OUTDOOR RESEARCH FREEWHEEL HALF ZIP HOODIE REVIEW

WARMTH WITHOUT HEFT

Words by Drew Rohde | Photos by Dusten Ryen

Outdoor Research’s mountain bike line may be new on the market, but their knowledge in manufacturing high-end technical clothing is anything but. With over three decades of experience in creating technical clothes for everything from military applications to mountaineering in the most extreme climates, the Outdoor Research Freewheel Half Zip hoodie seems like a pretty basic piece of gear for such a storied brand. Nevertheless, their commitment to producing the best gear – no matter the price point – has shown our crew that a visually unassuming piece of gear can deliver big performance when properly made. As we learned in our recent Behind the Brands visit to the Outdoor Research (OR) headquarters in Seattle, Washington, a knowledge of materials and how to use and secure them together can be the difference between something that sort of works or something that you tell your friends about. This jacket – and the rest of the OR MTB line for that matter – is something we’ve already been telling our friends about.

ABOUT THE OUTDOOR RESEARCH FREEWHEEL HALF ZIP HOODIE

The Outdoor Research Freewheel Half Zip Hoodie is designed to keep a trail mountain bike or gravel bike rider comfortable on cooler days. Thanks to a bike-specific fit and the stretch built into the fabric, the Freewheel Half Zip should offer unrestricted movement when riding. Crucially though, its understated design and overall versatile nature means it can happily support off-bike adventures and day-to-day life too. The fabric is made from a blend of abrasion resistant 92% bluesign® Approved Recycled Nylon and 8% Spandex. This offers UPF50+ protection against sun; is wind resistant; and is given a DWR coating to fend off light rain. The inside is brushed for comfort against the skin and efficient insulation.

An extended 13” front zip allows for easy on-off even with a helmet on, as well as helping to vent some heat when pushing hard. A 3 panel under-helmet hood helps to keep the head warm on the cool mornings. There’s a single zip pocket on the chest to store the essentials. The cuffs are gusseted to help them sit comfortably; and seams are omitted from the top of the shoulders to prevent discomfort when wearing a pack. Finally the dropped hem at the rear should ensure coverage when in the saddle.

Outdoor Research offers the Freewheel Half Zip Hoodie in a choice of Black or Caramel colorways in sizes S-XXL for men or XS-4XL for women, inclusive of plus-size. The retail price is $179.

THE DIRT

Here on the high desert, we deal with plenty of cold temperatures and strong winds that are contrasted by warm sunshine. As Los Angeles transplants, the challenge in learning seasons and colder temperatures has been an interesting one. The sun is incredibly warm in Bend, for example, if the temperature is 36 degrees Fahrenheit outside with full sun, it could feel closer to 50 degrees, meaning the need to stack layers isn’t nearly as much as a cloudy and windy 42-degree day. This is where an item like the OR Freewheel Half Zip Hoodie comes in handy.

We’ve been able to comfortably ride this jacket with temps down into the 30s and even up into the upper 40s if conditions permit. Where some jackets do a great job of keeping you warm but will almost instantly start to bake you, this Hoodie seems to offer a nice blend of warmth without overheating the wearer inside. Of course, as with all cold weather gear, layering is key, so depending on what you’re wearing underneath the Freewheel Hoodie, you could extend the ranges of this garment. The under-helmet hood will just about go over a half-shell lid if you desire, which is a nice option to have to add some warmth to your neck and head quickly.

STRENGTHS (PROS) OF THE FREEWHEEL HOODIE

I (Drew) had been wearing one of these hoodies for a while and had been keeping thoughts to myself about how rad it was. One day while heading out to film the Ari Nebo Peak Dissected video, Sean realized in the parking lot that he did not dress warm enough and was shivering in the parking lot. Luckily I had a spare jacket in my gear bag and let him take it. That jacket was the OR Freewheel Half Zip Hoodie. He put it on and instantly said, “Oh wow, this is so soft and comfy!” A sentiment I shared also. The brushed inside liner offers great comfort to the wearer. Within just a couple of minutes his body heat started to warm up the jacket, which led to more comments of approval. Needless to say, the jacket had quickly won-over another one of our testers.

WEAKNESSES (CONS) OF THE FREEWHEEL HOODIE

When it comes to evaluating the negatives or downsides to the Freewheel Half Zip Hoodie, only two come to mind. One is likely more of a preference call than fact, but worth mentioning as we’d love your feedback. Half Zip hoodies only zip, you guessed it… half way. This means you have to slide the garment over your head, and helmet, when donning or doffing. Is it a deal-breaker? No, but we’re not totally sure if it would be for others, so please let us know in the comments down below. The zipper opens wide enough to allow easy movement over open face helmets, but larger full face helmets may struggle to clear the opening. The upside is a slimmer fit that doesn’t flap or create that weird fold of the zipper at the mid-belly when bending over.

When it comes to performance notes, the Freewheel Half Zip Hoodie isn’t totally impervious to wind, which makes sense since it’s not designed to be a wind shell or barrier. If you’re looking for a windshell, Outdoor Research has other options better suited to the task. However, if you’re not regularly riding in Arctic winds, you’ll be fine with the Freewheel Half Zip a jersey and base layer combo.

The Wolf’s Last Word

Our overall impressions and review of the Outdoor Research Freewheel Half Zip Hoodie are overwhelmingly positive. While the Half Zip design may not be ideal for everyone, it wasn’t a deal breaker and something we honestly didn’t struggle with as much as we thought we would. The capabilities of this garment to keep our testers warm without overheating the wearer is impressive enough to recommend it. However, when you combine that with the soft, cushy comfort it provides, and the understated and versatile looks, it’s easy to say this has become one of our favorite pieces of kit for colder days on the trail. While we’ve not been tuned in to Outdoor Research apparel in the past, we are now and see why hikers, skiers and other outdoorsy types have been proudly wearing their OR-logo’d clothing casually and when recreating outdoors.

Price: $179
Website: Outdoorresearch.com

WHERE TO BUY
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