Kuiu Peloton 97 Fleece Zip-T Hoodie

Very lightweight fleece base/mid-layers—dry quickly and a lot of warmth for the weight.

Kuiu is probably a name a lot of folks aren't familiar with. They are a brand that focuses on backcountry hunting, but they make a lot of really good outdoor clothing suitable for any outdoor pursuit.

I'm reviewing both the Peloton 97 zip hoody and zip-off bottoms, same material.

I had read some really positive reviews on the Peloton 97 zip hoody and was looking for a really light fleece top and this fit the bill. The hoody weighs in at a very svelte 5 ounces—not a typo, this is with a hood AND a quarter length zipper! It's a fabric designed by Toray Industries in Japan. They have a strong history of developing cutting edge fabrics for use in the outdoors.

I've had the Peloton 97 zip hoody for three years now and it has seen a lot of use. I use it as both a base layer in colder conditions and as a mid-layer in cool conditions. I'm also using this piece (and the bottoms) for sleeping in my quilt or bag. The fabric has a very soft hand and is very comfortable against the skin. The fabric is also very warm for its weight. This is at least in part due to the fabric having a tighter weave on the outer and brushed on the inside.

While not as quick drying as some of the grid fabrics out there, it does dry quickly. The fabric is definitely warmer than a like weight grid fleece however.

When I saw they made bottoms as well, I knew I better pick up a pair (read my review of the Peloton 97 Fleece Zip-Off Bottom). 

These two pieces have seen numerous days and nights of use and multiple machine washings; I can't see any noticeable wear. Not overly surprising as fleece wears extremely well, even at this light weight.

At 9.5 ounces for the pair, I have hard time not throwing them in—even if I suspect I'll only use them for sleepwear on an outing.

They aren't cheap, but for the performance and quality, reasonable in my opinion.

Background

Multiple trips, lots of miles and nights. From shoulder seasons to the dead of winter.