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Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody Review

This fleece has great construction and deluxe features, but doesn't layer or breathe as well as the R1.
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Price:  $179 List | $134.99 at Backcountry
Compare prices at 3 resellers
Pros:  Breathable, good mid layer
Cons:  Pricey
Manufacturer:   Arc'teryx
By Matt Bento ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  May 14, 2018
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62
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#12 of 16
  • Warmth - 20% 6
  • Comfort - 20% 6
  • Breathability - 20% 6
  • Layering Ability - 15% 8
  • Style - 5% 6
  • Weather resistance - 10% 3
  • Weight - 10% 8

Our Verdict

The Arc'teryx Kyanite is a Mercedes of fleece, with no expenses spared, no corners cut, and if you're an Arc'teryx aficionado, you won't be disappointed by their take on the classic fleece layer. However, our testers are no brand loyalists, and we want to find the best, regardless of the manufacturer. The Kyanite is soft, the hood fits well, the zippers have big pulls for easy gloved operation, but it still doesn't outperform the venerable Patagonia R1 Hoody when it comes to our favorite lightweight fleece layer.

Color Updates

Arc'teryx has updated the Kyanite's color options. The orange we reviewed is no longer offered, but there are a handful of other colors to choose from, like the mustard yellow pictured above. Hues aside, the features of this jacket have remained the same.

August 2019


Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)
 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award   
Price $134.99 at Backcountry
Compare at 3 sellers		$158.95 at Amazon
Compare at 4 sellers		$107.39 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers		$169.00 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers		$117.93 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Breathable, good mid layerPerfect fit for most active uses, ideal weight for many conditions, great hood designUltra breathable, very comfortableBreathable, awesome balaclava feature, great fitStylish, comfortable, great range of motion
Cons PriceyNot as stylish as some other fleeces for around town, not as warm for its weight as some high-loft modelsNot very warmExpensiveNot a very good warmth-to-weight ratio
Bottom Line This fleece has great construction and deluxe features, but doesn't layer or breathe as well as the R1.A perfect layering piece that regulates body temperature so well you'll leave it on from summit to sleeping bag and everywhere in between.This jacket is your best choice for high exertion activities in the winter.Arc'teryx's take on the half zip has some solid advantages over the R1.This is a stylish, comfortable fleece for strenuous activity and around town wear, but a little heavy for long backcountry trips.
Rating Categories Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody Patagonia R1 Hoody Deviator Hoody Arc'teryx Konseal Hoody Patagonia Crosstrek Hoody
Warmth (20%)
10
0
6
10
0
7
10
0
6
10
0
5
10
0
7
Comfort (20%)
10
0
6
10
0
8
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
9
Breathability (20%)
10
0
6
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
8
10
0
7
Layering Ability (15%)
10
0
8
10
0
10
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
7
Style (5%)
10
0
6
10
0
4
10
0
3
10
0
7
10
0
9
Weather Resistance (10%)
10
0
3
10
0
7
10
0
5
10
0
8
10
0
5
Weight (10%)
10
0
8
10
0
9
10
0
10
10
0
8
10
0
7
Specs Arc'teryx Kyanite... Patagonia R1 Hoody Deviator Hoody Arc'teryx Konseal... Patagonia...
Type Midweight Lightweight Lightweight Lightweight Midweight
Weight (oz.) 13.4 oz 10.4 oz 9.65 oz 12.4 oz 14.7 oz
Main Material Polartec PowerStretch Pro 6.9-oz Polartec Power Grid 93% recycled polyester 7% spandex with Polygiene permanent odor control 2L Polartec Power Grid - 84% polyester
16% spandex knit face 		Polartec Power Dry High Warmth 6.8 oz Polartec Power Stretch - 86% polyester/14% spandex jersey with fleece backing
# of Pockets 3 1 3 1 2
Unique Features Scuba hood, No-Slip zipper Balaclava style hood, thumb loops, Polygiene permanent odor control, longer length to stay tucked under a harness Thumb loops, Polartec Alpha insulated front panel Neck Gaiter/Balaclava, Thumb Loops, Media Pocket Thumb loops, interior media pocket within right hand pocket
Hood Option Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Arc'teryx Kyanite inhabits the lightweight fleece niche along with the Outdoor Research Transition Hoody and the Patagonia R1 Hoody. It's one of the warmer entries in the lightweight category but loses points for breathability and comfort.

While soft and stretchy we wish this jacket had a longer hemline
While soft and stretchy, we wish this jacket had a longer hemline

Performance Comparison


While it's no R1 Arc'teryx aficionados will be happy with this lightweight fleece.
While it's no R1, Arc'teryx aficionados will be happy with this lightweight fleece.

Warmth


This jacket gets it's warming powers from the Polartec Power Stretch Pro fleece that comprises the entirety of the jacket. The slim fit of the Kyanite butts soft fleece right up against your skin, making it a thermally efficient mid layer. The hood is form fitting and designed to fit under a helmet and zips up to sit comfortably just above the chin. It's not as warm as the R1 hoody, but it insulates a little better than the super breathable Outdoor Research Transition Hoody. If you're looking to turn the heat up just a little, the REI Co-Op Flowcore is a loftier, cozier entry that doesn't weigh much more than the Kyanite. For maximum warmth (at the expense of breathability) there's the heavy, weather-resistant The North Face Denali 2.

This fleece features a soft form fitting scuba style hood.
This fleece features a soft, form fitting scuba style hood.

Comfort


Several features make this jacket a comfortable piece for layering. The elastic cuffs are perfect, tight enough that they stay in place when our testers put another layer on, but not so tight we couldn't comfortably pull up the sleeves. The handwarmer pockets are large and located high on the jacket, so they don't become inaccessible underneath a harness. Our one complaint about the Kyanite when it comes to comfort is that the hem is cut short when compared to the R1. Longer jackets provide more coverage for warmth and don't ride up over a climbing harness, making difficult to grab gear on the fly.

Breathability


The best breathers among the fleeces have a waffle-like grid pattern, allowing air and moisture to move out through the little channels in the grid. Constructed with a uniform piece of fleece, the Kyanite has no breathable channels. Light and thin, this jacket breathes much better than heavier fleece like the REI Co-Op Hyperaxis or The North Face Denali 2, but not as well as Jackets designed with better breathability in mind, like the Patagonia R1 Hoody.

This jacket layers easily under a light wind jacket.
This jacket layers easily under a light wind jacket.

Laying Ability


As mentioned earlier, the Kyanite is an excellent mid-layer. We often wore it between a t-shirt and an insulated jacket. While it doesn't have thumb loops, the elastic cuffs are tight enough that they don't ride up your arms when putting them through the sleeves of another jacket. This Jacket has a slim, athletic cut, so it doesn't bunch up and feel uncomfortable under other layers.

Weather Resistance


The Kyanite doesn't fare well when exposed to the elements. The wind cut right through to our tester during his bike commutes. There is no DWR treatment on this fleece like the R1 Techface Hoody, so water soaks through almost immediately, but underneath a wind or waterproof layer, the Kyanite offers a thin layer of cozy insulation, and it feels great against the skin, especially compared to a nylon rain jacket.

Weight


The Kyanite falls into the midweight fleece category tipping the scales at 13.4oz. Perfectly packable for the backcountry. However, our testers feel the lighter weight Patagonia R1 Hoody is warmer.

Soft fleece dries quickly but can't repel even light precip.
Soft fleece dries quickly, but can't repel even light precip.

Style


This jacket is fully equipped for all mountain adventures but looks fairly simple and low key, and our testers had no problem sporting it around town or around the house. It's available in five colors; Triton, Woad, Rooibos, Black, and Nighthawk.

Value


If you want that dinosaur skeleton logo on your clothes, you gonna have to pay up. This fleece will set you back $179, but you'll get a good mid layer with the quality we've come to expect from Arc'teryx.

Small soft zipper pulls reduce bulk and are better for layering.
Small, soft zipper pulls reduce bulk and are better for layering.

Best Applications


This fleece inhabits the role of the traditional mid layer. While there aren't many bells and whistles, it's comfortable, it layers well, and it breathes much better than most insulated jackets, except for active insulation layers like the Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid Hoody.

Conclusion


The Arc'teryx Kyanite scores middle of the road in all our metrics. It's a well-made jacket, but it lacks the never-take-it-off-even-to-sleep comfort of the Patagonia R1 Hoody, which remains the king of the breathable mid-layers.


— Matt Bento