Part of a brand-new range from Craghoppers, the Dynamic fleece has the look and feel, as well as the technical performance to appeal to a younger audience. It is 'Mindfully Made', which means being built with a commitment to sustainability and the environment. Nine plastic bottles were recycled in the making of this fleece, and a lifetime guarantee hints at something that will last, and therefore reduce waste overall.
The Dynamic Hoody is incredibly comfortable to wear, it feels soft next to the skin, is lightweight and offers a well-judged balance of warmth and breathability. It doesn’t get clammy, and if you start to overheat you can ventilate through the half zip, as well as through mesh lined hand warmer pockets. The collar feels like a warm hug with the zip done up, covering your whole neck. When combined with the hood this offers loads of extra warmth. The cut at the hem is fairly long and the back is dropped slightly without looking too silly, this means it’s a great option for winter cycling as well as hiking and travelling.
One thing we didn’t expect to see on a fleece was an intriguing development based around health and well-being. The fleece has natural minerals baked into it which reflect the body’s infrared rays. This is widely known to promote faster healing and reduce muscle fatigue by encouraging cell regeneration and improving circulation of oxygen-rich blood. This sounds particularly useful for performance outdoor clothing and reminds us of the compression wear revolution. It’s difficult to tell how well it works, but the Dynamic Hoody certainly feels fantastic when you’re on the move hiking or cycling.
Since getting this fleece we have barely taken it off. Its subtly technical looks give it mass appeal beyond mountain dwellers, as a daily-wear fleece that provides lashings of warmth and comfort. Take it walking, cycling or anything else where you need a good dose of performance and it really shines. Overall the Dynamic 12000 fleece is simply a lovely thing to own and wear.
