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BPL Beartooth Hoody vs. I/O Bio Merino Hoody
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Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Gear (General) › BPL Beartooth Hoody vs. I/O Bio Merino Hoody
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Dec 1, 2010 at 6:07 am #1266113
If anyone has been eagerly waiting for the BPL Beartooth Hoody to be restocked in the BPL store and have been met with disappointment at the lack of availability then I definitely recommend picking up an I/O Bio Merino hoody. I did a quick from the couch side by side comparison of the two baselayers and must say I prefer the I/O Bio Merino over the Beartooth immediately.
Here's why:
Cost: I/O Bio Merino Hoody $53.98 right now @ Backcountry.com vs. $104.49 for the BPL Beartooth.
* Sorry, Backcountry.com ended the $53.98 SALE. Full retail on the I/O Bio Merino is $89.
Weight: 160g/m2 vs. 150 g/m2
(The ever so thicker merino in the I/O Bio is hardly noticeable but feels more substantial and less "frail"… not that the BPL Beartooth Hoody is frail, but it has always felt a wee on the thin side)
Piece weighs about 9oz.Color: I picked one up in Dark Navy blue w/ yellow flatlock seams and it's more subtle and less "techy" in appearance. I/O Bio is also available in black w/ red stictching for all the deathmetal UL backpackers or angsty hikers.
*The BPL Beartooth is a 2-Tone green/gray and looks a touch ridiculous IMO when worn off trail, which is fine since it's a performance piece. I'm aware of it's limitations in that dept.
Fit: I/O Bio Merino hoody fits better overall. The cut is more effective and there are no baggy areas so it fits closer to the body all around. I would call the cut athletic in design. I was never completely satisfied with the the baggy cut around the chest area on the Beartooth hoody. My size small fit roomy in the chest and upper arms and tapered really tight down to the bottom waist hem. The hem on the I/O Bio merino hoody is long like the Beartooth for layering and extra coverage. I/O Bio also has great arm length for tall wearers.
Content: 96% Merino 4% Elastane
* I don't know the fabric specs of the BPL Beartooth Hoody, both pieces feel comparable in terms of hand feel and next to skin feel. Both have a healthy amount of Merino.
Subtle details:
– Balaclava style hood
– Thumbholes
– Zipper garage (*BPL Beartooth doesn't have this feature)
– Flatlock seamsConcensus:
This is in no way to diminish the quality or greatness of the BPL Beartooth Hoody, because that piece has worked great for me over the last year or so on trips and trail runs, but just to show there are other affordable options to a highly sought after garment.
I'd honestly say that you'd be hard pressed to find much in the Beartooth hoody that you can't find in the I/O Bio Merino hoody, both are comparable.
Dec 1, 2010 at 6:33 am #1669671Which hoody are you referring to for IO Bio? The one I found on the website said it weighed 260g/m2. It's the Men's Signature Hoodigan for $119. Can you provide a link to the one you talking about? Thanks
Dec 1, 2010 at 6:45 am #1669681Dec 1, 2010 at 11:37 am #1669802I/O Bio Merino rocks. I have a few pieces from them. Good deals available at BackCountry or SteepAndCheap regularly.
Wish I would've seen that deal on the hoody. At least my wallet thanks me, eh?
Dec 1, 2010 at 4:20 pm #1669928I absolutely concur. The I/O hoody has been fantastic for me so far, and I do prefer the fit to the beartooth. Great product.
Dec 2, 2010 at 3:43 am #1670064I have the BPL hoody Large and the fit is a bit snug. How does the Bio fit?
Also- Anyone use the Ibex Hooded Indie?
Dec 2, 2010 at 4:32 am #1670066@ Mark,
The I/O Bio Hoody fits snug as well. The fit is however more consistent all around the body with no baggy areas in the arms or upper torso.
Dec 2, 2010 at 6:10 am #1670082Is it tight/cut like the icebreaker 150g baselayer stuff?
I think icebreaker calls it the beast line, cheapest LS they have, think around $69.
Dec 2, 2010 at 9:52 am #1670135I have the Hooded Indie from Ibex. Had it for a few weeks now, but I've taken it on several day hikes and even exercised in it to see how it feels/fits. I really like the piece. It is 195g/m^2, so a bit heavier than the two being discussed here, but I feel like it is going to be the perfect piece for my winter layering system as a baselayer. The fit is snug but not tight, say an athletic fit versus a compression/fitted piece. I love the thumb holes and the balaclava style hood is nice. I'm 5'9" 140lbs.
Dec 2, 2010 at 10:30 am #1670146Mitchell-
What size is your Ibex? I'm little bit more rounder than you. 5'10 at 185+. Look at the picture; illustrates much of my non-hiking life.Mark
Dec 2, 2010 at 12:46 pm #1670175Whoops, completely missed that I didn't post the size. I bought a medium.
I'll probably be looking to get a 150g/m^2 wool piece when spring rolls around. The Indie is nice, but in 75-85*F temps I was definitely getting pretty warm.
Dec 2, 2010 at 4:23 pm #1670241I emailed smartwool sometime ago (month or so) and asked about a lightweight hoody (ie their retired Shadowy Hoody)- they said one was in the works for this spring :)
Jan 17, 2011 at 5:54 pm #1685254I talked to a sherpa gear rep today and got some info on the Kushi hoody.
sherpa adventure Gear
Kushi top
17.5 micron
140 g/m2http://www.sherpaadventuregear.com/mens/khushi-top.php
I can get one of these in a large blue colour from the rep but I really need the grey colour. If anyone knows where to buy one of these online then let me know.
Mar 23, 2011 at 4:57 pm #1713667Mike said on 12/02/10 "I emailed smartwool sometime ago (month or so) and asked about a lightweight hoody (ie their retired Shadowy Hoody)- they said one was in the works for this spring :)"
today they said "In Fall 2011 (August), we are introducing our new line of Lightweight Next To Skin, which will not include a Hoody. But in Fall we are going to make a Midwight Hoody for both men and women."
well so much for Smartwool :(
going to look into both the I/O and Ibex hoody
Mar 23, 2011 at 5:06 pm #1713677I picked up one of the Ibex hoodies off their clearance page recently. I'm liking it! Super comfy, fits well as a base layer or a light mid layer over a thin shirt, and pretty warm for how thin it is.
I'm really stoked on this as a thin insulation layer for while on the move.
Mar 23, 2011 at 5:17 pm #1713688can you comment on fit on the hooded Indie?
Mar 23, 2011 at 7:37 pm #1713747Hey Mike,
It's got a little bit of an athletic cut but seems to be pretty true to size. I'm 5'10", 200 lbs with a 43" chest and a size Large is perfect for me. It's just baggy enough to layer over a thin shirt comfortably or wear it by itself without a whole lot of extra fabric.
-Nick
Mar 23, 2011 at 7:50 pm #1713754great, I'm just about the same size :) thank you
Apr 8, 2011 at 6:05 am #1721859just received a Ibex Hooded Indie in size Large and the fit is perfect! material is light, but doesn't feel frail like some of the very lightest merino, the hood is very functional- have seen several hoody models where the hood appeared to be an after thought, the zipper is nice and long and should prove valuable for venting, 10.1 oz
should have an opportunity next weekend to test drive it :)
Apr 8, 2011 at 8:28 am #1721915The hood on the Indie doesn't fit my alien noggin very well. The stretch in the I/O Bio Contact 1 Glory Zip (friggin' awkward name that I had to Google to get right) allowed the hood to fit me much better.
Apr 8, 2011 at 8:53 am #1721924Big +1. This has been my go-to winter and shoulder season baselayer for the past 6 months. Great fit, comfortable when wet, dries quickly, and has held up well to washing. Hood works well for me alone or over a beanie. Size medium fits my 5'8, 150 lbs perfectly and looks cool in green.
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