Pursuit Hybrid Fleece

Since I got the Pursuit Hybrid Fleece, I have pretty much lived in it whenever I've been outside. This thing is so warm and comfortable with both the grid thermal and the added fleece lining. The only thing I did not like, though it wasn't a deal breaker was it doesn't have any pockets. I wore the pursuit hybrid fleece while scouting for deer, checking cameras and hanging stands for this fall and winter. I wore it on a couple dove and early season teal hunts. Seriously if you're in the market for a new base layer hoodie that you can wear out and about this thing is for you. It's super light weight and packable, but it doesn't sacrifice where it counts. I has a 1/2 zip for easy on and off, a form fitting hood, and thumb loops to help keep in place when adding layers on top.

I was sent this product by Outdoor Vitals for my honest review

I’ve been testing the Pursuit Hybrid Fleece during upland hunting in cool, windy fall weather, and it’s quickly become one of my go-to layers. It provides plenty of warmth without feeling heavy or bulky, and it breathes really well when I’m covering miles through fields and thick cover. The half-zip makes it easy to dump heat, and the hood and thumb loops are great when the temperature drops.
It’s also very comfortable under my upland vest and pack, with plenty of freedom through the shoulders and no annoying bunching. After repeated use through tall grass and brush, it’s held up great. I think it’s an excellent option for active hunters who want something that works as an outer layer in cool weather or a midlayer when temperatures really drop.
I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve been really impressed with the Pursuit Hybrid Fleece so far. The first thing I noticed was how lightweight and comfortable it is. It gives you a good amount of warmth without feeling heavy, bulky, or restrictive, which is exactly what I look for in something I’m going to wear outdoors for long periods of time.

The temperature regulation has been especially good. While moving, hiking, or doing more active work outside, it does a nice job of keeping you warm without causing a lot of heat buildup. I tend to notice pretty quickly when a fleece gets too warm during higher-output activity, but this one breathes well and allows excess heat to escape. I think that will be particularly useful during climbs, longer approaches, or when moving between hunting locations.

The moisture management has also been impressive. When you start working up a sweat, the fleece continues to feel comfortable instead of becoming heavy or clammy. It seems to move moisture well and dries efficiently, which is important when you may be sitting still shortly after hiking or doing something more strenuous. Staying comfortable during that transition from moving to sitting is a big deal when you’re outdoors for an entire day.

I also like the way the fleece is constructed. The combination of the insulated core and the grid fleece panels seems very well thought out. You get additional warmth where you need it while the other areas remain lighter and more breathable. It gives the fleece a good balance between insulation and ventilation instead of feeling like the same heavy material is being used everywhere.

Mobility is another strong point. It has a nice athletic fit without feeling tight or restrictive. Whether hiking, climbing, carrying a pack, reaching, bending, or doing the normal things you do while hunting, it moves very naturally with you. The fit is true to size, and there’s enough room for comfortable movement without having excess material hanging off you.

One of my favorite features continues to be the hood. A lot of hooded fleeces have hoods that are way too loose and baggy. They tend to move around, fall back, or catch the wind. The hood on the Pursuit fits much better. It sits nicely around your head without feeling tight, stays in place, and gives you good coverage when the wind picks up or the temperature drops. It’s a small detail, but when you spend a lot of time outside, it makes a noticeable difference.

The half-zip is another feature I appreciate because it gives you an easy way to regulate your temperature. If you start getting warm during a climb or longer walk, opening it up helps dump heat quickly without having to remove the fleece. The thumb loops are also useful for keeping the sleeves in place, especially when adding another layer over it. I also like the lowered rear hem because it gives you a little more coverage when bending, sitting, climbing, or wearing a pack.

The water resistance is a big plus as well. For damp mornings, light rain, wet brush, wind, or changing conditions, it provides a nice amount of protection without having to immediately reach for a heavier outer shell. Obviously it’s not meant to replace a full rain jacket in heavy weather, but for the kind of light moisture and unpredictable conditions you often encounter while hunting, it works very well.

I also really like the versatility when it comes to layering. On milder days, I can see wearing it as my outer layer for most of the day. When temperatures drop, it is lightweight and streamlined enough to wear comfortably as a midlayer under a heavier jacket. That versatility is important to me because I would rather have one piece that works across a wide range of temperatures and conditions than something that only works in a very narrow weather window.

Overall, I’m very happy with the Pursuit Hybrid Fleece. It’s lightweight, water resistant, breathable, true to size, very comfortable, and offers excellent mobility. The combination of the mapped insulation and grid fleece works really well, and features like the fitted hood, half-zip, thumb loops, and longer rear hem all add to its usefulness in the field.

I spend quite a bit of time outdoors during the fall, and I can already tell this is going to be one of my go-to pieces while guiding hunts this season. It should work especially well for those days when you’re constantly going back and forth between hiking, working, and sitting for longer periods. For me, that combination of comfort, breathability, weather protection, and versatility is exactly what I want in a hunting fleece.

The Outdoor Vitals Pursuit Hybrid Fleece is a piece of gear I didn’t know I needed until I tried it, and now I don’t think I could live without it. I’ve collected plenty of base layers and outerwear over the years, but this fills a gap in my setup that I hadn’t realized was there. After wearing it several times, I can see it becoming a regular part of what I wear hiking and hunting for years to come.

I’ve worn it in fall temperatures ranging from the 40s to the 60s, with a T shirt underneath, and I’ve also tested it under a light jacket. It kept me comfortable throughout that range. For how lightweight it feels, it offers impressive warmth while remaining breathable. It wicks sweat efficiently and dries extremely quickly. The different materials and zones work together well, and temperature regulation has been excellent.

The extended zipper is one of my favorite features. I can open it up for airflow when I’m working harder, then zip it fully for a comfortable fit that lightly hugs my neck and helps retain warmth. I can see this being especially useful during late season hunts. I’ll be able to let heat escape while hiking to my stand, then zip it up once I’m settled. Having that much control over ventilation is a huge plus.

I also really like the design of the hood. It follows the shape of my head without feeling tight, stays out of the way, and doesn’t have a lot of loose material to catch the wind. There’s very little bulk, which makes it easy to pair with a ball cap underneath or a beanie over it. The thumb loops were useful when I tried it under a jacket, helping keep the sleeves in place.

My usual XL fit perfectly, and freedom of movement is excellent. I was able to shoot my bow without any restriction. It’s so comfortable that I barely realize I’m wearing it. Honestly, it’s the most comfortable layer I own.

For hunters and hikers looking for something they can wear on its own or comfortably layer under a jacket, this has a lot to offer. It’s warm, breathable, lightweight, and packable. I can see myself using it across three seasons as my activities and the weather change.

So far, I haven’t found any drawbacks. It feels extremely well made, and the comfort and versatility have really stood out. This is a layer I’m excited to keep using.

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review.

I purchased this fleece after accidentally purchasing the Ventus Hoody first, mistaking the two. The Ventus Hoody was very warm and decently wind resistant for the weight, but had practically no stretch. This Pursuit Hybrid Fleece, though, is still quite warm, has lots of stretch, and feels like a great mid layer. It is replacing a much heavier micro grid fleece and the primary Backcountry use for me will be October Elk hunting, although with how good it feels to wear, I will have it on far beyond elk season. As a brand comparison to something you could see in store, it is most similar to a FL Navigator Hoody. But where that hoody has a more uniform application if their fleece throughout, this hoody has more intentional fabric choices. With high pile fleece in core areas, low pile micro grid fleece in others, and ultralight mesh under the arms for venting, the function is superior and the cost less. Small details were accounted for in this piece, even down to the short fabric cover of the zipper bottom on the quarter zip. This hoody does not have pockets, but will slide under a puffy very easily, and I typically wear gloves for hand warmth or would have on a heavier outer layer with pockets in situations where they are useful. Five star design. My wife loves it too, so we may be ordering one for her to just wear in the fall.

I just received my new pursuit fleece and love it. 😍 couldn’t be happier with the fit and construction. I have several pieces from OV and they have all been spectacular. This will go on all outdoor activities with me.

This fleece really hits the sweet spot for me in warmth and breathability and has become my go to running jacket. The fit is nice, and I find myself wearing this for most outdoor activities. I much prefer this over the Ventus hoodie. This will be a great backpacking/hiking mid layer. I’m 5’10” relatively lean and I wear size large. Like all OV sizing, you might want to go up a size if you are in between or stockier build.

I have the Ventus and it was and is way too hot, almost like working out in a garbage sack cutting weight for wrestling, hot. I rolled the dice on this to replace the Ventus as a light layer because I am a hot person and it doesn’t take much to make me hot. I have been wearing this around but finally was able to test it out on trail and man it’s exactly what I wanted! I was not over hot and no sweat running down my arms like the Ventus does to me. It breathed awesome, and the only spot with visible wet sweat was under my pack! This is a game changer for me and can’t wait to use it more on trail.

I have explored many a mid-layers and this piece is amazing. I have been sitting on this piece for awhile, thanks to the EXO crew! I recently tested this in a high-country scout. Weather was cool (high 40s) to low (high 30s), light rain, hail and cold wind. It was perfect. The fit is really nice, feels silky to the touch, layered well over a long sleeve baselayer and fit just fine under a windstopper layer and then puffer, I preferred it as a stand-alone and was kept warm with the hood up and down. The only feature that took getting used to was not having a chest pocket, but I soon got over it and feel like this piece is my favorite for active insulation. I generally run hot and have struggled with other brands, but this truly delivered all-day. I never took it off. Fantastic piece. Highly recommend!

I loved have this piece on my elk hunt. Worked as advertised. Very breathable when pushing through uphill hikes but surprisingly warm when temps dropped. I wore this piece 80% of the time on my 6 day hunt. Light weight and stuffed into my pack well when I didn’t need it. Can’t recommend enough

Hands down my favorite piece of gear. This midlayer can be worn to town or put through the toughest hikes or hunts on the planet and prove its worth every time. I have a similar item by Sitka and this one blows it away for fit, form, function and price. I lived in this shirt all fall from cool Sept mornings to frigid late November days, it performed flawless. I can't recommend this thing enough, especially for the price. OV knocked it out of the park with this one.

I never wore a fleece before this. But once I understood the layering system, I fell in love with this fleece. I will not hike without it. I've tried others from other companies, but nothing compares. It is great for on the trail when you need just a little bit of warmth. I honestly do look for an excuse to wear this when I am not on the trail (when I am biking or just walking in the neighborhood). This might be my favorite piece by OV.

Love it

At 73 years old I have a lifetime of hiking/camping equipment, but really like your products. I recently bought your sun hoodies,Nemo, Pursuit hybrid, and just today received the Vario jacket. It's still warm in New England , but I soon will be able to use the Vario and Pursuit fleece

Pursuit hoodie is awesome. I've used it in several situations as temps begin to cool and its worked well as a base layer as well as a mid layer. Very happy with the fit and how it feels against skin as base layer. Keeps me very warm in active conditions.

Awesome

Im gonna look stupid fly in the mountains! It also fits and and functions great! Just the thing i was looking to add to my layering system.

I love this piece of gear and this company. I am 6'2" and 215lbs. Bought XL and fits great.

Very light weight and warm. I 100% like this hoodie.

Really light jacket that works both to hike in and hang out with at camp. Almost like a microgrid/fleece with a windbreaker in one. Works well instead of a puffy for 3-seasons in many places and I keep a really lightweight puffy vest in my pack in case to pair with it. Can work as a mid layer in colder weather or an outer layer 40-60F.

Can't wait to wear this pullover. Its in the 100s here now so Ive only tried it on. The technical design is amazing. Going to be a great piece in my layering system!

Good quality, fits perfectly size recommendation, like materials.