Minus 33 Mid-Weight Full-Zip Hoody

Warm, breathable all-purpose lightweight merino jacket.

My open water swimming gear (including two wetsuits and lots of neoprene accessories) takes up most of the room in my large suitcase, so I have to make smart clothing choices when I pack for a month-long trip spanning two or three seasons. Every garment must work for multiple outings and activities and not take up much space in my luggage. Over the past couple of months traveling in Sweden, the Minus 33 Mid-Weight Full-Zip Hoody has been the most comfortable and versatile item in my bag.

Instant Warmth

September arrived abruptly in Gothenburg, and even though there were still some lovely, warm days, the water, wind, and breeze felt colder seemingly overnight. I started swimming in my 3/2 wetsuit, and I was surprised by how chilly it was coming out of the lake. I didn’t take time to put on the clothes I wore to the lake. I just wriggled out of the top of my wetsuit and folded it at the waist, then did the same with my swimsuit so I could pull on the Minus 33 Mid-Weight Full-Zip Hoody. It felt so soft and warm against my skin, and the full-zip style made it easy to quickly wrap it around my body. The jacket was also perfect for a cold night at the beach when I went with friends to swim with bioluminescent plankton in the sea. While my friends were shivering on the car ride home, I was cozy warm and happy to have the two-layer hood around my head. (Sorry, I didn’t get a photo of the plankton. It was very dark, and there were just a handful of them in the water. They looked like lightening bugs.)

It’s important with open water swimming to avoid getting too cold. I take my gear and my post-swim routine very seriously to avoid hypothermia or even chills. Having a warm layer I can add quickly has been so helpful for my post-swim recovery. The Minus 33 Mid-Weight Full-Zip Hoody is thin enough and light enough to be wadded up and tossed in my swim buoy so I can have it the minute I get out of the water. 

Breaths & Wicks

The Minus 33 Mid-Weight Full-Zip Hoody became my second layer over a merino tee for short and long bike rides, too. I get warm and even hot very easily when exercising, so having a breathable jacket that’s also lightweight meant that I stayed warm, but I never overheated. I have worn merino wool for a long time, so I should stop being surprised by how well it wicks, breathes, and provides warmth. I love that I can cycle for miles in this jacket and never feel too warm or get clammy. I sometimes bike six miles to my favorite gluten-free bakery, and it’s party uphill. I arrive tired, but always stylish in my black hoody. The Minus 33 Mid-Weight Full-Zip Hoody dries fairly quickly, too. There have been so many afternoons where I have tossed the damp hoody onto the back of the chair after a long ride, only to grab it again that evening to go out to a gallery show or take a quick trip to the grocery store.

Essential Layer

Now that it’s more than halfway through October, there’s been another drop in temperature. The chilly breeze has amped up to darn cold here in Stockholm, and I’m wearing a lot more gear in the lake for my swims. While I can feel quite comfortable in the water, with my head and hands encased in a 5mm hood and gloves, the minute I’m on the beach removing the wet gear I am literally freezing. It feels much colder than 40F (4C), especially if there is any wind. I remove my neoprene hood quickly, and I replace it with a thick wool hat. Then I remove and roll down the tops of my wetsuit and swimsuits before pulling on the Minus 33 Mid-Weight Full-Zip Hoody. Then I add a thin windbreaker vest and an insulated jacket. Only then do I feel warm enough to fully remove the wetsuit and pull on my track pants, socks, and shoes.

What I love about the Minus 33 Mid-Weight Full-Zip Hoody is that it keeps me warm even when it’s wet. I move too fast when I get out of the water to dry myself well, so it’s critical to have a layer against my skin that will instantly help me feel warm even in places where the hoody gets wet.

I often remove my insulation jacket, or unzip it, for the ride home. The combination of the wind-breaking vest and the merino jacket is perfect for keeping me warm even in temps around or just lower than 40F. It’s incredible that two just lightweight layers can perform so well. I love the Minus 33 Mid-Weight Full-Zip Hoody’s double-layer hood. I often remove my thick hat for the ride home from the lake and use the hood instead because I get a lot of warmth without the bulk. I still have to adjust the bike helmet to accommodate the hood, but it only takes a few seconds. 

Details

The Minus 33 Mid-Weight Full-Zip Hoody is made out of 85% merino wool, with 13% nylon and 2% Spandex. The fabric is buttery soft with a good amount of stretch; I feel like I can be quite active, and the hoody allows me a great range of motion. I’ve worn it against my skin, as a jacket over a short-sleeved merino tee, and as a middle layer under a vest or jacket.

The hoody is available in men’s and women’s styles, and it has raglan-style sleeves, which I love because I get a custom fit through the shoulders and fewer seams around my shoulders when layering. I am a 6’ tall woman but tested a men’s jacket to get the extra length through the torso since I knew I’d be using it for cycling. I have a crazy long torso, and the length of the men’s jacket was perfect for me. When I’m on my bike I want to stay warm (and I don’t want to flash anyone); having the extra length made this hoody much more comfortable and useful for me.

All of the seams in the Minus 33 Mid-Weight Full-Zip Hoody jacket are flat, and the seam between jacket and hood is covered in seam tape bearing the company name and logo. I have never noticed anything other than the soft fabric when wearing the hoody. Pure comfort.

I appreciate the large zippered side pockets on each side of the jacket, which are made out of a lightweight nylon mesh fabric. They’re designed to provide space without weight and bulk. On the inside of the jacket the pockets are attached in such a way that they form flat, deep sleeve pockets that I like to use for my phone and my wallet. In the zippered side pockets I stash my lip gloss, my inhaler and spacer, tissues, candy. (I shunned sugar for years, then my defenses fell apart in Sweden. Eating a lot of candy is a big thing here. And I must fit in, right?)

Minus 33 uses Australian wool with credentials for sustainable production, quality wool, and humane treatment of sheep: OEKO-TEK STANDARD 100 Certified, Woolmark Certified, and Responsible Wool Standard Certified.

Bottom Line

A versatile jacket that is quite warm but still thin and lightweight. I’ve worn it for vigorous exercise, to warm up when I’m cold, and as a top or middle layer for activities in almost freezing temperatures. I’ve worn it cycling, and I’ve worn it out to dinner. The black color and fabric’s natural odor resistance makes it ideal for travel. I wore it for almost two and a half months before I finally washed it! I love the thumb holes in the hems. I always forget gloves, so I have been very happy that I can keep my hands warm on my bike rides. 

Minus 33 recommends using the Minus 33 Mid-Weight Full-Zip Hoody in temperatures between 30 F down to 0 F while active and for temperatures between 60 F and 30 F when less active. I think those recommendations fit my experiences pretty well. I’ve enjoyed the Minus 33 Mid-Weight Full-Zip Hoody as a lightweight cover up on mild days and as a critical warm, breathable later in cold weather. 

Available in men’s sizes: S-XXL in Black with Charcoal contrast. Women’s hoody is available in sizes XS-XXL in Charcoal with Black contrast. Available at minus33.com and at Amazon.

$159.99 women’s hoody, men’s hoody