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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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  • #1266113
    Eugene Smith
    BPL Member

    @eugeneius

    Locale: Nuevo Mexico

    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 seams

    Concensus:

    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.

    #1669671
    Mark Ryan
    Member

    @sixguns01

    Locale: Somewhere. Probably lost.

    Which 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

    #1669681
    Eugene Smith
    BPL Member

    @eugeneius

    Locale: Nuevo Mexico
    #1669802
    Stephan Doyle
    Member

    @stephancal

    I/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?

    #1669928
    Here There
    BPL Member

    @cowexnihilo

    I absolutely concur. The I/O hoody has been fantastic for me so far, and I do prefer the fit to the beartooth. Great product.

    #1670064
    Mark Ryan
    Member

    @sixguns01

    Locale: Somewhere. Probably lost.

    I have the BPL hoody Large and the fit is a bit snug. How does the Bio fit?

    Also- Anyone use the Ibex Hooded Indie?

    #1670066
    Eugene Smith
    BPL Member

    @eugeneius

    Locale: Nuevo Mexico

    @ 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.

    #1670082
    Scott Truong
    Spectator

    @elf773

    Locale: Vancouver, BC

    Is it tight/cut like the icebreaker 150g baselayer stuff?

    I think icebreaker calls it the beast line, cheapest LS they have, think around $69.

    #1670135
    Mitchell Murphy
    Member

    @texico

    Locale: North Georgia

    I 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.

    #1670146
    Mark Ryan
    Member

    @sixguns01

    Locale: Somewhere. Probably lost.

    Mitchell-
    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

    #1670175
    Mitchell Murphy
    Member

    @texico

    Locale: North Georgia

    Whoops, 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.

    #1670241
    Mike M
    BPL Member

    @mtwarden

    Locale: Montana

    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 :)

    #1685254
    James Horner
    Member

    @jbob19

    Locale: Ontario

    I 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/m2

    http://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.

    #1713667
    Mike M
    BPL Member

    @mtwarden

    Locale: Montana

    Mike 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

    #1713677
    Nico .
    BPL Member

    @nickb

    Locale: Los Padres National Forest

    I 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.

    #1713688
    Mike M
    BPL Member

    @mtwarden

    Locale: Montana

    can you comment on fit on the hooded Indie?

    #1713747
    Nico .
    BPL Member

    @nickb

    Locale: Los Padres National Forest

    Hey 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

    #1713754
    Mike M
    BPL Member

    @mtwarden

    Locale: Montana

    great, I'm just about the same size :) thank you

    #1721859
    Mike M
    BPL Member

    @mtwarden

    Locale: Montana

    just 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 :)

    #1721915
    Jason Delso
    BPL Member

    @zencarver

    Locale: DFW

    The 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.

    #1721924
    Ike Jutkowitz
    BPL Member

    @ike

    Locale: Central Michigan

    Big +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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