More Than Just a Puffy? Mulling Over Velocio's New Hoodie.
The temps are dropping, and this new Velocio Ultrapack Insulated Hoodie caught my eye. As a cyclist and data-guy, I'm digging into the specs and $349 price.
The temps are definitely dropping. I can feel it on my morning rides, that "dawn patrol" window where you're questioning all your life choices until the sun crests the hill. For me, the hardest part isn't always the ride itself; it's the layering. And, more importantly, what to have ready for the moment you stop riding and the chill sets in.
This new Velocio Ultrapack Insulated Hoodie caught my eye this week. It looks like Velocio is trying to solve that exact "what to wear around the ride" problem.
As a cyclist, "packable" is my love language. My first thought is always, "But where does it go?" This thing apparently stuffs into its own sack, which might fit in a large saddlebag, but it's definitely going in my car or a handlebar bag for a gravel adventure. It's a "puffy," but it's clearly built with our very specific needs in mind.
I dug into the specs, as I tend to do. The data points that stand out aren't just marketing fluff. It uses 60g PrimaSoft insulation, which is quality stuff. But the key claim is that it keeps you warm even when wet. As anyone who's been caught in a mountain shower—on a bike or hiking up a 14er—knows, "warm when wet" is the difference between a good story and a genuinely miserable, potentially dangerous, situation.
The other part my inner PharmD/data-nerd picked up on: the DWR (water repellent) finish is designed without PFAS. I've been reading more about these "forever chemicals" in apparel and gear, and seeing a brand actively design them out is a huge plus. It's a technical detail that has real-world health and environmental implications. That's the kind of design I can get behind. I also noticed the sizing range is incredibly wide (up to 4XL in Men's), which is just smart, inclusive design.
Then there's the price. $349.
Okay, that's steep for a hoodie. My "dad-of-two" budget-brain immediately put up a red flag. But the "tinkerer" in me is looking at the details. The "articulated patterning" means it's cut to move with you, not just a standard boxy puffy. The "pedal-ready patterning" across their new Ultrapack line (this, the jacket, the pants) suggests it's more than just lifestyle apparel.
I'm mulling it over. Is it a $349 hoodie? Or is it a $349 technical jacket that just looks like a comfortable hoodie? If it can pull double-duty—keeping me warm at a chilly trailhead, packing down for a multi-day trip, and not making me look like I'm about to summit Everest when I'm just running errands—that's where the value is. It seems less like a single-use "cycling" piece and more like a "solve-five-problems" piece of gear. And that, my practical side can almost get on board with.
Velocio
Velocio
