Eric Benett Reviews the Evolution Hoodie
Words and photos by Coalatree Ambassador Eric Bennett
A few weeks ago, my wife and I spent a long weekend visiting some of our favorite areas of Southern Utah. We have been fortunate to be able to spend lots of weekends and vacations exploring the incredible canyons, badlands, and open space of the Colorado Plateau, but this particular weekend was one of the coldest that I can remember. We were lucky we brought along our Evolution Hoodies for an extra layer of warmth as the temperatures dipped down into the single digits at night while hanging around the campfire.
Since we were sent our new Evolution Hoodies to try them out, it has been our “go to” clothing item. Whether we are just taking the kids to school or snuggling on the couch to watch a movie, it’s the perfect layer to stay warm and cozy. Also, when we’re out hiking in shady canyons or the brisk morning air, it’s kept us warm without overheating. On colder nights while camping it has been a great mid layer for extra warmth and insulation beneath our down jackets and comfy and soft to sleep in.
We already thought the hoodie was everything it needed to be before, but now with the new features that have been added, this thing is a masterpiece. The hidden zipper pouch has been perfect for stashing our small items like sunglasses, car keys, chapstick, or phones while out hiking, instead of having them in our pants pockets where they can catch, rub, and get tangled up. In the pouch, we barely even notice they’re there. What I also love about this new feature is the added utility, without sacrificing the sleek and simple design of the hoodie.
Apart from the hidden zipper pouch, this hoodie is made from recycled plastic and coffee grounds, which we think is awesome. Our new year's resolution for 2019 has been to reduce our use of plastics and stop buying and using single-use plastics altogether, so it’s great when companies like Coalatree find ways to recycle the abundance of thrown out plastic and use it to make something useful. Apart from its eco-minded production, it also comes with new thumb holes in the sleeves which are nice for keeping your hands a bit warmer when it gets chilly out but you don’t want to throw on the gloves.
It’s also worth mentioning that this hoodie has stay-put drawstrings, which means you don't have to worry about either end getting sucked into the hole. The fabric is made of durable, moisture-wicking, and quick-dry material which keeps it smelling good and clean. It also has a headphone port above the zipper pouch so you can listen to your favorite music while you keep your phone safe.
We had an awesome weekend hiking, exploring, and connecting with nature in one of our most favorite places on Earth, and the Evolution hoodie just made the experience even better.
