MidwayUSA Men's Full Season Softshell Hoodie Realtree APX XL Tall

bought this hoodie in blaze orange to fill a specific niche in my hunting wardrobe. i needed something for when orange is required, its chilly (but not cold), a light rain/drizzle is a more probable than not, and i planned on walking/stalking/still hunting. i had a chance to use the hoodie during the 2021 PA rifle season. overcast day with a temp range of mid 40's-50's, winds 10-15mph, and intermittent light rain/drizzle off an on in the afternoon. all in all i was quite happy with how the hoodie performed. it kept my core warm, dry, and allowed me to move well without being bunchy/bulky. PRO: the hoodie is rain/wind resistant (but not water proof) and the lining is thick and warm. the zippered chest pocket it a nice touch and will accommodate a phone or something of similar size. it is lightweight and moves well. one of the features i was surprised by the most is the hood itself which has a basic structure and doesn't just flop on your head. CON: these are more of a personal preference than a true con so keep that in mind. the lining is "grippy" and the hoodie runs mostly true to size so this combined with "grippy" liner can make pulling the hoodie off via the usual over the head method a touch difficult. i also find the forearm/cuffs of this hoodie to be on the tighter side. this is an advantage for archery hunts but can be restrictive when layering or using a heavier pair of gloves (i also found that the tight forearm/cuffs made wearing a watch/fitness tracker uncomfortable). FINAL THOUGHTS: i like the hoodie and it fits my need nicely. i have recommended it to others. if the hoodie was made as a full zip (or even a full button/snap enclosure system) it would be easier to take off, i would buy spares in the orange and my preferred camo pattern, and it would be immediate-go to for nearly all hunting situations. heck i'd probably even use it as a go-to gift for all my hunting buddies.

This is an update to my previously posted review. After wearing this hoodie in temps below 25 degrees F the last two days, I noticed that the exterior material gets louder, almost like a crunching sound, when bending my arms or my upper body. Most likely it is the wind and waterproofing in the exterior material causing the noise. Wearing a 400g weight merino wool base layer shirt under the hoodie, temperature-wise I was comfortable in the colder temps, just noisier than when I wore this hoodie in warmer temps.