The Outdoor Research Ferrosi Hooded is a competent jacket with excellent features and a very approachable price tag. It offers fantastic breathability, comfortable thumb loops, a pocket that doubles as a stuff sack, and reinforced material on the forearms and shoulders. On top of all that, it has excellent durability and movement — there's almost no reason to not have this piece as part of your wardrobe. It's not the best choice if you think you'll run into inclement weather as it's quite thin and light, though layering either under or over is an option. It's also a bit boxy fitting and sporty, so it probably won't be first on the list to double as a date night jacket. But if you need something simple and well-suited for long hikes or squeezing up chimneys and finessing dihedrals, this fits the bill.
Outdoor Research Ferrosi Hoody - Women's Review
Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Lightweight, affordable, stretchy, durable, breathable, good features, dries fast
Cons: Not the most weather protective, baggy fit, pockets aren't accessible with a harness
Manufacturer: Outdoor Research
Our Verdict
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Outdoor Research Ferrosi Hoody - Women's | |||||
| Awards |  |  |  | | |
| Price | $89.99 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $123.33 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $167.94 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $109.20 at Amazon | $154.99 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Lightweight, affordable, stretchy, durable, breathable, good features, dries fast | Highly breathable, quick-drying, harness and helmet compatible, stowable hood, durable | This is a cozy insulated hybrid ideal for situations when you need a bit more warmth in a lightweight package. | Very lightweight, excellent mobility, highly breathable, great fit, affordable. | Full-legth side zippers, excellent fit, windproof, lined, thumbholes |
| Cons | Not the most weather protective, baggy fit, pockets aren't accessible with a harness | Not very warm, only one pocket | If you need need good breathability and all-around comfort, this insulated hybrid is a great option. | Not warm, only two pockets | Less breathable due to windproofing, expensive |
| Bottom Line | This lightweight jacket is highly breathable and stretchy with an arsenal of fun and useful features. | This lightweight and streamlined pullover is a fabulously durable layer that breathes like a dream and dries lightning fast. | Insulated, comfortable, stretchy, lightweight | This smart and ultralight softshell is extremely easy to move in and highly breathable - an excellent pick for the movement-minded adventure seeker. | This innovative hoody ups the ante with great features like full-length side zips, fantastic mobility, and excellent weather protection. |
| Rating Categories | Ferrosi Hoody | Sigma SL Anorak Pullover | Proton FL Hoody | Rab Borealis - Women's | Ultimate V SO Hooded Jacket |
| Weather Protection (30%) | |||||
| Breathability (30%) | |||||
| Mobility (25%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Versatility (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Ferrosi Hoody | Sigma SL Anorak... | Proton FL Hoody | Rab Borealis -... | Ultimate V SO... |
| Measured Weight - Size Medium (oz) | 11.5oz | 9.5oz | 10.7oz (size Large) | 8.3oz | 13.1oz |
| Material | Body/hood: 86% nylon 14% spandex 90D stretch woven ripstop, shoulders/forearms: Cordura 91% nylon, 9% spandex 120D stretch woven | Aequora Airperm - 86% nylon, 14% elastane | 84% nylon, 16% elastane | Lightweight Matrix single weave with 2-way stretch and DWR | 100% polyester |
| Lined/Insulated? | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Hood | Yes, 1-way adjustable | Yes, 2-way adjustable | Yes, 1-way adjustable | Yes, stretchy but not adjustable | Yes, 1-way adjustable |
| Helmet Compatible? | Yes | Yes | Yes, under | Yes, under | Yes, under |
| Wind Resistant? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, windproof |
| Water Resistant? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of Pockets (zippered unless otherwise noted) | 3 (2 hand, 1 chest) | 1 chest | 4 (2 hand, 2 chest) | 2 hand | 2 hand |
| Adjustable Cuffs? | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Available Sizes | XS - XL | XS - L | XS - XL | XS - XL | XS - XXL |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Ferrosi Hooded performs solidly and admirably for a very accessible price. It's highly breathable with excellent mobility, making it a natural choice for sweaty, high-exertion activities.
Performance Comparison
Weather Protection
While the Ferrosi provides a decent wind barrier, its lightweight material isn't ideal for truly inclement weather. In our water tests, this layer soaked through pretty quickly. It does have a decent amount of resistance for light sprinkles and spray, though, especially on the Cordura-reinforced shoulders and forearms. It also dries very quickly, which is always something we like to see. As long as you're keeping your heart rate up, you will have little problem staying warm in chilly weather. The hood is generous, and the overlapping thumb loops keep the wind out even when not in use, a nice attention to detail.
Breathability
This is an excellent layer for breathability. The material is thin, and the pockets are mesh-lined for added ventilation. It isn't as comfortable next-to-skin as some other models, but we never felt stifled or sticky. All in all, this layer is an excellent choice for high-exertion activities where you need a bit of protection. Running, hiking, biking, climbing, and anything else that works the cardiovascular system are all natural activities for this jacket.
Mobility
Mobility is another category where the Ferrosi shows its value and grabs an impressive score. With stretchy fabric and a generous fit, this is a great layer for getting your move on. Some climbers and backpack-wearers don't like their jackets to be baggy at all, preferring a slimmer cut and fitted design for under-harness/pack strap neatness. But if you like a little extra room for layering underneath, the Ferrosi may be ideal. The hood is ever-so-slightly restrictive with a helmet on, but not bad.
Weight
This thin and light jacket earns another excellent score in the weight metric. The Ferrosi weighs in at 11.5 ounces for a medium, on the lighter side of options in our review. It also has a pocket that doubles as a stuff sack, the perfect combo for bringing up multi-pitch climbs where every ounce counts.
Versatility
This is a feature-rich softshell, especially for the price! The Ferrosi has a list of great features that make it very well-suited to outdoor adventuring. It's stretchy, breathable, quick-drying, lightweight, decently weather-protective, helmet-compatible, and offers UPF 50+ sun protection. The shoulders and forearms are reinforced with abrasion-resistant Cordura. The thumb loops don't chafe, and they overlap to keep cold air out. The hem is drawcord-adjustable, there's a key clip, and — our favorite — a pocket that doubles as a stuff sack ready to be clipped onto a harness. Style-wise this is on the sporty side with a baggier fit, but it's durable and comes in fun colors. The only thing that lessens its score in this category is the fact that it's not overly weather protective.
Value
This jacket is a great value for what you get, best for anyone who wants a durable jacket they can thrash without spending a fortune. If you need something simple, lightweight, breathable, stretchy, and well-featured, then look no further.
Conclusion
Solid, consistent performance meets an outstanding price point with the Ferrosi Hooded. This is a fun jacket with good features that is protective from sun, wind, and sprinkles while breathing and moving with ease. It's light and packs down small and has great versatility for what it is — all at a very fair price.
— Penney Garrett