Why We Chose the Orvis PRO Insulated Hoodie: warmth, recycled materials, temperature regulation

The award-winning PRO Insulated Hoodie from US fly-fishing gear aficionados Orvis is designed to cope with whatever the elements cast in your direction during fishing trips. Orvis are an environmentally conscious company who are aware of the need to give back. They donate 5% of their profits towards protecting nature and supporting communities, while products like the PRO Insulated Hoodie are crafted partly from recycled materials too.

Orvis’ PRO series represents their most advanced outerwear, making use of technical fabrics and thoughtful design. To deal with the fact that we as humans don’t dissipate heat evenly, the Insulated Hoodie features body-mapped insulation for optimum warmth, breathability and temperature regulation where it is needed most.

Who is the Orvis PRO Insulated Hoodie for?

The high-spec design, materials and price point makes this an investment for those serious about their fishing apparel – or outdoor pursuits in general. We tested this synthetic insulated jacket out in the Highlands as a midlayer for hiking and it was well-suited to the task. 

“A hoodie that can be worn in most conditions.”

It features water resistant technology but is not fully waterproof, so it’s not suitable as an outer layer in a deluge.

Fabrics

As with all their PRO series, the Insulated Hoodie makes use of technical fabrics to achieve its warmth and resistance to wind and water. Insulation is body-mapped: your core, arms and head are kept toasty by soft, water-resistant, 45% recycled PrimaLoft Gold Active insulation. We’re huge fans of this stuff here at Outdoors Magic; it’s light, it’s lofty, it’s super warm and it’s also brilliant at insulating even when it’s wet. 

The ‘Active’ part of the insulation refers to how it’s crafted to allow excess heat and moisture to escape, thus providing the wearer comfort while keeping them dry. It’s thermally efficient, regulating temperature effectively to the extent that it can be worn all year round. It’s also packable, with the jacket taking up minimum space when stowed in a backpack.

The side panels feature 55% recycled Polartec insulation, which is another highly breathable fabric. Originally invented for the US special forces, it’s also lightweight, compressible and dries fast after a dunking. This blend of fabrics adds up to a garment that you won’t be taking off and putting on repeatedly as the temperature wavers. Wind and water resistance are enhanced with a ripstop polyamide shell coated with Durable Water Repellent, giving you a hoodie that can be worn in most conditions.

Features

The main selling points of the PRO Insulated Hoodie are its expertly mapped and woven fabrics, but it has a raft of other handy features too. A reinforced cuff panel strengthens and adds durability to what can often be a high wear zone due to activities like rowing (or scrambling).

Fleece-lined, zippered pockets towards the waist are ideal for warming your hands or stashing snacks, while the zippered chest pocket is the obvious place for a phone or similar. A neat feature is the internal security pocket, which doubles up as a stuff sack for easy transportation.