Editor Tested: The Kor Alloy Crew Is a Technical Sweatshirt for Active Lazy People

This is why I was absolutely thrilled when I found a piece of gear that was basically me, in clothing form: a technical sweatshirt.

That’s a term I made up, I think. But it’s the perfect way to describe the Kor Alloy Crew Sweatshirt from Mountain Hardwear. It’s a pullover as comfortable and cozy as a sweatshirt, but with many of the finishes and features of an outdoor-ready climbing or hiking jacket. Here’s what makes me think spending $225 on a sweatshirt is reasonable — because it’s not really just a sweatshirt. Read on.

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What makes it a technical sweatshirt?

I love a good sweatshirt, but they’re not the most practical for outdoor activities, especially since cotton is among the worst fabrics for outdoor wear. But the Kor Alloy Crew’s materials are more akin to what you’d find in a down jacket or piece of technical clothing, with a water-resistant DWR finish and synthetic insulation to trap your body heat. Synthetic insulation is generally a better choice for athletic wear as it dries much quicker than down sourced from ducks and geese.

I also love that the Kor Alloy Crew steals a feature from down jackets: it packs into its own chest pocket. Most sweatshirts are bulky and take up a decent amount of space in a suitcase or backpack, so they’re not great for travel. But this takes up so little space that it’s easy to toss in my backpack for a day hike, or even clip to a harness or backpack for activities like climbing or cross-country skiing. You’ll want to store it hanging like a normal shirt, however, as keeping it packed for a long time can lead to pretty noticeable wrinkles.

Design-wise, I like that the insulation is body mapped, putting less insulation in areas that tend to overheat (like armpits) and more insulation on places that get cold, like your chest. I also like the ability to snap the kangaroo pocket shut, as well as the smaller zippered pocket inside the kangaroo pocket. Note that the men’s version has a zippered chest pocket, but the trade off is they loose the half-zip on the chest.

Buy Now: Men’s ($225)
Buy Now: Women’s ($225)

Materials and Durability

The Kor Alloy Crew’s outer fabric is “Pertex Quantum Air,” which does indeed sound like just another BS-y, high-tech way to say “expensive fabric.” But it actually is unlike the fabric on any other midweight or insulated layers I have. It’s technical enough for abrasion-prone activities like hiking or climbing without fearing it’ll rip, but it’s soft (and non-swishy-sounding) enough to lounge at home in it. The fabrics aren’t as sustainable as some other brands, but it does use recycled materials when possible (and Primaloft Gold Active insulation is also partially made with recycled materials).

Waterproofing: It has a light DWR finish, making it water-resistant. So it’ll keep you dry in light rain, when trees are dripping overhead, or in light snow. You’ll still want a waterproof jacket for mid- to heavy-level rain and heavy snow, and I certainly wouldn’t recommend wearing it as an outer layer while skiing. But I wore it in light early-season snow and was totally fine.

Rips and tears: Ripstop fabrics seem to have become the must-have outer fabric on technical gear across every brand, and the Kor Alloy Crew is no exception. I’ve worn it while laying down to stretch on dirt-covered mountain access roads, while hiking along densely forested trails in the PNW, and — perhaps the best test of all — while having a dog with big feet and long nails sleep on top of me. My dog’s nails are what cause pulls and tears on most of my clothing, but so far, you’d never know from looking at the Kor Alloy Crew that my torso turns into a bed for a basset hound most nights.

Breathability: One of the smartest design choices about the Kor Alloy Crew is the use of AirMesh lining in areas where people tend to overheat, especially when wearing a backpack: the side panels, armpits, and mid-back. These sections have much thinner insulation than the rest of the sweatshirt and a more permeable outer fabric, helping to balance your temperature by using less insulation in places that overheat, and more insulation in areas that get cold (chest and arms).

I wore it in fluctuating conditions in coastal Oregon, where it was cold on the rainy, windy beach. But I started sweating as soon as I started the steep hike back to the parking lot. It was ideal, keeping me warm at the beach but allowing excess heat to escape during the more intense ascent — it wasn’t wet with sweat when I finished hiking the way a regular sweatshirt would be.

Buy Now: Men’s ($225)
Buy Now: Women’s ($225)

Style

 

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Outdoor brands have unto themselves a certain style — we all know that one guy who lives in his Patagonia fleece, jeans, and Birkenstocks or Teva Slippers, depending on the season. And while I don’t think the Kor Alloy Crew will be hitting Milan’s fashion week anytime soon, it certainly is trendier than your average sweatshirt. It has a sleeker, more urban design, and fits right in line with the current trend of 1990s-inspired athletic wear (which includes crewcut sweatshirts without hoods). It’s as outdoor-ready as clothing made for backpacking and camping, but looks a little more chic than your average boxy fleece pullover or neon puffy jacket.

Sizing and Fit

I found the fit to be fairly true to size, with a comfortable, slightly slim profile that works well as a midlayer under a shell jacket. The deep front zip adds flexibility, making it easy to put on and take off (or quickly adjust ventilation if you start to warm up). The arms also have a stretch-woven cuff to seal in warmth without feeling restrictive or tight, which is a nice touch for added comfort. It helps the sleeves to not ball up over/under other layers.

I normally wear a size small, which is the size I tested. I have broad shoulders, so I probably could have gone up to a medium for a slightly roomier fit. However, the insulation is quite fluffy (not cold, or low quality — just fluffy), so it compresses easily. I wore the Kor Alloy Crew under a slim-fit jacket, and it didn’t add any bulk or restrict my movement at all.

Buy Now: Men’s ($225)
Buy Now: Women’s ($225)

How I tested

I’ve worn the Kor Alloy Crew in various conditions around the Sierra Nevada and the PNW. I wore it in temperatures ranging from about 35 degrees F to 80 degrees F (tip: it’s a bit too insulated for activity in 70-plus degree weather.) I wore it in everything from full sun to early-season snow, and did a few rocky, steep hikes in it. I’ve only laundered it once — it hasn’t really gotten stinky or dirty — and it didn’t shrink or pill at all. It also dried fairly quickly, and barely felt damp when I put in the dryer. That’s likely due to the quick-drying fabrics.

I get cold easily, but I surprisingly stayed warm wearing just this in temperatures around the 45-degree mark. I also didn’t get nearly as sweaty as I expected while wearing it on uphill hikes where it was about 65 degrees F outside, so you can count on it for three-season wear (or four season, if your summers don’t get exceptionally hot).

Buy Now: Men’s ($225)
Buy Now: Women’s ($225) 

Room for improvement

I quite like the concept of a technical sweatshirt, and I’d love to see more brands making similar items. But for now, the one option on the market is pretty good. I’ve worn the Kor Alloy Crew quite a bit lately, and haven’t found too much to dislike about it.

It would be nice if Mountain Hardwear made future sweatshirts with similar materials and properties, but maybe a slightly different cut — the crew neckline eaves your collarbones and skin exposed, which can get a little chilly (Especially when the rest of your body is warm). I could also do with it being a bit longer, though I do like the dropped back hem to cover your low back when you’re reaching, moving, or bending. (Note that it may droop in the back if you wear a cropped jacket on top).

That said, the slightly cropped, crew-neck look is very en vogue right now, so maybe I’m just not stylish enough to appreciate it.

Buy Now: Men’s ($225)
Buy Now: Women’s ($225)