The Mountain Hardwear Dragon Hooded Jacket is described by the company as an “alpine softshell workhorse.” To me, that means this jacket ought to be able to do it all – from skinning up mountains on ski tours, to descending open faces in high winds. It should keep out the elements while remaining breathable, yet still be flexible and comfortable enough to allow for body movement and stretch. So, the question: is this jacket the workhorse it claims to be? I’ve been testing it all winter so far and have a few thoughts. First, the details.
The Mountain Hardwear Dragon Hooded Jacket features:
- AirShield softshell fabric
- Chockstone fabric in high-abrasion areas
- Alpine fit
- Storm hood
- Multiple internal and external pockets
I’ve used the Dragon Hooded Jacket on backcountry ski tours and in the resort. The first time I took it out was a sunny day with temperatures in the 30’s. I figured it would be a good way to test breathability. About 1/2 hour into the ascent, I had to take it off – I was just too hot. While breathability is good, the inside of the jacket is lined with a thin layer of fleece and it didn’t take long for my body heat to overwhelm the jacket. After completing the climb in my base layer, however, a sharp wind met us at the top and the Dragon Hooded Jacket went right back on. Wind resistance is very impressive, and I appreciated how warm and, well, bombproof the shell felt. Skiing down, I didn’t overheat, which is surprising since roller balls were starting to tumble on sunny slopes. In the end, I decided this jacket is too much for touring on warmer days.
A later backcountry trip, however, was cold and brutally windy. I considered wearing a hard shell instead but took the Dragon Hooded Jacket out instead. And you know what? I’m glad I did. Wearing just a merino wool base layer underneath, I was able to keep wearing this softshell on the ascent. Temperatures were in the 20s, and it was snowing sideways. But the workhorse kicked in and the jacket kept me warm and wicked moisture away from my body like a pro. On the ridgeline, the wind was downright unbearable on my face, but my body never felt the slightest chill – this shell kept even blizzard conditions at bay. I didn’t even feel compelled to put on an insulative layer underneath for the ski down. The MH Dragon took care of me through and through.
At the resort, I wore this softshell on a cold, sunny day. Again, breathability was excellent even when I broke a sweat hiking to East Castle and Mount Baldy at Alta. I also really liked how flexible this shell is. With ample amounts of stretch, I never felt restricted while booting up a steep face or skiing massive, wind-blown chalk moguls in Main Chute.
One of the main reasons I think it breathes so well is the AirShield fabric. With single layers of the stuff located in key areas (like the armpits) it’s easy for moisture to escape. Plus, the jacket has Chockstone fabric in high-abrasion areas (think pack straps or tree skiing) so I don’t have to worry about ripping it up.
There are ample pockets (to a fault) that can carry anything from your phone, to hand warmer packets, energy bars or a flask of whiskey. But my favorite feature is the storm hood. This thing is huge and covers my noggin against everything nature throws at it. When we were skinning in that blizzard, I loved how the hood ciches down with one hand (the adjustment is on the back of the hood). It even has a brim to keep the eyes shaded from the sun.
Overall, I’m very impressed with this softshell. My only gripe is that it runs large. I wear a size medium, but my medium Dragon Hooded Jacket is a little big, especially in the arms. Luckily, the sleeves have a burly Velcro cuff to keep the arms at the right length.
The Good: Warm yet breathable on cold days. Impressive features like AirShield softshell and Chockstone fabric in key placements. Awesome hood.
The Bad: Runs large.
Final Word: The Mountain Hardwear Dragon Hooded Jacket really is a workhorse. There’s not a lot of outdoor scenarios I can think of where I wouldn’t be happy to wear it. From cold-weather boot-packing, to full-on blizzards in the skin track, this softshell kept me warm, dry, and comfortable.