Patagonia Crosstrek Hoody Review

Our testers appreciated this fleece for its amazing breathability and durability. If you're shopping for a fleece for all occasions, this could be what you're looking for. While it receives middle of the road scores for warmth and layering abilities, it excels in comfort and breathability, and some people think it looks pretty slick for around-town use.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

The Crosstrek is made from 6.8oz Polartec Powerstretch fleece, which kept our testers warm as and comfortable as any light or medium weight fleece in our lineup. However, this is no heavyweight fleece, and for really cold days, this won't be enough.

Comfort

Soft and stretchy, our testers would sometimes even wear this jacket to sleep. The flat-seam stitching was hardly noticeable while bundled up in a sleeping bag and also kept the Crosstrek from catching and shredding in Yosemite offwidths and chimneys. The hood fits decently under a helmet and zips up to the base of your chin. Two zippered handwarmer pockets are concealed with a centimeter of overlapping fabric, and they didn't irritate us when tucked under our backpack hip belt or climbing harness.

Breathability

We found the Crosstrek exceptionally breathable for its weight. Our testers were able to run, hike, and climb in cool fall temps without overheating, much more so than with the thicker, knit-style jackets. Our lead tester used this for weeks on a Long Trail thru-hike in Vermont during late fall, where the temps dipped down below freezing, and rain and cold damp air was the norm. The fleece allowed our heat to escape, keeping us from overheating while still keeping us warm.

Layering Ability

A full zipper, two handwarmer pockets, and a slightly boxier cut prevent the Crosstrek from scoring very well in this metric, but the flat-seam construction, thumb loops, and smooth face fabric makes layering under certain shells like the windproof Patagonia Houdini super easy.

Weather Resistance

With 6.8 Polartec Powerstretch between you and the elements, the Crosstrek provides very little wind resistance. This is the tradeoff you get by having great breathability. To get the best use from this jacket, you'll need to pair it with a windbreaker when things get gusty or choose a thicker or more wind-resistant fleece jacket. Similarly, this jacket doesn't stand a chance up against the rain, and Water makes its way right through the fabric.

Weight

We weren't super impressed by the weight of the Crosstrek. A men's large weighs 15.7oz, and that puts it closer to the weight of a much heavier weight fleece. The wide hems, coil zippers, and boxy cut contribute to the excess weight of this jacket.

Style

While this jacket is most at home on the cliffs and trails, it has a slick Apple product type vibe. Coffee shops, messenger bags, bikes, and earbuds are all in line with the stylings of the Crosstrek; it even has a special hole in the pocket for your headphone cord. Some found it a little too casual, and the cut too boxy, but for the most part, this jacket will blend into any surrounding.

Value

The Crosstrek is not exactly a bargain, but you get all the stuff that goes along with Patagonia products like environmentally friendly fabrics, a great warranty, and that sweet logo with Fitzroy on it.

Conclusion