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Patagonia Adze Hoody Review

The Adze Hoody takes a casual sweatshirt look and applies modern softshell fabrics that result in a clean looking around-town jacket
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patagonia adze hoody softshell jacket review
Credit: Patagonia
Price:  $199 List
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Manufacturer:   Patagonia
By Ryan Huetter ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 17, 2017
59
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Weather Protection - 30% 7.0
  • Breathability - 30% 6.0
  • Mobility - 20% 6.0
  • Weight - 10% 3.0
  • Features - 5% 4.0
  • Style - 5% 6.0

Our Verdict

Patagonia discontinued the hooded version of the Adze.
REASONS TO BUY
Casual look
Comfortable
Wind resistant
REASONS TO AVOID
Boxy cut
Few pockets
Less mobile
The Patagonia Adze Hoody is one of an always diversifying lineup of softshell jackets that Patagonia produces. The Adze takes advanced softshell fabric, a fleece backing, and a durable water repellent finish that are more common in their technical apparel, and puts it into a garment that looks more at home on a walk on a cool fall day than on the side of a mountain.

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Patagonia Adze Hoody is a fantastic looking softshell that does its job. It is not a technical jacket with climbing ability, however. It is a casual jacket that is made of weather resistant materials. It is our favorite non-technical softshell we reviewed.

Performance Comparison


patagonia adze hoody softshell jacket review - the casual styling of this hoody was well received by reviewers.
The casual styling of this hoody was well received by reviewers.
Credit: Jen Reynolds

Weather Protection


The Adze Hoody uses a 2-layer stretch woven fabric that is 90% polyester/10% spandex (its outer material). This fabric is treated with a DWR (durable water repellent) treatment, which allows water to bead off. We experienced good results from the outer layer as it blocked cold winds and kept light precipitation from penetrating the inner fabric. The heavy feeling material held up to a vigorous soaking almost as good as the North Face Apex Bionic 2 jacket, which employs a thick outer fabric and solid DWR treatment.

patagonia adze hoody softshell jacket review - the fabric of this jacket is quick to wet out, but we did not get...
The fabric of this jacket is quick to wet out, but we did not get moisture entering the jacket. In cold temps, this wet outer layer will freeze though.
Credit: Jen Reynolds

The large hood capably fits over a helmet and uses a 3-way cord system to tighten around the head and face, making it a reasonable choice for a spring skiing day at the local hill. Velcro closures on each wrist are secure and keep the cold and wet from getting in, even with gloves on. Though the hem around the waist has a drawcord to secure it, and the extended cut sits eight inches below the waistline, we could never get it as tight as we wanted, preferring a closer fit like that found on the Arcteryx Gamma LT.

Breathability


We gave the Adze a score of 6 in breathability, behind top-scoring models like the ultra-breathable OR Ferrosi Hooded and the climbing-minded Rab Torque. This was the most breathable of the casual jackets we tested, however. The decrease in overall breathability is a result of the use of a grid fleece backing inside the 2-layer stretch woven fabric. The grid gives added warmth and wind resistance and supposedly aids in moisture wicking, but we found that these interior fabrics often trap the heat and make us warmer than we'd hope to be during high output activity. Patagonia bills this as a highly breathable jacket for high energy activity; we would trend towards one of the jackets mentioned above and intend to utilize this one for less aerobic activity.

patagonia adze hoody softshell jacket review - the grid fleece inner lining is comfortable, but does inhibit...
The grid fleece inner lining is comfortable, but does inhibit breathability.
Credit: Jen Reynolds

Mobility


The Adze jacket is one from Patagonia's climbing inspired line. While it uses materials derived from advances in alpine garments, it is not the jacket we would want to take on a climbing trip unless it was a stroll to the local boulders or crag. The 2-layer stretch fabric does not move with the body nearly as much as the Marmot ROM or the Ferrosi jacket, and the cut feels rather boxy and baggy. Patagonia nails it with many of their jackets, but this one fell short in overall movement ability. While reaching overhead the cuffs dropped two inches, and the hem rose five inches, allowing in drafts since the adjustable cord does not secure the hem as well as we would have liked.

patagonia adze hoody softshell jacket review - mobile enough to take a hike in, this is not what we would consider...
Mobile enough to take a hike in, this is not what we would consider a technical softshell though.
Credit: Jen Reynolds

Weight


Coming in with a weight of 1.6 pounds, the Adze Hoody is not a direct competitor to the award-winning jackets in our review, though it does not necessarily need to be. That weight is not as noticeable when you are wearing the jacket, and in cold and windy weather, on a trip to class, the store, or out on the town, you won't likely notice the extra bulk. For those looking for a jacket with better technical ability, though, the Arc'teryx Gamma LT is a much more capable garment at a lower weight and gives more features and protection.

Features


The Adze Hoody is relatively simple in regards to features. It has most of the key features that we look for in a softshell like adjustable drawcords on the hood and hem, cuff closures, and zippered outer pockets, though they are subtle and are not flashy. The diagonal cut outer handwarmer pockets are easy to slide your hands into, but because of the angle, almost always require two hands to close the zipper. There is a single interior zippered pocket for a cell phone or wallet. The Adze has some of the best features of any of the other casual softshells we reviewed.

patagonia adze hoody softshell jacket review - the hood adjustment is concealed, and relatively easy to use even...
The hood adjustment is concealed, and relatively easy to use even with gloves on.
Credit: Jen Reynolds

Style


When we first picked up the Adze Hoody, we thought it looked like a full-zip sweatshirt, with its baggy fit and diagonally cut handwarmer pockets. It does not have the tight, trim fitting cut of the Arcteryx Gamma MX Hoody, though is a huge step up from The North Face Apex Bionic 2, a jacket which fits more like a potato sack than an outdoor-inspired garment. The Adze has taken an approachable, relaxed style and given it a modern twist with technically sourced materials. The result is good looking, regular fitting jacket that can be easily worn over a t-shirt or a sweater depending on the weather. It's also available in four soft colors that don't make you feel like a Skittle.

patagonia adze hoody softshell jacket review
Credit: Jen Reynolds

Value


At $199, the Adze Hoody is reasonably priced when compared to most other jackets in this review. It is a more capable jacket than the more budget-friendly Columbia and The North Face models, though was outperformed in almost every metric by the similarly priced Rab Torque.

patagonia adze hoody softshell jacket review - on a relaxing stroll near our campsite, the adze hoody is...
On a relaxing stroll near our campsite, the Adze Hoody is comfortable and keeps the chill off.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Conclusion


This simple looking softshell jacket is built with quality fabrics and will keep the weather on the outside where it belongs. It is best suited to relaxed occasions and activities, where extra mobility is not necessary. A good all purpose around the town jacket, the Adze is a better bet for shopping for an ice axe rather than using one.

patagonia adze hoody softshell jacket review - styled like a sweatshirt but with high tech materials, the adze is...
Styled like a sweatshirt but with high tech materials, the Adze is good looking and functional.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Ryan Huetter