Chris Townsend reviews a premium windshell with a good hood.
This review is part of our windshells gear guide, and was first published in the April 2018 issue of The Great Outdoors.
The Squamish Hoody has been around for a few years and I’ve worn the previous version a lot. The latest one has almost the same design but the fabric is different. It’s less stretchy and noticeably more wind-resistant – though still not fully windproof. It’s a bit shinier too with a slightly different feel. The lack of stretch means the fit has changed – it was described as ‘athletic’, now it’s ‘regular’ and the current Large is a bit bigger than the original one.
The single design change is in the hood. This still has a stiffened peak with a soft microfleece lining. But instead of front drawcords it now has a single rear one. This works just as well and the hood can be pulled in snug around the head. It moves easily and doesn’t restrict vision. The single pocket is small – fine for a compass or GPS but not a map.
The Squamish Hoody is a good lightweight windshell but it does cost more than similar ones.
