Outdoor Research Deviator Hoodie Review

Kevin Glover

January 31

One of the best innovations in outdoor gear over the past 5 years has been the explosion of 'active insulators.' These pieces are designed to regulate temperature whether you're sweating or being sedentary, and we've reviewed over a dozen of these over the years. One of the newest additions is the Outdoor Research Deviator Hoody, which distinguishes itself by its proprietary in-house VerticalX™ Octa fabric and aggressive insulation mapping. It's been my buddy in this late (but finally here) PNW winter.

Outdoor Research Deviator Hoodie Features:

Strategically Placed Weather Protection, Stretch and Breathability
Lightweight Breathable Knit Insulation at Hood, Shoulders, Sleeves and Front Body.
Insulated Hood with Bonded Brim and Stretch Elastic Opening
Zip Chest and Hand Pockets
Wind and Weather Resistant
Movement Mirroring Stretch
Weight: 12.5oz
MSRP: $229

Outdoor Research Men's Deviator Hoodie Review — Trying desperately to fling some snow like a cool kid

Just enough warmth, just where you need it:

I need to start by talking about the Deviator's proprietary fabric, and I'll start with a callback to the Polartec Alpha Direct insulation that debuted in 2017. At the time this was a major step forward in active insulation. The fibers were essentially linearly oriented and attached to the face fabric, with no interior liner. The idea was that the moisture-wicking fibers would be an efficient, rapid conduit of perspiration while retaining their loft and insulation properties.

Spoiler: the fabric worked great. By all appearances, the VerticalX™ Octa is Outdoor Research's in-house recreation of this technology. According to this press coverage, the fabric features an 8-sided polyester core encased in a higher-loft polyester; I obviously can't comment on whether it's actually octagonal, but it looks identical to the impressive military-derived Polartec Alpha and performs similarly, which I'll get to.

The insulation is bonded to a 20D nylon/spandex blend outer fabric, which has a lovely finish and plenty of inherent stretch. This is complemented by uninsulated polyester/spandex blend fabric in the underarms and back, and the result is a lightweight, nimble jacket that moves with your body exceptionally well.

The build of the jacket is slim and tailored, but fully featured. There are two zippered hand pockets and an exterior pocket on the chest. The cuffs are a simple elastic design, and the hem also just has elastic fabric as trim. The hood is lightweight and uninsulated, and lacks shock cord adjustments. OR is really going for a slimmed down design here, with ultralight zipper pulls dipped in a bit of silicone for grip. The main zip locks so it won't shift while you run.

Looking at those specs from a bird's eye view, it's pretty clear that OR is positioning the Deviator as an ultralight insulator for fast-and-light endeavors. The things that really stand out here are the lack of hem and hood adjustments. Those are pretty fundamental features, and most of the time you don't need them but when you do you'll really miss having them. The hem adjustment is clutch if you're having any issues with the hem riding up, especially for things like climbing. Similarly, the hood adjustment usually plays a big role in helping the hood track with your head and preserving your peripheral vision.

Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad thing that OR didn't include them. It shaves ounces, and little omissions like that might also explain why the Deviator comes in at a very appealing $229. The 12.5oz claimed weight is good but not class leading. Truthfully, in my testing, I didn't actually miss those features. When I wore the hood over my usual activity trucker hat, I didn't have peripheral vision issues and the hood tracked with my head well. But having a little something to stretch the hood over definitely helped; basically, that's what the adjustment would have done.

The overall 'fit and finish' of the Deviator is stellar. The details are really fine, the build quality is excellent, and the materials really shine. The gridded fleece and exposed insulation look stellar and function even better.

In terms of performance, I am extremely happy with the Deviator as an active insulator. The classic PNW winter activity is a wet, muggy ascent up steep terrain: usually a death sentence for any insulating layer. Because the Deviator is only lightly insulated in the front, hood and sleeves and largely uninsulated (just gridded fleece!) in the back, the pieces dumps plenty of heat when you're working hard. I especially love that the back is uninsulated, because 90% of the time I'm wearing a pack and the insulation is just wasted, soggy fabric.

For fit, I'm 5'11" and 200lbs. This jacket has an athletic fit that hugs my chest and stomach. I've felt that OR's sizes tend to run large (or slightly boxy) in the past, and this one definitely does not. It's a trim, lithe fit with great stretch that moves with your body well. It also means that it layers underneath a shell well.

I will also mention the Deviator pants, which are minimalist streamlined wind pants. They have a zippered phone-sized pocket and a hand pocket on the left and right waist respectively. There's elastic along the back and a smooth strip of waistband over the belly. The hems have a short 6" zipper to help them get up and over boots.

I used these skiing and biking, and they'd be perfect for running too. The front panel is similar in feel to the jacket's body fabric, but with a polyurethane lining for added protection. Simple, soft polyester/spandex fabric lines the waste and backs of your legs to dump heat. The fit is comfortable and they complement the jacket.

Fit: I'm 5'11" and 200 lbs., wearing the size Medium.

Buy Now: Jacket and Pants available from OutdoorResearch.com