I Soaked This Puffy, Then Went Running at -3 Degrees
Down and wool are two of the best insulating materials for outdoor pursuits. ARTILECT marries them — with gold — in a masterfully designed insulating layer, the Divide Fusion Stretch Hoodie.
Originally Written by: Sean McCoy
Posted on: Gear Junkie
I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for wool, especially when it’s for gear that takes a bit of a beating. But when you want pure warmth-to-weight goodness, no insulators (barring aerogel) have a higher CLO rating than down. Good down is as warm as it gets.
So, I wasn’t too surprised when I stayed warm during below-zero weather in the ARTILECT Divide Fusion Stretch Down Hoodie. But this puffer jacket goes beyond simple warmth. It’s among the first products in the world to use ExpeDRY 700 fill-power down. Created by Allied Feather and Down, this stuff is literally infused with gold particles. The result is down that stays dry in a whole new way.
This has been my go-to jacket for the past 3 months of winter in Colorado. And in regular testing, it’s proven to be a top-tier tech piece.
In short: The ARTILECT Divide Fusion Stretch Down Hoodie ($380) is a versatile insulating jacket. It uses the best down I’ve ever tested in terms of moisture management. Wear it as outerwear, or layer over it with a shell jacket. It moves with you thanks to the stretch fabric and can cover a broad range of weather and activity. It also checks a lot of boxes for sustainability. But it comes with a moderately high price tag.
Divide Fusion Stretch Down Hoodie
Specs
Allied RDS ExpeDry Ultra Dry Down featuring FUZE technology – 700 fill power in main body & sleeves
Active-drying chemical free alternative to hydrophobic-treated down
60gsm Lavalan Sport European Wool in side panels, under arms and hood
2 YKK zippered hand pockets with 100% recycled lining
1 zippered chest pocket
2 recycled taffeta inner dump pockets
Adjustable hem & hood
Center front YKK Touchlink Zipper with LifeKey and Smartphone compatibility
ExpeDRY 700 Shower Test
The biggest claims made about this jacket are around the down’s ability to stay dry. So, I pulled out one of my favorite old gear testing methods — I wore it into the shower and soaked it for a minute.
Then I went for a run with my dog. The temperature was -3 Fahrenheit.
To be clear, this is in no way a waterproof jacket. After a minute in the shower, it was good and wet. The down was saturated. The exterior Torray stretch fabric, wet. Only the inner fabric remained somewhat dry.
I hit the sidewalks around Denver on my regular running route. Expecting a burst of cold, I was pleasantly surprised. As I ran, the jacket almost immediately regained its loft. By the end of a 45-minute run, I was actually sweating inside the jacket. And while the outer face fabric was icy and cold, the down inside seemed to be largely unaffected by its earlier bath.
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