BLUF: Massive gratitude for Justin's contribution of labor to our community of outdoor movers&grovers; and, for how he goes about his role as an artisan. Love my fleece and I recommend this company to all the homies. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Service (5 stars)
I emailed Justin to inquire on sizing as I fell between M & L. He responded quickly & recommended a Medium torso & Large sleeves. In our exchange(s) he was super helpful & genuine. The benefits I see in cottage companies are getting to interact directly with your maker, supporting someone who is psyched on similar pursuits to what you're psyched on, and being able to chase what matters to you in outdoor gear. Beyond the Trail Gear has been one of my best cottage company exchanges. Arrived on time and as expected. Thank you!!

Product (also 5 stars)
The M torso, L sleeves is perfect. Literally the exact fit I want & need. Excellent torso length that allows me to reach far over head without letting the wind find my love handles and the cinch waist manages the tail well. I was initially skeptical on the hood, but really came to appreciate the higher cut hole and the snaps vs the drawstring-only hoods I've been accustomed to. When you're hooded up and unsnapped the rip-back piece can be tucked into the hood to make a more open neck and when snapped up you get excellent coverage without needing to cinch down. This closure works really well with the performance of the fabric IMO. The insulation is the right level of cozy for charging uphill in low temps (pictured here on Telescope and Whitney), and the hood is the ideal complement for that. Letting the wind rip through while adding all around warmth lets your wicking layers work without the shivers setting in. The cut first perfect under my maybe-too-slim hard shell. I love the colors, kangaroo, and thumbholes too. The biggest challenge with this piece is reserving it for trail as I know crack climbing and my jumpy heeler will eat Alpha 90 in a season.

Who Am I?
- 5'11", 185lbs, 43" chest, 35" waist, 35" sleeve
- I was interested to upgrade my well-loved (read: worn from climbing) & less packable polartec grid fleece for my saunter on the Lowest to Highest route since I was also replacing my well-loved (read: mostly patches) 55L pack with a 30L pack
- an optimizer for purple gear

What I ordered:
Alpha Direct Rip-Back Hoodie™ 90 | Purple
M(L)
Snap Color: Teal
Kangaroo Pocket: Yes, add
Thumbholes: Yes, add

Immediately after receiving the hoody I tested it on the trail:
1. Terrain: Mt Baldy/CA. Start: 4139ft, 54F. Peak: 10,064ft, 28F, in/out 12 miles, wind m mph
2. Motion: mix between fast hiking and trail running, carrying a 15lbs backpack
3. Fit/function: I’m 6ft/184lbs. Size L fits me perfect. What sets this hoody apart from others: adjustable waist and hoody. Furthermore, the two push-buttons in neck/hoody area allow temperature and fit-regulation
4. Highly breathable fabric, could wear it over a baselayer TShirt without an additional windproof layer due to wind<5mph. Felt dry around neck and head all the time, provided warmth, yet not overheating when pushing uphills
5. Weight: 148g…amazing!
6. Also appreciated the personal note/hand-signed card when receiving the package

I can just highly recommend this hoody for trail running and backpacking!

The directions on how to determine worked well. I am a 5' 6" male and a robust 173 lbs and ordered the size small. It fits exactly how I hoped it would, room for a base layer but not a lot of extra material. Not too long at the waist and the sleeves are just right. The color is great, the quality is high, and the shirt is cozy. We've had a few chilly mornings and some rain so I am getting to try it out, although I am waiting for fall so I can wear it more! I love the look of the collar, it really sets this shirt apart from the rest of them which is a big reason I went with this one. And I got the pocket which I think was a good call. Get the pocket, One of the other reviews convinced me and I wholeheartedly second that. You can feel the airflow without anything under it but with an under layer it stays warm. I am looking forward to trying it over the winter. Also I really like getting something handmade from a small company for about the same price as a mass market, imported item. The timing they give you is pretty accurate so just be patient. I don't think that 2 day shipping has done any favors for society so it is nice to wait sometimes. Definitely happy with the shirt!

I bought this for a trip to the Sierra Mountains and loved it. Product is lightweight, warm, and just very well designed. I got the version with kangaroo pocket and thumb holes. Attached picture is me in it at the summit of Mt. Whitney.

The sizing seemed true to size. I usually buy a large in clothing and this in a large fit great. It was longer than most clothing I buy, but that was easily solved using the waist drawstring.

Separately, I want to give a shout out to the owner Justin. I was in a bind with timing and he really helped me out. He responded to emails lightning fast and was just super helpful.

First I want to mention that Justin’s communication while I was figuring out measurements was amazing and made it less stressful for sure, and the hoodie itself is perfect for what I need!

I just took it up to 11,000 ft, 46 degrees and up to 20 mph gusts. I had my puffy just in case but never needed it. I layered a windbreaker over it when needed but often found that I needed to dump heat while active, which is does efficiently when you unclamp the buttons. I run very cold and would have my puffy as an active layer in those conditions in the past, so I’m really happy to have found this system that’s easier to modify.

I’m excited to take this out into more shoulder season conditions, but it’s already been useful in high altitude Colorado summers. Less important for survival, but the way the neckline layers is really cute and stands out from other alpha hoodies! Highly recommend!

I just returned from a trip to Switzerland backpacking a large chunk of the Via Alpina Green with my new Alpha hoodie where I experienced a pretty wide range of weather/temperatures. I ended up wearing it most days in the mountains when the temps got cooler. It’s a really great piece that I think is going to be a regular item in my kit moving forward. The fit is really great, I particularly like the snapped hood with the elastic cinch. Shout out to Justin who shipped it priority for me so I’d have it in time before I left. Thanks!

The product was promised to be in my hands before my overseas trip to the Tour de Mont Blanc. And never received it till after I was on the plane and I'm still over here haven't seen the product yet!

I've used this hoodie on two long-distance hikes - the 170-mile Collegiate Loop and the 300-mile Benton MacKaye Trail - and it still looks brand new. The snaps and cords are durable but ultra-lightweight. I go between a Large and X-Large on my gear and definitely had to order the X-Large and could even have gone XX.

I took this hoodie on my recent High Sierra Trail backpacking trip. It was awesome! It’s hard to explain, but this shirt is breathable and offers some warmth when needed, yet it doesn't lead to overheating. I wore it alone when it was around 55-70 degrees, which worked well. If it got cooler, I used it as a layer under my down jacket, providing even more warmth on cold/windy nights. It dries fast. It doesn’t keep in the stink, it packs down tiny, and yes, this shirt is very comfortable to wear.

This really is the ideal hiking shirt for me. It does snag on some kinds of brush, but that doesn’t bother me because I usually stay on trail. If trails are super overgrown, I’d throw another shirt or rain jacket over it. The hoodie is well-made and didn’t fray or snag when I had my 25lb backpack on. Again, I’m not joking when I say this is the ideal hoodie for hiking!

I Love Love Love my new hoodie! I'm 6'3, lanky and thin. Justin worked with me on the measurements and it fits great! I'm a medium chest but I needed a few inches added to the height/sleeves. The craftsmanship is top notch. It only weighs 6.3oz or 178g and that's with the dual 90 and extra inches in material. The color combo is great, not usually into this pink/peach color but I dig it, especially with the umber and it goes great with my other gear. Can't wait for any future gear in the works!

I have Senchi Designs and Farpoint. This is by far the best. Better design and longer lasting. Fine elastic cordage to sinch waist and face/neck. Thank you BTT for providing the best!

how F$%^&@g great this hoodie is needs more expletives. totally amazing. i just wanted to show a pic of how it took some Rit DyeMore (for synthetics... polartec alpha is 100% polyester)... keep in mind this pic shows the off-white hoodie after two application of red Rit dye. just lovely.

I got to use this light weight hoodie in an XS and have been able to wear it a couple of times so far. It works perfectly as a cozy mid layer. I pair it with an ultralight windbreaker on walks. it's also comfortable to sleep in. I find the item is true to size and is well made.

Justin is the best. He will answer any question you have the same day. I wear this hoodie over a base layer and under a wind /rain jacket. Quality,craftsmanship and pride go into Justin's garments. Thank you so much. Going on the PCT.

nice and warm, but breathable. i've noticed the material comes off in little clumps when there's abrasion, so be wary about that. I think it's the nature of Polartec Alpha though. The color I purchased was a Cookie Monster Blue.

I usually wear a Large, and this fits a little snug. Good for base layer, I'd go with XL if you're planning on wearing it as a warming layer.

I like the look of the hood and you are able to customize snap color.

Thanks!

Loving my new BTT Alpha hoodie. Wore it backpacking on the PCT for a weekend trip in January 2022. Keeps you warm when in camp and to sleep in, has great heat shedding when hiking and when the wind is blowing adding a wind shirt is perfect.

Top quality in design and workmanship. It's a slimmer fit so if in doubt size up; the seller is very helpful with matters like sizing. (I usually wear a size mens L but sometimes need an XL, as here.) Love the hood. I got this with a custom order kangaroo pocket and it is great - and an astonishing 6.2 oz! Justin's communication has been exceptional throughout. Can't wait for thru hiking season.

Add-on kangaroo pocket is sturdy, well made so things won't fall out, and ultralight. Size large with pocket is 6.2 oz

Communication was quick and Justin helped with deciding sizing for me. The hoodie is awesome.

I have seen many others out there but this one spoke to me with the integrated buff, which rocks so hard(and soft haha).

The thumb holes keep my hands warm and I can use them with Etowah mitts for an ultralight solution in poor weather.

I have yet to fully appreciate the material due to an injury and surgery, but feedback from a friend who received his around the same time is good. I can't wait to put it to work.