The world of outdoor clothing is dominated by large companies with questionable manufacturing practices. But fortunately, there is a whole ecosystem of small companies making great gear. One is Minnesota-based Superior Fleece.
I have no connection to this company other than as a customer, and I only discovered them from a mention on a Reddit forum for ultralight backpacking. I own two of their hoodies: a Brule Alpha Direct in 90 gsm (grams per square meter) and an Amnicon Power Wool Hoodie. This is the Brule review.
What is Alpha Direct? Alpha Direct is an ultralight, high-loft fleece manufactured by Polartec and designed for “active insulation” – wearing while you are moving. The material has a fishnet-like skeleton with high loft fibers in between. At the 90 gsm weight, it is partially transparent, particularly when you hold it up to light. This structure allows moisture to easily dissipate and provides almost zero protection from wind. Even walking in my house I can feel the air moving under the Brule. However, in the absence of wind, the loft of the material provides a very high level of insulation.
How does it Feel? Alpha Direct has no spandex or other stretchy components, which means it absorbs very little water. You can almost wring it dry. Compared to other fleeces it is not flexible, but the open weave structure does provide some freedom of movement. The material is soft and comfortable against the skin, but it is relatively delicate compared to traditional fleeces. I have read reports of Velcro and brush causing tears, but I have so far avoided any issues by not wearing it while bushwhacking and generally being careful. I have not experienced any abrasion from pack straps.
How light is it? Super light. Superior Fleece lists the Brule size large at 137 grams or 4.8 oz, and on my scale it is 138 grams. For comparison, my Patagonia R2 jacket (no hood) is about the same warmth (under a shell) and weighs in at 414 grams. My cheap, REI Co-op 100 wt fleece (no hood) is not as warm and is 219 grams.
How warm is it? The Brule is highly air permeable. You can feel even a slight breeze through the material. This is nice when you are hiking and sweating but can be cold if you are just sitting around in wind. In non-windy conditions or under a shell, it is very warm. This characteristic means that the Brule is not great as a stand-alone layer in cold windy conditions but is awesome if combined with another layer with which you can manage wind.
How is the fit? This is a very simple, no frills hoodie. There are no zippers, pockets, drawstrings, or elastic. There are two options for the hood: cross (i.e. normal hoodie) or scuba). I chose the normal hood.
As to the fit, I have a hard time finding clothes that fit well. I am 6’2″ and 190 lbs with long arms. Often a medium is too short and a large has way too much material around the waist. The Brule large fits great in that it is not too baggy but has long arms that do not pull up even when I am moving. The Alpha Direct material does not stretch, so a super trim fit would be overly restrictive compared to running fleeces with a spandex weave. I usually wear just a light t-shirt underneath. The cut makes this one of my most comfortable fleeces. The workmanship is good, with no odd seams or threads.
Best use? The Brule is my go-to mid-layer when I will be active and when weight is at a premium and when I might get wet from perspiration or rain/river. When combined with a windshirt or light shell it has about the same warmth as a sweater weight puffy but is more versatile and lighter. In January I wore the Brule over a lightweight T-shirt and under a Patagonia Houdini Jacket to climb Guadalupe Peak. Temps were in the 30s and the wind was gusting over 60 mph, and I was totally comfortable and was able to manage moisture by unzipping the Houdini. For comparison, my Montbell Superior Down Jacket (size large) is 250 grams (8.8 oz). The Bruce Fleece + Houdini Jacket combo weighs 198 grams (7 oz). The Montbell is very slightly warmer for just sitting around, but the Burle/Houdini combo is close for static warmth, two ounces lighter, and way more flexible.
Value? For $80, the Brule is a good value. It outperforms fleeces that cost three times as much, at a fraction of the weight.
Downsides? Alpha Direct is delicate. If one ignores this fact, I can see durability issues. The fishnet also looks a little weird but is kind of cool if you like the way the characters dress in Star Wars or Dune.
How to order? The company accepts orders only for a couple of hours per month, which you can check on the website. It took a few weeks to fulfill my order, and I have had no reason to interact with the company’s customer service.
Take Away: The Brule is about function over style and is the opposite of an outdoorsy jacket one would wear to Starbucks. Based on my experience so far the hype about Alpha Direct being very light and still warm is accurate. We will see as to durability as the years go by. For now, this one is going to be in my pack for most backcountry trips.
Vamonos Baby! 