Aclima Hood Sweater – Versatile and Warming

After a slow start to winter, we finally got the chance to test the Aclima Hood Sweater in its true element. The Hood Sweater is without a doubt a garment designed for many conditions, but it performs best as a second layer when temperatures drop to zero or below.

The Hood Sweater is part of WarmWool, Aclima’s most popular clothing line. It’s made from Total Easy Care (TEC) treated Merino wool, making the material extra soft. Body odor doesn’t cling to the garments, which also have excellent insulating properties if you get damp. According to Aclima, WarmWool is the choice for those who enjoy being outdoors when temperatures dip below zero. With wool next to your skin, you’ve ensured good heat balance – something we wholeheartedly agree with.

The very first thing that strikes you when testing the Hood Sweater is how warm it is despite being so thin (200g/m²). The answer is that the heated air from your body does part of the work, as the material isn’t tightly woven and therefore traps warm air. Compared to garments of the same thickness from competitors that we’ve tested, the difference is significant.

What’s unique about the Hood Sweater is the balaclava that can be worn in three different ways. In the first configuration, it’s not used at all, giving you a crew-neck sweater with the hood hanging on your back – possible because the balaclava isn’t sewn on at the front. Option two is wearing it as a high, warming collar, and option three is wearing it as a full balaclava. This versatility means you can easily adjust it to whatever conditions Mother Nature throws at you. A clear example was during a long-distance skating tour where the hood wasn’t used at all with a tailwind, while in the headwind, the high collar provided perfect protection for the neck and chin. Worth noting is that the balaclava itself warms far beyond expectations. During an earlier skating trip, my ears got cold under the hat I was wearing, and the plan was to use the balaclava and hat together to regain warmth. But the tight fit of the balaclava meant it alone was sufficient, and the hat ended up in the jacket pocket instead.

The Hood Sweater also features a kangaroo pocket – practical for warming hands during breaks, storing small items, or why not a small water bottle that mustn’t freeze. The sleeves have thumb holes and are generously long, providing good freedom of movement without stretching against you. However, we would have liked to see a slightly longer back, as it rode up on a few occasions and let in some cold air.

This is a very comfortable sweater to wear, and the balaclava, excellent warming properties, and street-smart design make it worth its SEK 790 recommended price. The sweater is now always close at hand and is used during a wide variety of activities. The Hood Sweater comes in several color combinations and is also available for women and children (SEK 450), as shown in the last two gallery images.

• Thin but warming

• Good sleeve length providing great freedom of movement when using thumb holes

• The balaclava warms much more than you’d expect

• Slightly short back

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