Review: Icebreaker’s latest hoodie

Life’s An Adventure tests out Icebreaker’s latest design, the men’s ZoneKnit merino hoodie.

You don’t need to carry much on a Life’s An Adventure pack-free guided walk. There are just a few things you need in your daypack and one of them – depending on the weather – is a warm top like a woollen hoodie.

And when it comes to merino wool outdoor products one brand comes to mind, Icebreaker. This iconic Kiwi label has been producing high quality merino garments for years and they never seem to rest on their laurels.

Their latest range is ZoneKnit which Icebreaker says delivers “targeted thermoregulation and comfort to areas that need it most. It features ventilation panels which provide breathability in just the right places to optimise freshness.” Sounds pretty technical but what is a ZoneKnit garment like to try on?

 

Enter the Icrebreaker men’s ZoneKnit merino hoodie. I love a hoodie. It’s a go-anywhere garment and I had my last Icebreaker hoodie for years. The first thing I notice about the ZoneKint hoodie is the weight (990gm).

It feels substantial but in a good way. And it’s always satisfying putting on a weighty coat as you leave your first-class accommodation – something Life’s An Adventure prides itself on providing on every pack-free guided walk – and venturing into the great outdoors on a cool day.

When it comes to keeping you warm this hoodie means business. Zip it right up to the chin and even pull the well-constructed hood over your ears and you’re warm as toast.

 

This is the benefit of high quality merino wool, the way it efficiently retains heat. Also I love the quilted insulated front panel and the deep pockets – plenty of room for storing gloves when you’re not wearing them.

However the zipper is a bit awkward to use as you need to align the two sliders to zip the jacket up. Still, once on the hoodie is the perfect product for a swift bushwalk on a cool day.

Now Icebreaker is a premium brand and the $450 price tag might turn off some people but this is a brand whose garments last years and the quality is always there. This isn’t some cheap hoodie you get in a bargain bin. There’s been a lot of time, effort and resources put into it to get it right and you can feel that every time you zip it up and take on the elements.