Cita Hoody – Performance

Like the men’s Incendo Hoody, the Cita hits a great sweet-spot between protection and comfort. It’s effectively windproof and also shrugs off light to medium showers, but the combination of breathable fabric and those cunning under-arm mesh panels means it stays cooler for longer.

Other points our testers liked were the simple hood, which despite being non adjustable, remained  in place on the move and allowed decent peripheral vision. The media pocket inside the stash pocket was popular too, ideal for keys and loose, bouncy things.

The women’s-specific fit was excellent, just enough flare to cope with female hips and no unnecessary flapping. Sleeves were the right length and mostly ‘it just worked’.

And while 109g for a size 12, isn’t the lightest windproof option out there, it still stows away neatly in to a bum-bag and the advantage of using slightly heavier, Nylon fabric is that it doesn’t have the flimsy, filmy feel of ultra-lightweight alternatives – reassuring for mountain running in particular.

Cita Hoody – Verdict

Beautifully made and with an immaculate women’s-specific cut, the Cita Hoody is a brilliant balance between protection and comfort.

That Lumin fabric shrugs off light to medium rain and blocks out the wind, but is still comfortable. And when things get warm, it’s small and light enough to stow away with minimal fuss. The hood works well too.

Yes, £100 is a lot for a windproof jacket, but if you’re after a women’s-specific, lightweight windproof for trail and mountain running, they don’t come much better. And clock that colour too…

More Information

See arcteryx.com