Anyone who lives in the Great Lakes Region of the United States eventually becomes an expert on insulating layers. With that said, last winter was the worst anyone has seen here in decades. Living through the Polar Vortex up here taught me a hard lesson. I didn’t have enough wool and heavy fleece in my wardrobe. Merino Wool in particular is great because is has a very high weight-to-warmth ratio and it’s naturally breathable, durable, odor and static resistant. Knowing this, I was very excited when Triple Aught Design offered to send over their Praetorian Hoodie in the new Deadfall color for us to field test.
Triple Aught Design Praetorian Hoodie
The Praetorian is a mid-weight knitted full zip sweater made from a dense weave of 100% New Zealand Merino Wool. As with all TAD kit, there is a lot of attention to detail in the design. The Praetorian’s Aero Hood will be familiar if you own any of TAD’s other hoodies.
It’s more unstructured than the hoods on the Stealth and Ranger jackets and it cannot be adjusted. As a result, it doesn’t always lay straight or flat on its own due to the difference in the material but when it’s up, the hood is still very functional. Especially when worn with a brimmed hat.
A zippered Napolean Pocket on the left breast will store a flat item like a smartphone or a wallet.
There are two side-entry hand warmer pockets with reinforced openings. The elbows are also reinforced to guard against premature wear. The stitching was flawless – both inside and out. All the zippers are YKK.
The cuffs have thumb holes which make it easier to slide on an outer layer without hiking up the sleeves. They also offer some coverage if needed.
The Praetorian Hoodie can be worn as a stand-alone garment. Below I’m wearing it with a pair of TAD’s Covert DC Pants.
It also pairs nicely as a mid-layer under a Triple Aught Design Stealth or Stealth LT jacket and I’ve found it to be a less bulky layering option when compared to the Ranger or Shag Master Hoodie. The Praetorian doesn’t offer much wind or rain protection on its own so an outer layer is advisable in those type of conditions.
The back has a drop hem, which provides some back side coverage and prevents the hoodie from riding up when both arms are extended overhead.
The Praetorian features an active fit. At 6’4, 250 lbs with a 49″ chest and a 37-38″ waist, I fall into the upper XL range of the TAD fit guide. For their active fit garments, I generally go up one size to an XXL and that’s worked out pretty well across the board for me so far.
If you’ve read this blog, by now you’ve got the sense that I’m a fan of Triple Aught Design. I get impatient with their stocking policies and their gear is expensive, but everything I’ve tried so far has been a great addition to my gear closet and the Praetorian is no exception. It’s a versatile garment that I should be able to wear three out of the four seasons here. It’s been with me on the trail and I’ve also worn it out on the town with family and friends. In other words, this isn’t something that will sit in your closet.
The Praetorian Hoodie retails for $175 and is available here in a variety of colors (when in stock) on Triple Aught Design’s website and in their San Francisco store locations.
The post Triple Aught Design Praetorian Hoodie Review appeared first on Loaded Pocketz.