Senchi Designs Alpha 60 Hoodie

As someone who has been looking for the perfect midlayer for several years, I was drawn to the Senchi Designs Alpha 60 Hoodie because it claimed to be extremely lightweight and packable without compensating on warmth. I’ve used this hoodie during my two week trip where I completed the Collegiate Loop, where I experienced temperatures between 32 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and at some points was hiking around 12,000 feet. I also experienced a storm system which delivered several inches of rain to the Collegiates in 48 hours.  I have also used this hoodie on overnights on the Arizona Trail, in similar temperatures but much drier conditions, and during my thru hike of the Tahoe Rim trail, where temperatures ranged from 50 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, but I did not experience much rain.

I will say that the Senchi Hoodie delivers when it comes to warmth and packability. I am 5’3″ 105 lbs and I ordered the extra small, which came in at around three ounces, which is incredible for a fleece. It kept me warm as I started hiking each day on the Collegiate Loop in near freezing conditions, and the breathability of the fabric meant that I felt comfortable keeping it on until around 60 degrees. I always layered the fleece over my hiking dress or shirt, and I never felt too hot. When it was near freezing, I found that the fabric kept me warm easily. And the fleece was so light and compact that I often felt like I didn’t have to take it off, because it wasn’t noticeable as an extra bulky layer when I was hiking.

The main downside to this hoodie, as is with many products made out of the Polartec® Alpha Direct 60 fabric, is that it is much more delicate than any other product than I have used. I am gentle with my gear, but after only 40 days of use, my hoodie has several holes at the end of the sleeves and one at the back of the hood. In addition, while I found that the cut of this hoodie fit me better than a hoodie made out of similar fabric made by FarPointe gear, the extra small is a boxy fit and is not cut for very petite hikers like me. This makes me concerned that the extra fabric might be prone to snagging on my pack as I hike.

The hood is also very close fitting, balaclava style, and doesn’t flair out at all, making it very practical to put underneath ball caps or beanies, but some may not like the constricted feel, as the fabric is directly against your ears and neck the entire time.

I would recommend this product to those looking for a truly ultralight fleece. However, I am concerned about the longevity of this product compared to other companies using the same fabric and making similar clothing pieces. While this hoodie is certainly closer to the perfect midlayer for me, I am likely to try other hoodies from other companies to see if some of the concerns I have about longevity are specifically due to the design, cut, and fit of this product, as opposed to the fabric itself.