Review: Ibex Women’s Indie Hoodie

Ibex Women’s Indie Hoodie

Finding that perfect layer is one of the most important aspect to enjoying a hike. Too heavy and you can overheat, too light and you aren’t prepared for the elements. Having something that is versatile and can work in different situations is key. That perfect layer may just be the Ibex Women’s Indie Hoodie. My friend Chloe helped me out and put the hoodie through it’s paces. Here is her review of the Ibex Women’s Indie Hoodie.

Disclaimer: As a disclaimer we would like to mention that we received this item so that I could write this review. All opinions on this page are our own and based on our own experiences with this item. We are not compensated for the opinions on this review. Your experience with the item may be different. This site uses affiliate marketing links. If you click a button or link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Introducing Chloe

Chloe is a marketing strategist and copywriter for outdoor and active brands and a freelance journalist. She’s a regular contributor to Boulder Magazine and Trail Tacoma and has written for publications like the SRAM Life blog, InsideHook, and more. She’s an avid doer of all things outdoors — namely rock climbing, hiking, snowboarding, watersports, and overlanding. And, of course, she’s always down to nerd out about the best gear for all her favorite activities.

From Ibex

Before we get into the review we like to let you know what Ibex is saying about their Women’s Indie Hoodie. From the website, Ibex calls this hoodie, “A lightweight hoodie designed for active days.” They also say this in their “Why it’s special” section: Scuba hood can be worn under helmets, Quarter zip allows the wearer to vent during strenuous activity, Flatlock stitching eliminates chafing during any kind of adventure.

Here is a look at some of the specs of the Ibex Women’s Indie Hoodie.

Specs

Price*

$170.00

Sizes*

Women’s: XS – XXL

Colors*

Wild Iris, Sophora Japonica, Sitka (Shown), Black

Features*

• No Tags for Maximum Comfort
• Raglan Seams for Optimal Movement
• Minimalist Zipper Placket for Extra Breathability
• Thumb Holes for Layering
• Slim-fit Hood That Stays Up During Activity

All information from Ibex.com and subject to change. Check the website for full details and options.

What I (Chloe) liked about the Ibex Women’s Indie Hoodie

There’s a lot to love about the Women’s Indie Hoodie from Ibex Outdoor Clothing. But, for me, the versatility of this garment shines above all else. It’s great for year-round wear for everything from grocery shopping to backcountry snowboarding. I’ve had this hoodie for just over a year now, so I can confidently say it is a staple in my day-to-day wardrobe. It also always makes the cut when I pack for just about every vacation or weekend away.

Versatility

Call me a minimalist, but I like to keep my wardrobe small. That means that when it comes to technical apparel, I’d rather have one hoodie for snowboarding, summer summiting, climbing, trail running, and running errands than five. However, that’s a lot to ask of one piece of apparel. It isn’t easy to find pieces versatile enough to effectively do it all. However, the Ibex Women’s Indie hoodie is one of those rare staples.

It’s lightweight and compact — easily packable yet surprisingly insulating as a midlayer, which is what I’d initially got it for. I figured I’d use it as a midlayer for snowboarding, which it works great for. It’s thin enough to layer without becoming bulky or constricting. However, it also makes a solid outer layer for hiking on everything from chilly shoulder season days to hot high-altitude hikes when you need something to keep the sun off your skin. I use it as a windbreaker when I don’t feel like packing an actual windbreaker (I never do — I can’t excuse giving up valuable pack space to a jacket with only one real purpose). It’s even comfortable and stylish enough that I throw it on to wear around the house and to run errands around town.

The Ibex Women’s Indie Hoodie is made of 100% merino wool lending to the versatility and functionality it possesses. Merino wool has strong insulating properties yet it’s also breathable, making it comfortable in a wide range of temperatures. This paired with Ibex’s intentional and impactful design features makes the Women’s Indie Hoodie one of the most versatile technical apparel and lifestyle pieces I’ve owned.

Zipper and Hood

The quarter zipper and the scuba hood on the Ibex Women’s Indie Hoodie are comfortable, (again) versatile, and secure. I love the scuba hood for windy days on the trail because, with the quarter zipper all the way up, the hood never blows off. The turtle neck style and nice secure hood are insulating and make an effective barrier against wind.

The quarter zipper also allows plenty of venting to release heat in warmer temps and the hood is low profile — useful for layering under a helmet.

Comfortable Seams

A small detail, but an impactful one. And I do find that these little intentional design details make all the difference in high-end technical apparel. Flatlock stitching on all the seams, including the zipper, causes the seams to sit flush with the rest of the garment. In my opinion, this makes the hoodie much more comfortable to layer than most other garments I’ve used as midlayers — especially when layering it under heavy, thick shells like I do in the winter.

The flat, low-profile seams never cause chaffing or uncomfortable rubbing. This is especially nice when you’re scrambling, climbing, or doing other activities that require a wide range of motion. The hoodie isn’t restrictive and, not only do you never have to worry about the seams irritating your skin, but Ibex has also made this hoodie tagless.

100% Merino Wool

As I mentioned earlier, merino wool works great in the heat and the cold. It’s super versatile and is one of my favorite materials to buy technical apparel in. If you think about it, merino wool is naturally made to outfit merino sheep who live outdoors in varying, often harsh, climates. Sheep are hearty animals, so you have to believe that the wool has a lot to do with that!

Aside from its versatility, Ibex’s merino wool is moisture-wicking. I’ve worn the Women’s Indie Hoodie while hiking in everything from a drizzle to getting caught in severe rainstorms. I can confirm the moisture-wicking properties and the breathability causes it to dry out quickly once the rain stops.

Merino wool is also UV-resistant and anti-bacterial. I love traveling with this hoodie because it’s super compact, doesn’t have to be washed often, and merino wool also doesn’t hold onto odors… So, essentially I can be a gross backpacker who hasn’t washed my hoodie in far too long and no one around me would know it. I can even wad it up in the bottom of my duffle and, after a quick shake out, it’s mostly free of creases thanks to merino wool’s wrinkle-resistant properties — the cherry on top.

What I Didn’t Like

There’s a lot to like about the Indie Hoodie from Ibex, but Greg won’t let me write any more of these reviews if I don’t find something I didn’t love. For me, it was the feeling of the merino wool fabric.

Texture

A lot of people are tentative about investing in merino wool apparel because they’re afraid that it’s going to be itchy. The good news is that Ibex’s Women’s Indie Hoodie is not itchy at all. In fact, I’ve worn merino wool garments from a variety of brands and I’ve never found quality merino wool to itch. However, while the Indie Hoodie isn’t itchy, the garment can feel a bit stiff and the fabric is slightly rough on the skin. Especially if you’re comparing it to something like cotton, polyester, or viscose.

The hoodie is still comfortable enough that I wear it all the time and I truly do pack it along for everything from hiking to climbing to snowboarding. But, as someone who highly values comfort and likes to feel soft, smooth fabrics against my skin, merino wool is still just a bit rougher than I’d like it to be. The rough, slightly stiff feeling does seem to soften up after a few wears then return after the garment has been washed (as with all merino wool I line dry this hoodie). That said, I just get as much wear out of the hoodie as possible between washes.

Wrap up of the Ibex Women’s Indie Hoodie

Despite the fact that wearing merino wool takes a little getting used to for people like me who seek out the softest fabrics possible (not always possible when buying technical gear!), I 100% recommend this hoodie. Merino wool is such a high quality, functional, and versatile material. It far and away makes dealing with a little stiffness in the feel of the fabric worth it. This hoodie performs impeccably outdoors and also has a refined design that can easily pass in a corporate office.

Not to mention that merino wool is a renewable, sustainable material and Ibex is impressively diligent in their sourcing. They’re a small company that puts in the effort to ensure quality working conditions throughout their entire supply chain — that even extends to the sheep they source their wool from! The packaging that the Indie Hoodie (and all Ibex apparel) ships in is 100% backyard compostable, and they work with the non-profit Climate Neutral to offset their carbon footprint as a company. Overall the Ibex Women’s Indie Hoodie is a quality garment that could easily last decades, made by a company with values I feel great about supporting.

More from the Fatman

I want to thank Chloe so much for lending her thoughts on this review. If you are looking for great tips on new media marketing and copywriting, make sure to check out her website at https://chloeanne-copyagency.com/.

For a list of other products that I have reviewed you can check my Product Review page here. If you have any products you would like me to review or any comments you can email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!