Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Ridge Merino Cloudripper Grid Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie vs Outdoor Vitals Pursuit Hybrid Fleece Hoodie
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Fleece Jackets: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Ridge Merino Cloudripper wins by doing the core job best: it breathes and vents like a technical grid fleece while merino keeps it warm and odor-free. The Outdoor Vitals Pursuit is nearly as capable for high-output days and costs less, making it the value call.
Ridge Merino Cloudripper Grid Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie
Buy itA merino grid fleece that breathes like a technical layer and doesn't stink after a week.
- Merino grid fleece vents heat well and keeps regulating temperature on the move
- High merino content resists odor far better than synthetic fleece
- Low-profile hood layers under a helmet or shell, and a thinner back hem tucks in cleanly
- Premium price for a mid-layer
- Soft merino face is less abrasion-tough than a hardface fleece, and like all fleece it blocks no wind
Outdoor Vitals Pursuit Hybrid Fleece Hoodie
Buy itA hybrid grid fleece that maps breathability where you sweat and insulation where you don't.
- Grid-fleece zones dump heat while stretch-woven panels add durability and a little wind blunting
- Genuinely lightweight and packs small for its warmth
- Priced well below the premium name-brand mid-layers
- Athletic, trim fit and a half-zip only, so it is less of a throw-on everyday jacket
- Woven panels take the edge off wind but it's still not a windproof shell
Side by side
The 6 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Ridge Merino Cloudripper Grid Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie Our pick | Outdoor Vitals Pursuit Hybrid Fleece Hoodie | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Hikers and everyday wearers who want one breathable mid-layer that resists odor and layers cleanly. | High-output hikers, hunters and fastpackers who want breathable warmth without the flagship price. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
| Fleece type & breathability | Merino grid — very breathable, vents heat | Grid + active-insulation hybrid — highly breathable |
| Warmth-to-weight | Warm for the weight | Excellent |
| Best use | Active mid-layer + everyday | High-output hiking mid/outer layer |
| Wind resistance | None — layer a shell in wind | Slight (woven panels), still needs a shell |
| Durability & pilling | Sturdy merino-blend face | Good — woven face zones |
| Packability | Compresses well | Packs small |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Ridge Merino Cloudripper Grid Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie if
hikers and everyday wearers who want one breathable mid-layer that resists odor and layers cleanly.
Know before buying: premium price for a mid-layer.
Pick the Outdoor Vitals Pursuit Hybrid Fleece Hoodie if
high-output hikers, hunters and fastpackers who want breathable warmth without the flagship price.
Know before buying: athletic, trim fit and a half-zip only, so it is less of a throw-on everyday jacket.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Ridge Merino Cloudripper Grid Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie - A merino grid fleece that breathes like a technical layer and doesn't stink after a week. Choose the Outdoor Vitals Pursuit Hybrid Fleece Hoodie instead if high-output hikers, hunters and fastpackers who want breathable warmth without the flagship price.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Fleece Jackets: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).