano Puff, or the REI Revelcloud – all of which are less expensive.

Other Versions
Mountain Hardwear Compressor PL - Men's ($170) is the same jacket without a hood. For cold weather, the hood is crucial. However, the hood makes this jacket less layerable and generally means you won't wear it as much when the temps warm up. The hooded version is about 20% heavier and less compressible.