Mountain Hardwear Kor Preshell Hoody - Women's Review
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Ultralight, comfortable, fairly breathable, stow-away pocket, ideal for summer and fair weather activities
Cons: Sizing runs a bit large, not very weather resistant, not durable, hem rides-up while climbing
Manufacturer: Mountain Hardwear
Our Verdict
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Mountain Hardwear Kor Preshell Hoody - Women's | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $71.47 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $150.73 at Amazon | $194.25 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $115 List Check Price on Amazon | $190.00 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Ultralight, comfortable, fairly breathable, stow-away pocket, ideal for summer and fair weather activities | Highly breathable, quick-drying, foam inserts prevent jacket creep, helmet compatible, stowable hood, durable | Insulated, highly breathable, moisture-wicking, comfortable, great weather protection, durable, lots of pockets | Inexpensive, stellar mobility and breathability, stow-away pocket, harness-friendly pockets, excellent fit | Unbeatable weather protection, taped-seams, spacious hood, stretchy, generous drop-hem, adjustable cuffs |
| Cons | Sizing runs a bit large, not very weather resistant, not durable, hem rides-up while climbing | Not very warm, no stow-away pocket for clipping to your harness, cuffs stretch out with heavy use | Spendy, no stow-away pocket for clipping to your harness, hood somewhat small, some reviewers feel it runs small | Not very warm, below average water resistance | Tight shoulders, runs small, somewhat heavy |
| Bottom Line | A featherweight yet fairly feature-rich wind-layer for summer peak-bagging, trail-running, and rock climbing | If you're in the market for a lightweight and durable layer that will repel sun and wind with ease and dry super fast, this is a stellar choice | If you need need good breathability and all-around comfort, this insulated hybrid is a great option | This jacket is lightweight, breathable, easy to move in, and affordable - a great combination for the active outdoorswoman | A fantastically mobile and stretchy technical jacket for alpine conditions, this layer manages to be nearly weather-proof AND breathable |
| Rating Categories | Kor Preshell Hoody | Sigma SL Anorak Pullover | Proton FL Hoody | Rab Borealis - Women's | Marmot ROM - Women's |
| Weather Protection (30%) | |||||
| Breathability (30%) | |||||
| Mobility (25%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Versatility (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Kor Preshell Hoody | Sigma SL Anorak... | Proton FL Hoody | Rab Borealis -... | Marmot ROM - Women's |
| Measured Weight | 4 oz (size XS) | 9.5 oz (size S) | 9.5 oz (size S) | 9 oz (size 10/S) | 15 oz (size M) |
| Material | Pertex Quantum Air 20D stretch ripstop | Aequora Airperm (86% nylon, 14% elastane) | 84% nylon, 16% elastane | Lightweight Matrix single weave with 2-way stretch and DWR | GORE Infinium 3L (92% Nylon, 8% Elastane Plain Weave) |
| Type | Active | Active | Technical/Hybrid | Active | Technical |
| Lined/Insulated? | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Hood? | Yes, stretchy but not adjustable | Yes, 2-way adjustable | Yes, 1-way adjustable | Yes, stretchy but not adjustable | Yes, with Peripheral Cord Adjustment |
| Number of Pockets (zippered unless otherwise noted) | 3 (2 hand, 1 interior drop-in) | 1 chest | 4 (2 hand, 2 chest) | 2 hand | 4 (2 hand, 1 chest, 1 interior) |
| Adjustable Cuffs? | No, Stretch Cuffs | No, Stretch Cuffs | No, Stretch Cuffs | No, Stretch Cuffs | Yes, Velcro |
| Available Sizes | XS - XL | XS - L | XS - XL | 8 - 16 | XS - XL |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Mountain Hardwear Kor Preshell stole our hearts and a Top Pick Award for Ultralight Pursuits by being as light as a feather while providing impressive wind-resistance. If you're in the market for an affordable but wicked-light option for your next long-distance mountain adventure or as a temp-saving layer on fair-weather alpine climbs, you might have found your match.
Performance Comparison
Weather Protection
Weather protection is one metric where the Kor Preshell did not perform very well. Then again, this softshell was not designed as a water-resistant, all-weather champion; it was designed as a minimal wind-layer for summer sending on breezy days or a lightweight layer for long mountain runs. Indeed, this jacket proved far too thin for anything but fair-weather testing, especially given how cold our main reviewer tends to run.
The main reason for the low performance here is that the Kor Preshell lacks warmth, and it scored poorly on our water-resistance tests. That said, it is not designed as a burly winter layer, nor is it meant to be your go-to for heavy downpours. Instead, with Pertex Infinium fabric, this jacket is meant to protect you from the wind while being lightly water-resistant and exceptionally breathable. Our reviewer found this to be true with regard to breathability and wind resistance on warm but breezy days — but in the shower and soak-through tests, the Kor offered hardly any resistance at all. In a light drizzle, it would likely offer some water-resistance while you hustled back to shelter, but we wouldn't recommend depending on this jacket in truly inclement weather. Given that it is so lightweight, if you are intending to be in the backcountry for an extended trip, it might be reasonable to take the Kor Preshell in addition to a lightweight hardshell, to have a breathable wind-layer as well as a jacket to wear in the event of a storm.
Breathability
Breathability is one of the categories where the Kor Preshell earned the highest marks. On sunny but breezy mornings with long-uphill approaches, this jacket proved incredibly breathable.
This barely-there layer is a great companion for warm days rock climbing when the breeze picks up in the afternoon, and you need something to cut the bite of the wind. It is also an easy go-to layer for breezy trail-runs. On long sunny hikes, it is a perfect layer to bring along — it weighs next-to-nothing, and when the temps drop toward the end of the day, it is great for maintaining core temps. It does not feature pit-vents or any additional ventilation for sweat, but our reviewer found this to be unnecessary, as the fabric is super breathable as is.
Mobility
Mobility is another metric where the Kor Preshell performs notably well. This thin layer moves well and Is a great layer for cutting the wind while bouldering, cragging, or multi-pitch climbing on fairly warm days.
The form-fitting hood on the Kor Preshell is quite comfortable with or without a climbing helmet, and doesn't impede movement. Indeed, the only reason this jacket didn't earn a perfect score in this category is that the hem-line tends to ride-up while climbing. This could be a product of having to size-down due to the jacket running a wee-bit on the large side, so take this with a grain of salt. Overall, with incredible four-way stretchy fabric and a well-tailored fit, the Kor Preshell moves like a second skin and became one of our reviewer's favorites for evening sends.
Weight
Weight? What weight? The Kor hardly weighs anything at all! In an extra small, this jacket hardly registers with the absurdly low weight of 4 ounces. No, your eyes do not deceive you. 4 ounces.
For all you ultralight enthusiasts looking for a highly packable and wind-resistant layer, this jacket definitely shocked us all with its lack of heft.
Versatility
You can't win 'em all. Versatility is one of the metrics where the Kor Preshell did not earn top marks. We determine versatility by considering the features, style, durability, and the array of conditions and activities ideal for each jacket.
This uber-thin layer is not the most weather versatile of the jackets we tested, but it isn't designed to be used in inclement weather or during things like ice and mixed climbing. The Kor Preshell is perfect for climbing in Indian Creek at sunny crags in early spring, but the thin material isn't durable enough for too many encounters with offwidths or chimneys. It has just enough features to be functional, with a form-fitted hood and three pockets, two being zippered hand pockets, and one being a drop-in pocket that doubles as a stow-away pocket. After stuffing the Kor Preshell into its stow-away pocket, it was by far the smallest of the jackets we tested, and the nylon loop is the most durable of those we tested.
Of all the jackets we tested, the Kor Preshell would be the easiest to clip to the back of your harness on multi-pitch climbs, or as an extra wind-layer on fair-weather alpine climbing days.
Value
While the Kor Preshell is not the cheapest jacket in our review, it is far from the most expensive. If you're looking for something more substantial than an ultra-light wind-layer, then this jacket isn't going to be a very good deal. However, if you need a lightweight summer layer for mountain running or an ultralight layer for fair-weather multi-pitch climbing, then this jacket is a worthy contender and a reasonably priced one at that. Be fair-warned that ultra-light often does not translate to ultra-durable, so if durability is a key component to value, then this may not be the jacket for you.
Conclusion
The Kor Preshell earns a Top Pick Award for being the Best for Ultralight Pursuits because of its absurdly low weight coupled with excellent mobility, great breathability, and wind protection. It is a great fair-weather climbing jacket for keeping temps up while belaying, and it stows away into a compact package for stashing on your harness when not in use. We loved climbing and hiking in this jacket, as long as the temps weren't too low, and appreciate the surprising number of pockets and form-fitted hood. If you're looking for an ideal wind-layer for summer mountain runs, hikes, or any style of climbing, then this might be the jacket for you.
— Mary Witlacil