[Review] I want to wear the RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR Alpha Full Zip Hoodie all year round

table of contents

Active insulation has become the norm

Is Alpha Direct “all-purpose”?

In what situations did you use it? Examples based on actual experiences

In what situations and to whom?

Hiking in the mountains with the Alpha Full Zip Hoody

Active insulation has become the norm

In recent years, breathable insulation materials such as Polartec® Alpha Direct and OCTA have become widely known, and the category of active insulation has become established. Many climbers have realized the convenience of these lightweight, warm-keeping garments that can be worn while moving around.

On the other hand, the image of "warm and versatile mid-layer" has also spread, and many people overlook the "chilliness" that comes from its high breathability. It is certainly warm clothing, but if you use it in the wrong place, it will just be cold. This is especially noticeable on windy days.

The first time I used Alpha Direct, it was combined with Tilak's soft shell as padding. At the time, I just thought, "This is a garment that provides just the right temperature when you're on the move," and didn't feel it was a special material.

But then, when I started wearing Alpha and OCTA, which have no lining or outer fabric, my impression of them changed dramatically. They breathe well, don't get stuffy, and are light. You can wear them all day while you're on the move. For the first time, I realized the true value of these pieces.

Of course, this material is not all-purpose. When the wind is strong, it gets cold quickly, and its ability to retain body heat is not as good as down. However, if there is no wind, it keeps you warm even when you stop moving. That's why "how you use it" is more important than anything else.

For me, as long as I understand how to use it, it's a versatile piece within that range. It's light, breathable, and warm. It has an excellent balance of these properties, and I can trust it as a base for layering.

So I decided to write a review of the Alpha Full Zip Hoodie by RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR. I would like to write about my impressions of using the product, which cannot be seen from the specs alone.

Is Alpha Direct “all-purpose”?

What I find convenient about using the Alpha Full Zip Hoodie is the temperature I can keep wearing it while I'm on the move. It's not too hot, not too cold, and it doesn't get too stuffy. It's got a balance that makes it comfortable to wear even when climbing.

Although this garment is thin, it is designed to trap air and generate heat, so by layering a shell on top, you can feel the warmth. Just by blocking the wind, you can feel the air layer created inside the Alpha keeping your body temperature in.

Another notable feature is how quickly a wet base layer dries. For example, if you wear the Alpha over a sweaty T-shirt and leave it on for a while, it will dry naturally. This is probably because the moisture is diffused and released by capillary action and breathability. This is a performance that is hard to find with fleece or down, and I feel that it is an excellent layer that promotes drying.

In terms of heat retention, fleece and down are of course warmer on their own, but Alpha is a balanced garment that provides moderate heat retention while being breathable and lightweight.

In my own experience, the combination of Alpha and the wind shell can handle stagnation without any problems up to about 10°C if there is no wind. On the other hand, when the wind is strong and the temperature is low, this one piece is clearly not enough. In such an environment, you need to add a mid-layer or lightweight insulation.

To complement it, I often combine it with a lightweight synthetic insulation jacket weighing in the 100g range. You can ensure warmth by layering with Alpha as a base without relying on so-called "fluffy" down. Moreover, they can also be used as active wear, so there is the advantage that you don't need to bring additional clothes for staying or moving around.

The Alpha Full Zip Hoodie is not an all-purpose garment by itself. However, by understanding how to use it and using it as the core of your layering, I believe it can help simplify and streamline your equipment design.

In what situations did you use it? Examples based on actual experiences

Versatile lightweight three-season garment

I use the Ridge Mountain Gear Alpha Full Zip Hoodie in three seasons, especially from spring to fall. Of course I don't wear it when the daytime temperatures are high, but it's very useful in early spring and late fall when there are temperature differences, or when I'm active at night.
The reason why I rate this garment as "warm clothing that you can move around in" is because it is both breathable and lightweight. It allows air in just the right amount while still maintaining the body's heat. I think that's the "just right" quality of this garment.

Actual use scene / Omine Okugake Trail

During my long walk on the Omine Okugake Trail in May, I was caught in the rain and my base layer got wet. The temperature was low and the wind was strong, so I wore the Alpha Full Zip Hoodie over my base layer to prevent myself from getting cold. Then, the moisture in the base layer that was touching my skin slowly evaporated, and I felt my body gradually warming up.

The setup was a wet long-sleeved base layer with an alpha layer. This setup alone was enough to keep me warm. I was also able to stay comfortable inside my rainwear when it rained.

Actual usage scene / Big Shigaichi

I really felt the power of this clothing when I was out at night in Oshigaichi. I was caught in the rain in the middle of the night, and my clothes and even my skin were completely soaked. The only dry clothing I had was the Alpha Full Zip Hoodie. Luckily, there was no wind, but I could clearly feel my body temperature decreasing due to the cold, and I felt the risk of hypothermia.

I wanted to get changed, but I didn't have any dry clothes. So, to warm myself up, I put on Alpha directly on my bare skin. At that moment, I felt the moisture on my skin's surface disappear, and my skin, which had been stiff from the wetness, instantly relaxed. After a while, my body gradually started to warm up, and in the end, I got more than I had hoped for.

It was pretty dangerous.

At that moment, I truly felt like my life had been saved. Without the Alpha Full Zip Hoodie, I may have gotten so cold that I would have ended up in a dangerous situation. That's why I'm convinced that the water-resistant, quick-drying nature of this garment means that it can be trusted not only for everyday activities, but also for managing body temperature in emergencies.

A piece that expands the range of layering

The strength of this garment is that it can be used for a wide range of purposes, including as active wear, stationary wear, and sleeping wear, and it can also be flexibly changed depending on how it is combined with other layers.
If you wear a thin shirt or a long-sleeved base layer underneath, you can adjust the temperature, and if you wear a wind shell on top, you can increase the warmth. Personally, I like to place the Alpha closer to my skin when it gets colder, and create a layer of air with other layers.

In what situations and to whom?

A versatile piece that can be worn throughout three seasons

The Alpha Full Zip Hoody is a highly versatile layer that can be used for a wide range of activities from spring to autumn, such as mountain climbing, traverses, and fastpacking.
With an excellent balance of warmth and breathability, it works well both while moving about and while staying put. It's one of the few insulations you can wear all the time while you're on the move.

The double zipper design allows for a wide range of temperature adjustment and allows for fine ventilation, making it easy to adjust the temperature. Since you can control your comfort just by opening and closing the zipper, you don't have to put it on and take it off as often, which increases your efficiency.

In addition, because Alpha material is quick-drying and quick to dry even when wet, you can reduce the amount of clothing you wear during mountain climbing. This gives you more options for reducing the weight of your equipment and eliminating the need for thick mid-layers such as down jackets.

Versatile enough to be used after climbing and descending

The Alpha Full Zip Hoody is designed to be worn comfortably not only during mountain climbing but also after descending the mountain. It can be used seamlessly on the way back from the hot spring, at the inn, and even when moving around town, because it is not too thick, but not too unreliable.

As a result, it can easily be used as a transitional piece of clothing between the mountains and the city, and can fulfill multiple roles with just one piece of clothing.

Comfortable temperature range changes depending on the combination. Goes well with shirts.

What is particularly impressive is how well it can be worn with a shirt. When worn under a shirt, Alpha keeps you warm close to your skin while efficiently wicking away sweat. This is the best way to keep you warm while you're on the move, and is ideal for times when it's easy to get cold or at high altitudes.

On the other hand, wearing it over a shirt is less warming, but the extra layer of fabric allows for a layer of air to gently regulate body temperature. In situations where the wind is weak and the temperature is not too low, it helps to regulate your skin so that it doesn't feel too cold.

In this way, the comfortable temperature zone changes depending on where you wear the Alpha. The true value of this garment is the flexibility to rearrange your layers depending on the weather and the intensity of your activities while climbing.

Recommended for these people

Alpha material was originally developed for special forces, to let out moisture when it's hot and retain heat when it's cold. I think its characteristics are extremely effective in mountaineering activities. Basically, I would recommend it to almost everyone who goes mountaineering. For those who want to reduce the weight of their luggage but don't want to sacrifice comfort, it will be the core of their layering.

It's not too thick, it's light, it's breathable, and it has a good design, so it can be used not only on the trail but also for traveling back and forth, staying overnight, and even around town, making it a garment that many people will find easy to wear.

Hiking in the mountains with the Alpha Full Zip Hoody

There were many times when I was glad that I chose the Alpha Full Zip Hoody. Especially during nighttime activities in the Great Shigai, I was soaked in the rain and it was getting colder and colder, but the experience of wearing this one piece of dry clothing on my bare skin and keeping out the cold was very meaningful to me.

I adjusted my clothing choices and layering to suit my physical condition, the environment, and changes in the weather. Through this trial and error, Alpha became a tool that gave me a sense of security.

In the mountains, there is no such thing as perfect equipment or a one-size-fits-all piece of gear. It's all about how flexible you can be in responding to the situation at hand and how much experience you can use to make decisions.

I feel that Alpha is clothing that "supports such experiences." Even when you're not feeling well, when the weather suddenly changes, or when you're unsure of which equipment to use, you can rest assured if you have Alpha in your backpack. It's something that expands your own "room for action."