Haglöfs L.I.M. Powerdy Hood – Climbing Gear Review

CGR take a look at the L.I.M. Powerdry Hood from Swedish brand, Haglöfs….

Performance *****

Value ****

Haglöfs LIM Power Dry Hood – great for multipitc rock climbing. Gelbe/Mauer, Dolomites.

 

The L.I.M. range from Haglöfs stands for ‘Less Is More’, a lightweight, minimalist philosophy where a garment is produced with only the features it needs to do it’s job. These garments are lightweight, high quality and perform well across a range of activities.

Haglöfs market the L.I.M. Powerdry Hood as a superlight midlayer and as such it serves this purpose perfectly. However, for me this is only half the tale and it is definitely one of those products that I have found to be way more versatile than a few lines of text on a website would suggest! I’ve found the L.I.M. Powerdry Hood to cover a multitude of uses from best pub buddy to cosy heavyweight baselayer on frigid north faces. I’ve also worn it alone whilst running on cold still days, rock climbing, hiking, as a midlayer on technical mixed routes and I’m sure it will be forming the basis (or baselayer) of my mountain wardrobe for this winter too.

Haglöfs LIM Power Dry Hood – a great, versatile base/midlayer. The full zip aids venting.

Ok, so what is there to like? Well first of all the fabric, which is a Polartec® PowerDry® High efficiency, is amazing! The grid pattern feels supremely comfortable against the skin and slides effortlessly over lightweight baselayers as well. It breathes effectively whether worn next to the skin or as a baselayer, the grid pattern providing an increased surface area so that moisture disperses and then dries more readily. I’ve also found the fabric to be durable and there is no sign of bobbling or pilling on the smooth outer face.

Haglöfs LIM Power Dry Hood – excellent balaclava style hood, brilliant under a helmet.

The L.I.M. Powerdry Hood fits closely to the skin but the excellent cut (lack of shoulder seams, articulated sleeves) and stretchy fabric means that freedom of movement is not compromised whether you’re scrambling or pulling hard on ice tools. The hood is brilliant, fitting like a balaclava, you don’t notice it under a climbing helmet and it provides that extra boost of warmth when you need it. I seldom wear a hat or separate balaclava in the mountains these days as most of my favourite base/mid layers feature brilliant under helmet hoods. The slightly longer length means the top is comfortable under a harness and this coupled with the great cut I mentioned earlier, ensures it doesn’t ride up either.

Haglöfs LIM Power Dry Hood – works well under a climbing harness and doesn’t restrict movement. Unkown 7b at Tornoux.

The jacket has a full length zip for easy venting, with a laminated inner placket which ensures comfort against the skin. The zipper features a minimalist glove friendly tab, and is easy to use in the field (sorry I mean mountains!). Another feature I love are the super comfy thumb loops, something I feel are an absolute must on a top like this. It gives a real boost to the hands in cool weather and ensures there are no cold spots in the gap you can sometimes get between jacket cuffs and gloves. A single low profile chest pocket completes the package.

Is there anything I don’t like about the L.I.M. Powerdry Hood from Haglöfs? Erm, simply no!

So, in short, the Haglöfs L.I.M. Powerdry Hood is an awesome, versatile hooded top. It’s suitable for many different outdoor activities, either as a baselayer or light midlayer. The fabric feels luxurious against the skin and it breathes well too. A ‘just what you need’ feature set. Faultless!

• The Haglöfs L.I.M. Powerdry Hood is manufacture to standards. Read more about Bluesign here.
• RRP: £120
• Visit the Haglöfs website.