Now, I have long been a fan of Polartec WindPro fleece and that is exactly what this hoodie is made of. I believe it is even made from the heaviest variant of the material that Polartec makes, coming in at a 10oz weight.
For those of you that are not familiar, WindPro blocks 4 times more wind than traditional fleece does. It achieves this by using a much denser "weave" than your bog standard fleece materials. The immediate effect of this is that it feels much warmer on its own and vastly expands the conditions that you can get away with using it in. Since there is no "breathable" membrane, it also dumps moisture far more effectively and you avoid the "I'm wearing a trashbag in 100 degree heat" sensation that is so common with other wind-resistant garments.
But, enough of the technicalities, let us move right along to the jacket in question, starting with the specifications as usual.
Fit
- Active
Material
- Polartec® Wind Pro®
- 100% Polyester (10 oz)
- DWR Finish (Durable Water Repellent)
Patterning
- Single Underarm Panels with Pit Vents
Hood Configuration
- Aero Hood Design
- Two 1”x1”Velcro Loop Squares on the Hood Accommodate Ranger Eyes Or Glint Tape (Available on Patched Version Only)
Pocket Configuration
- Two Large Chest Pockets with D-Ring and Media Port Pass Throughs
- Two Upper Arm Pockets with D-Ring and Media Port Pass Throughs
- Double Entry Hunter’s Pocket
- Left Forearm Pocket
- All Pockets Feature Zipper Garages and Reinforced Pull Tabs
Zipper Configuration
- Full Front Double Coil Zipper with Chin Flap
- All Zippers are YKK® Zippers
Cuff & Sleeve Configuration
- Thumb Hole Cuffs Integrated into the Seam
- Two Optional Upper Arm, Die-Cut 3”x5” Loop Swatches for Accessory Patches
Hem Configuration
- Drop Back Hem
- Adjustable Locking Drawcord
Logos & Labels
- One 1"x1" Loop Swatch with Logo Patch at Right Hip
Made in the USA
Below, you will see the video portion and the relevant pictures. Referring to the fit as "active" is definitely accurate, as it does fit rather snugly. As it is also designed as a mid-layer, that is very much appropriate.
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| This was taken at roughly 9000 feet and in 20 degree weather. No problems, snug as a bug with nothing more than a midweight base-layer underneath. |
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| All the zippers have zipper "garages" and are YKK-brand reverse coil zippers. |
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| These vents in the armpit area are by all appearances laser cut. They are not noticeable at all while wearing the garment. I am however not convinced that they are necessary or that they even accomplish much. |
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| The media ports - here shown on the side pockets - are present on four of the pockets, the two side/hand pockets and the bicep pockets. This is the single most elegant solution to the media port "issue" that I have ever seen. |
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| The hang loop here has TAD Gears trademark Topo pattern, and appears as if it too may be laser cut. Annoyingly however, I found it to be very scratchy. Worn over a T-shirt, the loop is distracting. I found that taking the much softer size tag and flipping it over the hang loop fixed the issue entirely. I never use the hang loop as it is, so it is not much of a bother. |
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| The chin flap is pretty standard for most garments these days, although in this case I would like to see the flap extended all the way down the main zipper, so as to eliminate the minor thermal bridge you get with the bare zipper. |
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| The waist has a drawstring adjustment with captive cord locks. There is one on each side of the body towards the front. Given my own proclivities for carrying gear towards the center line, a more lateral placement might be advantageous, but I have admittedly not had any issues with snagging in their current location. |
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| Yes, this jacket is actually made in the US. Who would have thunk? |
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| The thumb holes are a simple and durable design. These are GREAT for cold weather use in windy conditions. |
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| They even work very well with gloves, assuming you are not wearing heavy ski gloves or similar. |
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| The inside of the side pockets has this pen sleeve that you can see here. Again, a simple and elegant solution. I would actually like to see another, larger sleeve added as well. Something large enough to fit a typical smartphone would be nice. |
Conclusion and final thoughts
I have worn the Ranger for most of this winter now and I have been very pleased with it. The fit is spot on, the build quality is impeccable and it is even made right here in the US, unlike the offerings from other, larger companies. The fabric is enormously comfortable and very soft. It is simply a pleasure to wear. The temperature range is also surprisingly wide as I have worn it comfortably from mid 50 degrees, down to well under freezing with just a few changes to my layers worn underneath.
The design is eminently suitable for wearing with a pack, as the pockets are set high enough on the chest to avoid interfering with a pack belt. And the hood is a marvel of engineering. Simply the best non-adjustable hood I have ever seen. It even fits better than most adjustable hoods, as difficult as that may be to believe.
I was also very impressed with how well the Ranger fit under my OR Gore-Tex shell. It not only works well on its own, but as a heavy mid-layer under a shell, it is brilliant. And on its own, the DWR coating lets it shed most light rain and snow comes right off with no soak through that I have experienced.
I do have a few things I would like to see improved and I will list those in order.
None of the zippers are backed by anything other than the pocket lining mesh. What that means for you as the user is that if you are wearing it with only a thin base-layer underneath in cool and windy conditions, you are probably going to notice some thermal bridging happening at those zipper locations. I would very much like to see a layer of WindPro backing these zippers or even a welt on the outside. This basically goes away once you use a thicker base-layer or another mid-layer, but to be entirely honest, it is a pretty minor concern and it is entirely probable that I am being entirely too particular.
This next one is not a feature particular to the Ranger Hoodie, but I am continually baffled as to why manufacturers choose to have the closed position of the zipper pull be at the top of the pocket. You see this almost across the board. The issue I have with it is that it makes it more of a pain in the ass to partially open the zippers to put your hands in. This is particularly important in windy conditions. I just detest having to rest my hands on top of the zipper slider. If the direction was to be reversed, you could easily open the zippers partially without putting undue strain on the zipper slider. Or having it dig into your wrists. If TAD made that change, I think I would love them forever.
Lastly, I would also like to see the bottom of the pocket be dropped just a bit below the bottom of the zipper opening. Just as an additional measure of insurance against having stuff fall out of your pockets.
Wrapping up, despite whatever thoughts I may have on possible improvements, I have to say that I really am enormously pleased with how great this jacket is. That it is also made in the US at a price point essentially right around what companies like Mountain Hardwear and Arc'Teryx charges, with a quality that appears to be fully on par with those two companies', that just blows my mind.
If you get the chance, pick up one of these. You will not be disappointed.
Recommended.
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