For the Spruce Hoody, 7Mesh has taken its well-received WTV fabric and has paired it down, creating a super versatile mid and outer layer that’ll find serious use through the chillier months. Its relaxed fit makes it as comfortable off the bike as it is on, and it packs a combination of breathability and insulation that’s not all too common. 7Mesh has packed the features in too, making it one of the best mountain bike jackets but at this price, it faces fierce competition.
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7Mesh Spruce Hoody – Technical details
With this hoodie, 7Mesh has introduced its latest version of the WTV fabric – WTV 200. Standing for Wind, Thermal, Ventilation, WTV is built of a stretch-woven exterior that’s said to create a breathable barrier against wind. The interior is a loft fabric for insulation and the duo is designed to keep warm without overheating or getting too sweaty.
Compared to WTV 300, the fabric found on the Chilco Anorak, WTV 200 is set to be a cooler running but equally as breathable option. 7Mesh also says that the latter is lighter and can pack smaller.
Cut into a hoodie, the brand has packed in the features, building it with zipped hand pockets with fleece interiors, as well as a fleece chin guard. The hood is elasticated and is shaped to fit under a helmet for warmth. Speaking of elastic, the cuffs are stretchy for a dialled fit.
The Spruce Hoody is available in three colours, and six sizes.
7Mesh Spruce Hoody – Performance
7Mesh has built a very strong reputation for delivering some excellent winter clothing and the Spruce Hoody is no exception. Starting with the fit, it’s pretty spot on. Although the size guide states that it’s a little larger than I would choose, and its perhaps marginally baggier than I expected, I’ve not issue with the fit. Although, I imagine that I would happily fit in a medium. In this size, there’s some excess fabric but the lower hem reaches far down for plenty of coverage and the sleeves are plenty long enough for off-the-back-of-the-bike antics.
The hoodie carries a seriously premium feel about it as 7Mesh has left no stone unturned. The fleece pocket interiors are an excellent touch for car park faff-sessions, where they provide additional warmth and comfort when it’s anything but. Then the fleece chin guard adds another touch of luxury.
However, it’s not all about lovely touches as at its heart, the WTV 200 fabric makes for an impressively versatile jacket. I’ve ridden in the Spruce Hoody mainly using it as an outer layer, adding layers underneath regarding on where the mercury sits. For colder rides around zero-degrees I’ve added a base layer and a thermal jersey but I’ve also been happy in warmer temperatures wearing just a thin jersey underneath. Although, if you were looking at using this as a mid-layer, checking out the size guide before dropping the cash would be a very wise move.
Sticking with the fabric for a bit, it’s very effective at what it’s designed to do. It somehow manages to allow air to flow through but without blowing all of the warmth from its loft interior. This is what makes it such a versatile product. When cranking up climbs, there’s just enough breathability to stop the jacket from overheating, whereas on the descents, it manages to hold its temperature. Thermoregulation is the name of the game.
Then, thanks to its very casual cut, it’s a jacket that can very easily be worn off of the bike. Granted, the fluoro yellow isn’t my colour, but there’s nothing about the jacket that screams that it’s a performance cycling top.
I’ve been impressed with its durability too. I’ve put it through yet another of my worst crashes and it’s not showing any sign of it. No cuts or tears, just a smidgeon of mud. However, if I were really to moan, it can struggle to wick moisture around the elbows and that can be especially noticeable when layering with a short sleeve jersey underneath.
7Mesh Spruce Hoody – Verdict
At £150, the Spruce Hoody is well-priced, but there’s some really firm competition at that price point. That mainly comes from Endura’s MT500 Polartech Jacket that costs a hair under £150. While it doesn’t get the lovely fleece features, it’s a very cleverly designed jacket that manages to effectively thermoregulate while blocking wind where necessary. It fits smaller too.
POC’s Mantle Hoodie is a very similar product. It doesn’t get named insulation but it was a real favourite for last year’s winter riding. It’s a little pricier at £160 and it performs similarly on the thermoregulation front but it lacks those fleece features.
Versatility is the order of the day with the 7Mesh Spruce Hoody. It’s ripe for all kinds of temperatures and primed for layering. It’s super comfortable, warm when it needs to be while ditching excess temperature where necessary. It can struggle to wick moisture around the elbows specifically but this is yet another awesome bit of kit from 7Mesh.
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