The Zpacks Octa Fleece Hoody is an ultralight hoody made with Octa polyester fiber. Made by a Japanese company called TEIJIN, Octa fibers have a hollow core surrounded by eight projections aligned in a radial pattern that looks like a toothed gear. When woven together to create fleece, they create an ultralight, highly porous, quick-drying, non-see-through fabric that insulates by trapping warm air. The result is a fleece fabric that is warmer than conventional fleece but weighs up to a third as much. Functionally, Octa garments are similar to Polartec Alpha Direct fleece, which is the darling of many ultralight backpackers because hoodies made with it are also exceptionally lightweight and warm.
- Gender: Unisex
- Weight: 5.3 oz in a size large
- Zipper: 1/2 length
- Pockets: 1 (kangaroo style)
- Hood: Under helmet
- Thumb loops: yes
- Material: 80 GSM Octa Fleece
- Color: Black with blue trim
- Sizing: Runs small (size up)
The Zpacks Octa Fleece Hoody is made with 80 GSM (grams per square meter) fleece fabric that is fuzzy on the inside with an abrasion-resistant mesh exterior. TEIJIN manufactures Octa fleece fabric in a number of different weights, ranging from 67 GSM – 220 GSM, with different finishes (scroll to the bottom), so you need pay close attention to product specs when shopping for Octa garments or comparing them. Numerous other companies have also started making Octa fleece garments in multiple weights, including Norrona, Arcteryx, and Mountain Hardwear, amongst others, and it is worth surveying the field to see what’s out there.
The Zpacks Octa Fleece Hoody has a 1/2 length front zipper, thumb loops, and a kangaroo pocket in front, which is situated high enough that you can put your hands inside while wearing a backpack hipbelt (provided you’re not gripping trekking poles). While the hood is not adjustable, it is human-sized and fits nicely under a climbing helmet. The thumb loops provide extra insulation around the wrists when worn and prevent the sleeves from riding up when you put on a jacket.
Since the fleece is highly porous, the Octa Fleece Hoody must be worn with a windbreaker or hardshell in cooler weather, especially if it’s windy. I’ve stayed comfortable down to freezing (30 degrees F) when wearing a medium-weight LS baselayer shirt and an Enlightened Equipment Copperfield Windbreaker over the hoody as long as I’m hiking vigorously and generating body heat. But as soon as I stop, I have to layer up to stay warm. That’s the same case with my Polartec Alpha Direct 90 GSM hoodies.
So what are the biggest benefits of the Octa Fleece Hoody over comparable Polartec Alpha Direct hoodies? One of the first things I tested was the Octa’s Hoody’s reactivity to velcro (hook and loop), which is widely used in outdoor gear but latches onto and tears at fuzzy Polartec Aphla fabric. Much to my surprise, the velcro has no impact on the fuzzy interior fabric of the Octa Fleece Hoody. While it does adhere slightly to the garment’s external mesh, it peels off easily without disturbing the fibers. I suspect this is due to the shape of the fibers used to make Octa fleece and is indicative of the enhanced durability of the fabric. Time will tell if this is the case, but I have a strong intuition that that’s the key difference between the two.
The other big difference, at least on this Octa hoody build, is the smooth exterior, which is much less prone to abrasion or getting caught in vegetation. Polartec Alpha Direct is a very gauzy, porous, and delicate material, both inside and out, that can easily snag and requires some care to “keep safe.” It was never intended for external use but was meant to be used as insulation inside an outer shell layer. That’s not the case with Octa, which has a more durable external surface engineered for that use.
Recommendation
The Zpacks Octa Fleece Hoody is an ultralight hooded garment made with Octa polyester fleece, which is much lighter weight than conventional fleece garments. It has a rich feature set, including a 1/2 length zipper, thumb loops, and a kangaroo pocket that make it suitable for three-season hiking and backpacking as an outer layer in warmer weather or as mid-layer insulation with a windbreaker or hardshell in cool or windy conditions. If you’re looking for a way to reduce the weight of your hiking clothes, the 5.3 oz Octa Fleece Hoody can provide the same warmth as conventional lightweight fleece hoody (100-150 GSM) but only weighs half to a third as much! That’s an incredible bargain, considering the high cost of ultralight backpacking gear today.
Disclosure: Zpacks donated a garment for review.
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