I received a sample of the Brooks-Range Mountaineering Cirro Hoody about a week ago and have worn it most days since, giving me enough time to form some initial impressions.
Brooks-Range offers a hooded anorak (pullover) as well as a jacket, both with and without a hood in the Cirro line. All models use Pertex Quantum for the liner and shell, and Primaloft One in a 60 g weight for the insulation. The Cirro Hoody that I have offers the standard features one would expect with a hooded jacket, as well as a few extras. The cuffs are elastic, and the waist offers a dual-adjustable draw-cord.
The hood on the Cirro is separate from the collar, which allows you to keep your neck warm even when you don’t want the hood up.
You get zipped hand-warmer pockets, as well as both an exterior pocket on the left breast and an interior pocket on the right breast. All of the pockets are fabric backed (as opposed to mesh).
The hood is quite large because it is helmet compatible, but it is also easily battened down with 3-way adjustability.
The Cirro utilizes a double-zip, which makes it harness-friendly for climbers and easier to ventilate.
The exterior pocket doubles as a stuff sack and offers a loop for clipping to a carabiner on your harness or pack. Weight for my size (small) is a feathery 12.3 oz (349 g).
So far, I like the Cirro. It provides a great feature set, even though some features are more suitable for mountaineering or climbing than for lightweight backpacking. The fit is great for a lightweight insulation piece, and it would even allow for a thin fleece to be layered underneath. I have noted a few minor issues, but they are more of an annoyance than a true problem.
First, the liner isn’t sewn to the insulation at the wrist cuff and is easily pulled out when you slide your arm through to put the jacket on. A single line of stitching about an inch inside of the cuff would easily solve this problem.
Second, the double-zip is a bit stiff, but I expect this will go away over time. Stuffing the jacket into the breast pocket is a little tough and compresses the insulation more than I would like. It is probably ok for short term use, but I wouldn’t leave it compressed for days at a time. Also, the Pertex Quantum is very shiny. This doesn’t bother me personally, but may not be fashion-friendly for some people. The weight and price are right-on with similar garments in this class.
The Cirro Hoody is available direct from Brooks-Range Mountaineering at an MSRP of $189. You may also find it at online retailers.
You can view the entire photo set here.
For sizing purposes, you can view my physical characteristics here.
Disclaimer: The author was provided a sample of this item for review by Brooks-Range Mountaineering.
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