(Note: this item was provided to me at no cost for the purpose of this review.)
A few weeks ago Oliver’s contacted me to ask if I would be interested in testing their Merino Porter Hoodie — I was actually quite delighted by this as the weather is now getting much cooler here in Washington State. Since getting this hoodie, it’s quickly become one of my most worn pieces of clothing — it looks quite nice, and is supremely comfortable.
Even so, it still is a hoodie, so don’t come to reading this expecting me to say it’s anything more than that. But, like all hoodies, it’s a different beast.
For starters it is thin, perhaps only 50% thicker than a merino t-shirt, and it lacks all fuzziness — more like a terry cotton material. Even still, with it being thin and not fuzzy, it is more comfortable than any other hoodie I own.
Heat
As I mentioned earlier, this hoodie is only twice as thick as a t-shirt, so it is the lightest weight hoodie I own. But, I think it is the perfect temperature for around my house. I wouldn’t say it is overly warm though.
People hear ‘merino wool’ and they assume it’s going to be a chunky wool sweater, but in reality it feels more like a terry cloth type of cotton hoodie. About as warm too. Where the merino comes into play is in the anti-stink department and moisture regulation.
Looks & Design
I really like the way this looks. There’s a few really nice features. The first is that there’s no center pocket running along the front of the sweater which gives a very clean look. there’s also no elastic cuffing which, again, gives it a much cleaner look.
However, the really neat thing: there’s an extra collar around the neck. I’m not sure I’ve seen this before, or what the actual purpose is, but the end result is increased comfort and warmth around the neck. I actually really like this aspect and it isn’t very noticeable when you look at it.
There is one pocket, zippered and near the back of the shirt, but I haven’t found much use for it. I like the way this hoodie looks a lot, but a better testament is that my wife saw me in it and immediately remarked that it looked nice. That’s two thumbs up right there.
Comfort
I’m a sucker for merino wool items these days, so I was very excited to get this hoodie. I personally think this is a supremely comfortable garment. Merino adds a bit to this as I can do more in it without overheating.
As the days are getting colder, I do wish it was a little thicker at times, but on the other hand it’s nice to have something which isn’t so warm for sitting at my desk as I do truly spend most days inside.
It’s doubly nice that when my kids splash me during bath time, the hoodie dries well before bath is over.
Final Thoughts
I really like this hoodie, and can’t recommend it enough. At $148 I think it is a steal (Merino garments are expensive). I would love to see this made in a full zip version as well, but as it is, this is such a clean looking hoodie that you can get away with wearing it more than you could your typical cotton hoodie. Even if I could only wear this on the weekend, I’d be all over it.