Pricey down jacket performs well
Mountain Hardwear women’s Nitrous Hooded jacket
- Pros: Deep hood fits over ponytails; Zippered hand pockets; Feminine cut and style
- Cons: Hood doesn’t cinch; Compresses into separate pouch instead of into pocket; Front zipper catches on inner fabric
- Bottom Line: The Nitrous Hooded jacket is a stylish outer layer that’s perfect for mild fall days or active winter adventures, but its price tag is a little steep compared to other lightweight down jackets.
- MSRP: $240
Form meets function with Mountain Hardwear’s good-looking, technical down Nitrous Hooded jacket.
The 800-fill goose down jacket weighs 11 ounces – about 25 percent of which is down.
That’s not bad for a hooded down jacket that can easily withstand temperatures as low as 35 degrees when wearing a base and mid-layer – as long as you’re being active.
The Nitrous Hooded jacket, which first hit shelves in September, is made of ripstop nylon with a durable water repellent coating.
However, the jacket barely, if at all, beaded drops of snow or mist – which is uncharacteristic of DWR – and caused the drops to eventually soak in. But it quickly dried.
- Mountain Hardwear women’s Nitrous Hooded jacket
But much to my (and my wife’s) dismay, the jacket isn’t nearly as wind resistant as other similar down jackets like the Rab Microlight Alpine.
With a big hood, the Nitrous Hooded easily accommodates ponytails, but it definitely catches more wind than smaller hoods. It’s also not big enough to wear comfortably with a helmet.
The fleece chin guard, the hem cord and the elastic cuffs help round out the quality features.
Aesthetically, the jacket has a very feminine cut, which looks great as well as functions better, and it comes in a couple girly colors like “pale orchid” and “grasshopper” in addition to brown and black.
The jacket also has a wavy quilted pattern – unlike its non-hooded sister, the Nitrous – which is a nice change from the traditional horizontal quilting found on most down jackets.
Sadly, though, the jacket doesn’t pack into one of its two zippered hip pockets. Instead, Mountain Hardwear includes a Chipotle burrito-sized pouch in which to stash it.
As far as the men go, they get a more masculine version of the Nitrous Hooded, which has many of the same features and qualities.
