Senchi Designs Products_Alpha Direct Material

[Gambit McCrae]

Recently I impulse'd on a Senchi Designs 90 zip hoody. A lot of my hiking friends have sported the material this year so I snagged one to check out. I do not have any in field testing on this product yet, I will this fall, but first impressions are great craftsmanship, quick shipping, and extraordinarily light.

I mean...Its basically see thru so this is most definitely not a stand along, protect you from the elements garment. This seems more like a cozy, wear under your puffy to really boost your insulation properties for very little weight penalty. I could see wearing it on cool fall mornings, in the tent at night before bed....but not as the only garment I would bring to keep me warm warm.

They also make this garment in a lighter and a heavier version. I don't know what purpose I would have for anything lighter in material weight but could see the 120 being suited for more stand alone situations.

Anyone else check this stuff out?

[chknfngrs]

I am curious, but not really interested in departing with funds for such a piece like this. I have a wind jacket ready to go but not sold on Alpha Direct quite yet

[HeartFire]

An Alpha 90 hoodie paired with a wind/rain jacket can get you down to the low 30's comfortably.

[chknfngrs]

No doubt. The longevity of the product is probably my main concern. I want something that will take a lickin’ but keeps on tickin. Heartfire, what is your impression of AD’s durability?! Is it a consumable, or is it reliably resilient?

[HeartFire]

Heartfire, what is your impression of AD’s durability?! Is it a consumable, or is it reliably resilient?

Well, you're probably asking the wrong person, but yes, I've worn mine plenty both hiking and in camp, I've washed it a bunch of times. It will snag if caught on something, but it's a very cozy packable layer - and the packable part for me is key - volume is just as important to me as weight.

[LoneStranger]

Seems like a great mid layer or a functional base under a wind blocker, but user comments suggest it wouldn't last as long used alone or as a top layer. At least not where I hike. Probably useful in the snow where multiple layers are more common.

I have a seven year old Houdini Alpha Houdi which is heavier, but fills this slot (mid/outer) for me. It has the advantage of being durable enough to bushwhack as a top layer so I can wear it for Winter summits when pushing through the trees. It is still functional but the elbows are starting to get fuzzy from rubbing against my body while hiking. They don't make this exact jacket any longer, but Houdini has impressed me with this and the shirts I've purchased from them so worth looking into for folks not familiar with them.

[petedelisio]

Well, you're probably asking the wrong person, but yes, I've worn mine plenty both hiking and in camp, I've washed it a bunch of times. It will snag if caught on something, but it's a very cozy packable layer - and the packable part for me is key - volume is just as important to me as weight.

Are you saying it will tear easy?
I’ve always understood that ‘snagged’ and ‘caught on something’ to mean the same by definition.
Thanks for the clarification.

[HeartFire]

It has not 'torn', but there are a few snags/pulls. I do need to make this clear that the reason I say I'm not the one to ask is I own LightHeart Gear and we make Alpha direct hoodies. I have to say I love mine, it's just a great cozy layer.

[Mfturner]

I don’t own any, but the idea of mesh underlayers isn’t new, Scandinavia has had them since I can remember, for example Bruner of Norway has unisex mesh underwear.

[HankIV]

This guy is pretty thoughtful:

https://timmermade.com/2024/03/alpha-optimization/

[Mfturner]

Thanks for the link, that is a great discussion of using it in a system.