7MESH SPRUCE HOODY REVIEW

WARM, VERY STRETCHY & SUPERIOR FIT

Words by Cole Gregg  |  Photos by Emma Wooldridge

Composed of seasoned experts from the apparel industry, 7mesh has firmly established itself as a leading mountain bike clothing brand, particularly in Canada’s iconic Sea-to-Sky Corridor. Riders in this region frequently sport 7mesh gear, and it’s easy to see why. The Squamish-based company emphasizes top-tier materials and exceptional construction, earning its reputation as one of the premier names in mountain bike apparel. But how does their gear perform on the trails?

QUICK HITS

• WTV200 Mid-Weight Fabric
• Fleece Lined Zipper Pockets & Chin Guard
• PFC & PFAS Free
• Regular Fit

WE DIG

  • Tons of stretch and comfort

  • Temperature regulation

  • Well considered details

  • Multi season use

WE DON’T

  • May not be the most crash resistant

7Mesh Spruce Hoody Review

ABOUT THE 7MESH SPRUCE HOODY

The Spruce Hoody is a multi season, do-it-all piece of kit, designed to work great on its own or as part of a layered outfit for more extreme conditions. With fleece-lined zippered pockets and a hood that comfortably goes over your helmet, the ability of the Spruce Hoody to keep you warm for its minimal weight is impressive.

7mesh is known for very high quality materials, and the Spruce Hoody is no departure from that. It is made up of 92% recycled polyester and 8% elastane, giving plentiful stretch. All materials in the hoody are PFC and PFAS free, helping better protect your body and the environment.

This jacket features 7Mesh’s Wind Thermal Venting technology. WTV is a multi layer fabric, with the outer layer being a stretch woven material and the inside a brushed loft construction. The material provides a warm yet breathable environment, allowing for reduced need for layering in varying climates and weather conditions. While you may not need to layer the Spruce Hoody in your riding zone, those that do will greatly benefit from the fabrics ability to breath and regulate your temperature.

This jacket has WTV200, the lighter variety of the WTV technology. This jacket is considered a “mid weight” top by 7mesh, and I think that is a perfect descriptor for the feel of the material. It’s thick enough to stay warm when the temps drop, but also can be worn through on cooler days in the summer months thanks to its High Air Perm fabric, which offers great breathability.

All of 7mesh’s gear is well thought out with the rider in mind. The cuffs have elastic binding for a secure fit when either rolled up or all the way down. The hood also has this for a binding feel when up over your helmet. When the hood and full length zipper are up, there is a nice patch of fleece where the zipper ends making it that much more comfortable. The waistband has a thick elastic band further helping to keep the jacket tight on your body when riding.

The 7mesh Spruce Hoody is offered in 3 colors: Bamboo (light green/yellow), Raisin (maroon) and Black, in sizes XS – XXL. This jacket has a retail price of $180.

7Mesh Spruce Hoody Review

THE DIRT

Enough with the tech stuff, how did the Spruce Hoody perform on rides? While perfection is hard to come by – if not impossible – this 7mesh jacket bounces right up to that line in my eyes. The first thing I noticed was how much stretch the fabric had. I absolutely loathe materials that reduce to conform to your body, especially when on the bike. With it being on the slim and fitted side, the extreme amount of stretch and flexibility in the fabric gave me the feeling of being fast. It’s one of those garments that tells you that you can perform at your best when you’re wearing it. With that said, you can still throw a thin vest under it if the temps are getting down towards freezing, and still not feel restricted on the bike.

For me the 7mesh Spruce Hoody worked great down to around 28 degrees (-2) on the pedal bike. Sure, it was a bit chilly at first, but 5 minutes into the first climb I was perfectly comfortable. On the eBike, I really liked this as a base layer under a windbreaker. This gave me the ability to pull the top layer off mid ride once my core temp had heated up. At temps lower than 28F, you are entering full winter gear territory, but even with that said there is room for a thick undershirt or a light vest. Having this as your one riding jacket throughout the cooler months is totally doable for the drier days.

Being that I used this in some pretty cold temps, I had the hood up quite frequently. The fleece chin guard was perfect – not one time did my beard get caught or feel scratchy. Also, the elastic binding on the hood kept it in place without feeling like a neck brace on the descents. Same goes with the elastic on the cuffs, the jacket never rode up on my arms, but they’d stay in place when purposefully rolled up.

7Mesh Spruce Hoody Review

When it comes to durability, I have thankfully not had the chance to test it too hard. The material is soft, and does feel like if snagged on a sharp branch there is a chance of being ripped. It does not present a ripstop type feel, it’s more akin to a flannel button up. But being a small company that stands behind their products, they have a crash replacement program, which could save the day. This is of course at their discretion, but they also can help repair any damage done if you run out of talent. With that said, I have faith that normal tumbles and off-bike excursions won’t have any detrimental effects to the fabric. It’s by no means a wimpy feeling bit of kit.

Over the past 8 weeks, I have found myself grabbing this jacket for daily use as well. The fleece lined zipper pockets are great for stuffing my icicle like fingers into when walking around town. I just recently wore it on a 3 hour flight and stayed perfectly balanced. I tend to either run too cold or too hot on flights, so not having to mess with pausing my episode of desperate housewives to pull the jacket off was a nice touch.

7Mesh Spruce Hoody Review

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

When looking at my jacket selection from previous reviews the spruce hoody ranks very high. Specifically, compared to the Outdoor Research Freewheel Half Zip which lands at nearly the exact same price, they each do things very well in their own ways. The Freewheel’s outer shell has a much heavier rip stop feeling, which has me grabbing it for days in the bike park where I am more likely to sample the dirt. With that said, its heavier construction tends to run a bit warm, with the Spruce Hoody taking the W when it comes to breathability. Both have roomy hoods that stay up when you are riding. The Freewheel unfortunately does not have any standard hand pockets, which once you are accustomed to is not a huge deal but worth noting. Both jackets allow for easy movement on the bike with the Freewheel taking a looser fit with less stretch approach and the Spruce taking the tighter fit with more stretch route.

The Wolf’s Last Word

While $180 is not a small amount to invest in a riding jacket, you are not only getting a top notch product, but also backing a small group of dedicated mountain bikers that value quality craftsmanship and sustainability. The 7mesh Spruce Hoody is a comfortable and versatile piece of gear that I’d highly recommend adding to your kit bag.

Price: $180
Website: 7mesh.com

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ABOUT THE WOLF

Cole’s den is in Spokane WA, where he relocated a few years back. Growing up in the lush, loamy playgrounds of the PNW, his soul is forever tied to steep, rooty descents and that unmistakable squish of perfect dirt. After 19 years of shredding, Cole’s been on every kind of rig out there. Once a die-hard fan of big travel bikes, he’s now on a quest for the mythical short-travel do-it-all machine. And yes, skids may be for kids, but this middle-aged manchild is here to prove they’re also for anyone who loves having a damn good time.

Rank: Professional Amateur
Size: 6’1” / 185cm | 170lbs / 77kg
Social: @adventuresbycole

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