Mountain Hardwear Summit Grid Half Zip Review

Bottom Line

The Mountain Hardwear Summit Grid Half Zip (men’s / women’s) is a wonderful blend of frontcountry fit and backcountry technicality. For a midweight fleece weighing just 11.5 ounces, it manages to cram in a full suite of features, including a large hood, kangaroo pockets, and a deep zipper.

The fabric’s heat retention is wonderful, and it kept us at a comfortable temperature in our tents overnight in the mountains of North Carolina. The zipper served as a great way to dump heat once the temperature started rising. And the snugger fit of the upper body paired well with a pack without causing any bunching or rubbing. We also found that the material holds up well to bushwhacking and repeated washing. 

However, we had a few complaints. The fit of the fleece invited drafts whenever the cropped hem rose. Additionally, this hemline made it awkward to wear longer base layers and rendered the hemline cinch cord a bit useless. Without thumbholes in the sleeves to retain warmth over the hands, and with the fit’s draftiness, this fleece is perhaps not suited for the coldest of adventures. However, it is a great option for those wanting a warm fleece that packs down small.

To compare to other top-performing fleece jackets, check out our guide to the best fleece jackets.

Warmth

We took this hoody into the woods for the first time on a springtime hike in the mountains of North Carolina, where sub-freezing nighttime and morning temperatures left me really wanting a warm, comfortable fleece. On this front, the Summit Grid Half Zip really delivered.

The midweight fleece is reminiscent of the cult classic Melanzana Microgrid V2, with the soft, grid fleece fabric retaining a shocking amount of heat for how lightweight the whole thing actually is. When bundled up in the fleece and wrapped in a quilt, we found it to retain body heat quite well. However, once we got moving in the morning, we had some complaints about the cropped fit. The hemline, though very flattering for daily life, is cropped enough to cause issues when actually moving around.

When we would bend over, usually to grab a dropped trekking pole (we’re clumsy), the back of the hoodie rode up, and we could feel the chilly air rush underneath. In some ways, this was great! Once the sun fully rose and we started heating up, the cropped hem and the wonderfully deep zipper helped a lot with dumping excess heat. However, when we wanted to retain as much heat as possible, we did find ourselves wishing for a fuller-coverage fit.

This hood7 remains a go-to for daily wear, as we found the fit incredibly flattering. But we leave this one behind for colder trips. For springtime adventures in warmer places or any trip in the summer, this fleece would be at the top of our packing list.

Comfort

This fleece has fabric that’s soft against the skin. We wore it without a base layer and found it quite comfortable. However, the sizing is on the small side, so the arms and chest fit just a bit tighter than other fleeces we’re used to. This could be frustrating if we wanted to wear a bulkier base layer.

Additionally, you have to be a bit more thoughtful about what you choose to wear with this fleece because of the crop. When we put it on top of our go-to sun hoodie, it looked a bit goofy with the bottom of the sun hoodie sticking out from the fleece. And when we paired just the fleece with a rain jacket, we didn’t love the feeling of the rain jacket material brushing against our skin wherever the fleece rode up.

The slightly tighter arms ended up being great with a pack. There was no excess fabric to rub or bunch, and we found the fit to be quite comfortable. For fit reasons and the warmth issues discussed above, we don’t think we’d reach for this in situations where we need a lot of layering. But the fabric’s feel is incredible, and it works well as a standalone item.

We’re not exactly sure where to include this naturally in a review, but our main tester loved how natural and cute she looked in this fleece. It comes in colors not often seen in technical outdoor gear. And there’s something to be said for a well-constructed piece of gear that manages to not look out of place in daily life while still functioning well on all but the most technical or cold of hikes.

Durability

Since this fleece is so flattering and comfortable, we’ve been wearing it quite a bit in both the backcountry and the frontcountry. As a very sweaty individual, this means the fleece has already weathered many washes.

Our gut instinct when first using this hoody was that it wouldn’t hold up well to many washes and that the material would pill and get less soft over time. We’re very happy to be proven wrong. Not only has the fabric stayed as soft as the day it arrived, but we’ve also intentionally bushwhacked through thorny bushes and sharp tree branches to make sure the fabric doesn’t snag (and it doesn’t). 

The fleece has elastic around the hood and the waist to cinch tighter. Both have maintained all their stretch. The front zipper also feels smooth and well-constructed. Even after six days of backpacking and countless wears in daily life, we haven’t noticed any wear or tear on the fabric. However, after bushwhacking, we noticed more dirt and debris stuck to this fabric than to other fleeces on our gear list.

We should note that some online reviews mentioned shrinkage in the dryer. So we made sure to air-dry the fleece. By doing this, we haven’t noticed any changes in the fleece’s fit. Though it does take some intentionality when doing laundry to make sure it doesn’t end up in the dryer.

Weight

Mountain Hardwear lists the Summit Grid Half Zip at 11.5 ounces, but we clocked it at 11.0 ounces on a kitchen scale. When comparing this weight to other fleeces in our lineup — especially considering its heat-retention properties — it’s clear that this hoody is well-designed and thoughtfully crafted for those who want to pack light and stay warm.

When packing the fleece away in a pack, we found it packed down to a size slightly smaller than a Nalgene bottle, which is ideal for longer hikes or for situations with a smaller pack. Those looking for a fairly built-out fleece without a significant weight penalty will be happy with the excellent warmth-to-weight ratio of the Summit Grid.

Features

We’re especially impressed by how fully featured the fleece is without a significant weight penalty. Along with the warm, soft main body, the Summit Grid Half Zip comes with a large hood, a cinch cord around the hood and hemline, and a deep zipper down the entire front for breathability.

However, these features function with varying success. Starting with the positive, the oversized hood accommodates a ponytail or a small helmet. And the cinch cord boosts the adjustability for specific head shapes. On a particularly windy morning, we found the hood incredible, as we could cinch it around our head to help retain more heat and keep it from blowing off.

The zipper, too, works wonderfully. We could zip and unzip it with one hand. It feels very smooth and durable. And it goes deep enough to actually make a difference in the fleece’s breathability.

We are undecided on the pocket, which is a large, kangaroo pocket at the front of the fleece. It was great when we wanted to keep our hands warm, but also has no zipper. So we were hesitant to put anything of real value in them while hiking. Additionally, when buckling the hip belt of our pack, we lost access to the pockets.

We found the hemline cinch unnecessary, as it only exacerbated the cropped nature of the hoody. Every time we would cinch it, the fleece would ride a little higher, exposing skin and rendering any heat retention from the cinch pointless. Notably, this jacket lacks thumbholes, which we like to see in a fleece to keep some of the fabric over our hands.

Should You Buy The Mountain Hardwear Summit Grid Half Zip Hoody?

We recommend this fleece as a stylish, budget-friendly, midweight option that transitions well from daily life to a hiking trail. At under 12 ounces, it offers a really fantastic warmth-to-weight and has some key features that some heavier fleeces still lack. The grid fleece is soft, comfortable, durable, and holds up well to wind and tree branches alike.

However, we would skip this one if you’re headed out into a seriously cold alpine environment. The cropped hemline tends to ride up, creating a failure point in heat retention and making it awkward to wear over a base layer. If you like thumbholes or an ultra-warm fleece, you might find this option better suited for lifestyle than a super technical excursion.

What Other Fleeces Should You Consider?

If the Mountain Hardwear Summit Grid Half Zip Hoody is not quite what you are looking for in a fleece jacket, we have many other recommendations to consider. You can head over to our full best fleece jackets gear guide for more of our top picks. Also take a look below for some ideas.

Patagonia R1 Air Review: The R1 also features a classic grid-patterned fabric to maximize breathability during active use on the trail while fitting in for a day in town. Choose the R1 for its superior moisture-wicking technology, which uses hollow-core yarns that dry exceptionally fast during intense activity.

Cotopaxi Abrazo Half-Zip Review: The Abrazo is another minimalist, classic pullover style that easily transitions from backcountry to frontcountry and everyday wear. However, the Abrazo offers a uniquely vibrant aesthetic, giving it that standout, retro vibe, and uses a slightly thicker fleece for casual hangouts.

Columbia Steens Mountain 2.0 / Benton Springs Review: Like the Summit Grid, the Steens and Benton Springs are reliable, non-technical daily fleeces that feature a straightforward design focused on heat retention in cooler weather. While the Columbia fleeces hit that budget sweet spot, they sacrifice the advanced grid fabric’s breathability in exchange for the heavy fleece feel.