Kit review: Findra Elsie Merino Hoodie
Reviewed by Steph
For many people, merino wool is one of those fabrics that once you've discovered it, you don't want to wear anything else. This hoodie from FINDRA Clothing is designed to transition from home to the hills and keep you warm along the way.
FEATURES:
Merino wool is one of those magical fabrics - it wicking, fast drying and breathable, whilst also warm. This is made with a circular knitting technique that means there's no seams, and it's also made with zero waste in the manufacturing process. There a thumb holes (yay thumb holes), a good sizes hood and a longer length at the back that helps avoid a cold back gap when moving around on the hills. It's also got the little touches you can expect from a Findra garment - textured elbow patches and stitching on cuffs to give extra durability on areas most like to wear through.
SIZE AND FIT:
The Elsie goes up to a size XXL, which according to the size guide is an 18 with a chest of 43 inches. I'm a size 20 with a 45 inch chest, and this fits me comfortably (I have other Findra size XXL items that fit well too), so I'd say it's more like an 18-20. It's in proportion and well fitting across the chest and hips.
PERFORMANCE:
This is midweight jumper (200gsm if that means anything to you) and I found it incredibly comfortable to wear - the merino is soft and the whole hoodie just feels very high quality. I've worn it both round the city over a pair of jeans, and also out on walks, layered over a base layer. It is really lightweight for how warm it is, making it a perfect extra layer to carry if you're worried about being cold, and I found it really useful in a variety of different weather - from part of layering system on colder days (I like it under my down jacket) to a perfect option for a warm spring walk. It's not cheap but my experience of Findra clothing is that they last exceptionally well, so it's a real investment piece that will last for years.
RRP £105
