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Mountain Hardwear Hooded Compressor Review

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Mountain Hardwear Hooded Compressor Review (Mountain Hardwear Hooded Compressor PL Jacket)
Mountain Hardwear Hooded Compressor PL Jacket
Credit: Mountain Hardwear
Price:  $250 List
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Manufacturer:   Mountain Hardwear
By Ian Nicholson and Chris McNamara  ⋅  May 4, 2011
66
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Warmth - 30% 6.0
  • Weight - 25% 7.0
  • Comfort - 20% 7.0
  • Water Resistance - 10% 7.0
  • Wind Resistance - 10% 6.0
  • Style - 5% 6.0

Our Verdict

This jacket has been discontinued.
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Well-made wrist cuffs
REASONS TO AVOID
Hood is tight with helmet on
Insulation not as good as PrimaLoft ONE
The Hooded Compressor is a good mid-weight synthetic insulated jacket. In this review, it is best compared to the Arc'teryx Atom AR Hoody. For around town use we preferred the Atom AR. The Hooded Compressor, however, is a nicely featured jacket for those looking for something warmer than the standard lightweight synthetic layer.

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Mountain Hardwear Super Compressor vs. The Mountain Hardwear Hooded Compressor


Mountain Hardwear has replaced the Hooded Compressor with the Super Compressor, which retails for $295 - almost $50 more than the Hooded Compressor. The Super Compressor weights the same as the Hooded Compressor (17 oz) and has Thermal.Q Elite, which according to Mountain Hardwear, mimics the structure of down to create the highest warmth to weight ratio available in synthetic insulation.

Check out a side-by-side comparison below, with the Super Compressor pictured on the left and the Hooded Compressor shown on the right.
Mountain Hardwear Super Compressor
Mountain Hardwear Super Compressor
Mountain Hardwear Hooded Compressor PL Jacket
Mountain Hardwear Hooded Compressor PL Jacket

Hands-On Review


Warmth


Like the Montane Ice Guide and Patagonia Hyper Puff Hoody, the Mountain Hardwear Hooded Compressor is constructed with two different insulation weights to balance warmth with overall weight and mobility - 100g/m2 Thermic Micro TK in the body, and 80g/m2 in the sleeves. Not all synthetic insulations are equal. We find PrimaLoft insulation to generally be the best with PrimaLoft ONE being the widely accepted best. Mountain Hardwear's Thermic Micro insulation seems to be less warm. The difference is not extreme, but we find the Arc'teryx Atom AR to be warmer jackets.

The hood of the Compressor is much tighter fitting compared Atom AR. when used over a helmet it feels restrictive and covers the face only when your chin is tucked to your chest. We found this hood fit to be a big drawback.

Weight


We have to admit that we're 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, but you could not bring it along on a long rock climbing route very easily unless you climbed with a pack. Overall, however, the Compressor is a very light - only 17oz.

Features


There are no stand-out features on the Hooded Compressor other than the wrist cuffs, which are similar in design the Mountain Hardwear Quasar with soft “jersey” cuffs that act as a sort of internal wrist gaiter, keeping cold and wetness out. There are four pockets: two hand warming pockets are comfortable fleece lined, but small, and there is an external, and an internal zippered chest pocket. The Internal chest pocket is very small, which we like since it keeps our little items closer at hand. The waist has the standard two-point cinch adjustments. The hood, though small as mentioned above, has a good 3-point adjustment system, and small brim.
mountain hardwear hooded compressor - molly staying warm on a cold yellowstone evening.  she has the...
Molly staying warm on a cold Yellowstone evening. she has the Mountain Hardwear Hooded Compressor layered over a Patagonia Fitz Roy down parka.
Credit: Chris Simrell


Best Application


This is a good jacket to pack along for belaying or skiing because it compresses small and is a bit warmer than the lightweight jackets in this review. It is not the jacket you would bring to clip on your harness, however (since it can't). Though some may feel it looks a bit “techie” we think it looks nice and is great for around town as well.

Value


For $250, the Hooded Compressor is a bit expensive considering how we rated it against its closest competition, the Atom AR.

Ian Nicholson and Chris McNamara