When it comes to clothing it’s tough to beat a hoodie for anytime wearability. Well, except maybe out on the trail. The problem with hooded sweatshirts as performance gear is the fact that many are made out of cotton; a no-no fabric when it comes to regulating your body temp and keeping moisture at bay. The Magnus Kangaroo hoodie by Mission Workshop aims to combine the comfort of fabric, the timeless style of the pullover, and the performance of true trail gear into one package. Did they pull it off? I put the Magnus through the paces on the mountain, skintrack and city to find out if a cotton blend can really hack it in the elements.
Magnus Kangaroo hoodie profile
The first thing I should point out is that this hoodie is very light on the cotton (just a 16% blend). But, that cotton is woven into the interior of the garment, and provides the next-to-skin comfort that it is so beloved for. The rest of the Magnus is made from Cordura 4Ever Fleece, which is ultra-smooth and abrasion resistant. Other features include the kangaroo hand warmer pocket (hoodie 101 right there) and a zippered torso pocket. The finishing touch is a structured hood with standard drawstrings.
No doubt about it, the Magnus Kangaroo sweatshirt looks great. Mission Workshop has dialed in a cut that leans toward the technical side. Detailed stitching blends with beefy accents on the pockets and hood to create a solid overall garment. The exterior fabric is smooth to the touch, and the interior pile is as comfy as claimed.
Performance Report
When it comes to outdoor activities the Magnus hoodie performed with varied results. Light workouts and short hikes were right in the sweet spot. No problems with temperature regulation. Mist and snow were tolerated nicely by the Cordura 4Ever Fleece. The Magnus pairs up perfectly with a down vest and/or rain jacket if you need a little extra protection from cold or precipitation.
When it came to high-output activities like backcountry snowboarding and snowshoeing, my tests yielded mixed results. Resort snowboarding was an ideal use for this Mission Workshop sweatshirt, as it kept me warm and dry every time I wore it. However, when it came to splitboarding, I heated up fast during uphill travel. With a heavy pack on my back, I developed a bothersome wet spot that quickly cooled during breaks and chilled me. As for snowshoeing, short breaks kept my body temperature balanced, and I was not bothered by any sweat pooling up on my back.
While the results were mixed, the Magnus performed competently enough in most conditions for me to call it an outdoors-worthy hoodie.
The Final Verdict
As far as style goes, the Magnus jumped into my top hoodie spot as soon as it arrived. It performed well in nearly every outdoor test (might want to leave this one in the car for after the skin track). The Cordura 4Ever Fleece has held up through rough treatment and many machine washes, and the overall construction of the garment is impressive. I have no doubt the Magnus will be able to withstand several years of abuse. Mission Workshop has done a fine job of creating a pullover that’s got classic style and a soft feel, but is tech enough to keep you going on the trail. If you’re hoodie collection needs an update, this one’s worth a try.
Thanks for the awesome review! On a scale of cotton to merino, how odor resistant is the Magnus hoodie?