Getting your layering right for hiking and bikepacking in Australia is no easy feat, especially in the alpine regions around Canberra where winter temperatures can vary between -5°C and 20°C within 24hours. With this in mind I decided to try out an Alpha Direct Fuzzy Hoodie as part of my layering system and tested it out in a wide range of conditions.

The Fuzzy
The Alpha Direct Fuzzy Hoodie is an ultralight jumper made in Australia by the talented cottage maker Zero G Gear. Each hoodie is made in-house from Polartec® Alpha Direct 90gsm or 60gsm and comes in a range of sizes. I sized up to a large so that it was a bit roomier.
One of the aspects of the Alpha Direct fabric that I really appreciate is its breathability. While the negative of this is that wind cuts through the fabric – particularly when you’re flying down a long steep descent – the positive is that it’s a great layer on the bike for taking the edge off the cold, without overheating. It also means you can keep the fuzzy hoodie on when temperatures warm up without getting too hot, acting as sun protection. The warming powers of the fabric really come into their own when the hoodie is paired with a rainjacket or puffy jacket and its warmth to weight ratio is unmatched.

Packability
As you’d expect from a jumper listed as ultralight, the weight of the Fuzzy Hoodie is pretty impressive. A medium hoodie made from the heavier 90gsm weighs just 120g. It’s so light that you won’t notice you’re wearing it, let only notice the additional weight in your backpack. It also packs down pretty small, although not as small as you might imagine from such a light fabric.
On the bike, you can stuff the hoodie into a rear jersey pocket, or into your hip-pack without an issue and, when hiking, there’s plenty of options for where to stash it in a backpack. The fabric dries pretty quickly, so if you’re storing it on the outside of a pack and it gets wet, then it’s not a huge issue.

Form and Function
I bought my first fuzzy hoodie when Zero G Gear first started making them, and I’ve since bought a second one (for my wife). The ordering process is super straight forward and on the second occasion Tearloch kindly rushed through the order to meet our last minute trip preparation before heading to New Zealand.
I’ve used my fuzzy on countless trips in Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and both hoodies are still in great condition – I certainly haven’t been over careful with my use of them! While the main uses are during hike and bike trips, the fuzzy also makes a great travel option too, for all of the same reasons it is great in ultralight situations. Using it off the bike is also another reason I sized up to help it feel more like a ‘casual’ top and less like a purely outdoor styled piece of gear.
Zero G Gear also make a matching pair of fuzzy pants and they have recently released a beanie – I haven’t gone for the full outfit yet, but I can imagine the fuzzy pants being super comfy in winter.
As a final word I’ll mention that the Fuzzy hoodie costs $165 and I’ve bought both tops myself meaning this review is totally impartial.