CHECK OUT 5.11 TACTICAL’S ZONE FULL ZIP HOODIE.

By Jim Cobb

Your morning jog can be a little cold late in the summer. 511 Tactical's Zone Full Zip Hoodie might be just what you need to stave off that chill.

(Photo: 5.11 Tactical)

Here’s the thing: I have a serious love of hoodies. I mean, it’s to the point that I get kind of bummed when the weather warms up in spring, leaving me impatiently tapping my foot until fall arrives and I can happily don one of my favorite clothing items again. I find them comfortable, cozy and just all-around awesome.

So, it was with no small amount of anticipation that I took on the assignment of reviewing the Zone Full Zip Hoodie from 5.11 Tactical. I was already very familiar with 5.11’s standards for high-quality construction and materials, so I had an inkling of what to expect in those departments. (Spoiler alert: I wasn’t disappointed in the least.)

Let’s take a closer look.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I ordered the Zone Full Zip Hoodie in a color that the company calls "Turbulence." It’s sort of a blue-gray. I have enough black hoodies to outfit an entire squad of ninjas, so the new color was welcome. The Zone also comes in Ranger Green, Grey Heather and Black.

And, because I have more belly than I should, I opted for an XXL—which, as it turns out, is the largest size available.

In my experience, there are two styles of hoodie. The first is a roomy sweatshirt that might be a little bulky but is exceptionally comfortable and warm. The other is considerably lighter and wears more like a long-sleeved T-shirt with a hood. The Zone definitely fits the latter description.

According to the tag, the fabric for this hoodie is 57 percent cotton, 38 percent polyester and 5 percent elastane. The 5.11 Tactical website has a slightly different breakdown of the contents, and it also mentions a wicking finish. The material is fairly thin, landing somewhere between a well-worn flannel shirt and that old rock band T-shirt you’ve had since college but don’t wear anymore ( ... because your wife hates it).