The pocket is big enough to stuff the jacket into and includes a small loop to clip the stuffed jacket to a carabiner. I found the pocket was plenty big enough to fit a phone or camera, headlamp, and small snack, though loading the pocket heavily created a droop in the chest fabric as the weight stretched the extremely lightweight fabric out. That said, having those items easily accessible makes up for the slight inconvenience. The pocket is also sized well to stuff the jacket into itself without needing to break a sweat (something that can’t be said about the Patagonia Houdini).
Hood and Drawstring
The hood is quite large, though not quite as big as the hood on the BDV hoody. It fits comfortably over a climbing helmet, but I wasn’t quite able to get it over a ski helmet. The face opening isn’t quite big enough to put the hood over a helmet when the jacket is zipped all the way up, but once the hood is on, the jacket doesn’t feel claustrophobic the way a tight buff or form-fitting fleece does. And while wearing the hood over a helmet does create a noticeable decrease in range of motion, I prefer that to a hood so large it gets in the way all the rest of the time.
Durability
Quick million dollar question: What’s the expected lifespan of a jacket? If you said, “Depends on how often you wear it,” well I can’t give you a million dollars, but I’ll give you a virtual high-five. The Alpine Start is one of the more durable lightweight jackets I’ve worn, due in no small part to the stretchiness of the fabric. That said, I find myself wearing it at some point nearly every day I bring it out of the house and as such, it has started sprouting holes in normal wear spots like the elbows and shoulders from climbing up rough alpine granite. This is just an estimate of course, but I feel good about saying the Alpine Start has endured more abuse in a shorter period of time than any other jacket I’ve ever worn, and has performed admirably in those conditions.
Performance
As I said above, the Alpine Start comes with me nearly every time I leave the truck. I’ve worn it on everything from Mt. Rainier to Longs Peak through just about all imaginable weather conditions. All said and done, I think the Alpine Start is the single most versatile piece of outerwear I currently use, even more so than comparable pieces like the OR Whirlwind and Patagonia Houdini. What sets the Alpine Start apart is the full zip which makes layering quick and painless, and the fabric which is comfortable in a huge range of weather conditions with or without a layer underneath.
I have even brought the Alpine Start as my “hardshell” on days when I expected light precipitation or a low chance of heavy precipitation. The Alpine Start is lighter and far more durable and versatile than a full-blown hardshell and as such, I prefer it to Gore-Tex unless I’m expecting the heavens to really open up. I wore the Alpine Start on a day in Eldorado Canyon when we got caught by a fast-moving storm at the top of the rappels. After a ten minute deluge, my arms, head, and torso were quite wet, but my t-shirt was actually still dry next to my chest, and ten minutes after that, I was totally dry again.
In direct comparison to the OR Whirlwind hoody (review coming soon), I think the Alpine Start is slightly more weather resistant and slightly less breathable. That said, the only times I would rather take the Whirlwind hoody than the Alpine Start are situations when I know the weather will be cool and breezy all day. Nearly every other day I would rather have the Alpine Start because it is just easier to take on and off as the weather changes. Additionally the Alpine Start is just a tiny bit warmer as a stand-alone jacket for those few moments in a day without movement.
Bottom Line
The Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody is an absolutely fantastic piece of clothing. It is lightweight, comfortable and utilitarian in a wide range of weather conditions, and durable. Whether climbing alpine ridges or hiking in light precipitation, the Alpine Start is an excellent choice for a lightweight outer layer to repel light precipitation, block wind, and keep the chill off. Black Diamond hit a homerun with the Alpine Start.
I love this thing. I bought one to use while paddle boarding and it works great. Dries in second and packs to nothing as well as being bright. Needed on a lake at dawn. Blocks wind and and mist. I will use it as an extra piece during the winter.
Agreed, this is a really great jacket. So light! This is its best attribute. Perfect piece for rock climbing. Light, wind resistant, low bulk, easy to clip to your harness, and more durable than I expected. It’s stood up to a good amount of abuse and looks not much worse for the wear – just a bit of fraying around the cuffs. Should also be great for ski touring. Light & plenty breathable for the skin track, but it will keep light snow off you and provide protection from the wind on ridges.
My only complaint (a minor one at that) is that the cuffs are pretty large. I wish they were a little tighter.