Wilderness Wear Men’s MerinoFusion 190 Switch Hoodie
Mens
Rating
| Rating: | 9.2 / 10 |
| Value for Money | 2.3 / 2.5 |
| Comfort | 2.3 / 2.5 |
| Weight | 2.2 / 2.5 |
| Durability | 2.4 / 2.5 |
Wilderness Wear Men's MerinoFusion 190 Switch Hoodie Review
Generally when I hike I prefer a lighter weight merino top as my ‘go to option’ but I will always carry a heavier layer for when it gets really cold. For the past nine years my preferred top has been the Wilderness Wear MerinoFusion 190 Long Sleeved Zip Neck Top. Recently I had the chance to try out a relatively new top from Wilderness Wear, the Wilderness Wear Men’s MerinoFusion 190 Switch Hoodie.
These two tops are very similar in construction and material but where they differ is this garment is a hoodie. Material wise it is a combination of 50% pure Australian merino combined with 50% ultra-fine schoeller polypropylene which provides a very comfortable feel. Like full-on merino garments, this one hardly smells even after multiple days of use.
I’m a big fan of hiking hoodies and while I tend to steer towards lightweight summer hoodies this one sits at the winter weight with 190 gram merino that is aimed at colder weather. Where this top really varies from its zip neck cousin is it combines a loose fitting collar. As someone with a large neck it fits really well without being tight. The hood component is close fitting but a good size. I found myself wearing this top with the hood down and only wore the hood up when it started to get cold in the evening.
Like most hikers I use a layering system that provides a high degree of versatility over a wide range of temperatures. For me my layering system consists of four seperate garments:
- A base layer
- A mid layer
- A down/synthetic jacket
- A rain jacket
Funnily enough, my mid layer is usually the last layer that goes on for me. My usual pattern is to wear my base layer, then add my rain jacket which reduces airflow and keeps me warm first thing in the morning when it’s still a bit cool. If I am wearing my mid layer it’s cold, really cold, but on occasions I will wear the mid layer as my stand-alone top.
I have a preference for snug fitting tops and the cut on this garment is classed as slim fit so the XL size fits me quite nicely. Given I will also wear this top as a second layer, I wouldn’t want it any smaller. As with the other Wilderness Wear tops I have reviewed, the body and sleeve lengths are very generous which is often a shortcoming of many other brands – causing them to ride up or become untucked. I struggled to find any other negatives with this top.
The Wilderness Wear Men’s MerinoFusion 190 Switch Hoodie has now made its way into my layering system displacing my previous favourite, the Wilderness Wear MerinoFusion 190 Long Sleeved Zip Neck Top. It just has the ‘comfy’ feel about it.
Men’s MerinoFusion 190 Switch Hoodie – Fusion Black colour (grey)
Wilderness Wear Men’s MerinoFusion 190 Switch Hoodie Pure Black colour
Tim in his Wilderness Wear Men’s MerinoFusion 190 Switch Hoodie hood down
Tim in his Wilderness Wear Men’s MerinoFusion 190 Switch Hoodie hood up
We Like
- High quality merino, synthetic blend fabric that feels so comfortable to wear and keeps you warm and minimises smell
- Double sewn flat seams prevents chaffing and keeps this garment comfortable no matter how heavy the pack or how many layers you wear
- Excellent length in both the body of the garment as well as the sleeves which is great for those of us with a bit of extra height and length
- Australian owned, Australian made
We Don't Like
- Limited colour choice; grey or black
Best Uses
As a standalone layer in cold weather or as a second layer in your layering system
Buy One
You can purchase the Wilderness Wear Men’s MerinoFusion 190 Switch Hoodie from Wilderness Wear
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Investment
AUD $160.00 RRP
Other Versions
Wilderness Wear produces a large range of tops in both short and long sleeves, as well as light to heavy weight materials. Depending on your tolerance for cold and your layering system, there is a garment to suit your needs
Disclaimer
This review was done with product provided by Wilderness Wear
Last updated
28 August 2026