 This Product
REI Co-op Flash Hyperstretch- Women's | |||||
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| Awards |  Best Value for a Technical Fleece | Best Midweight Fleece on a Budget | |||
| Price | $100 List $99.95 at REI | $99.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $60 List $59.95 at REI | $29.99 at Amazon | $29 List $28.50 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | An affordable full zip jacket that supplies technical performance without sacrificing a soft and cozy fleece interior | If you seek a lightweight fleece that thermoregulates well at a great price, take a gander | A simple, budget-friendly polyester fleece boasting soft fabrics and a cozy design | An affordable casual fleece with soft fabrics and a durable design that's proven itself over the years | A super warm fleece without many bells and whistles, this low-cost option is a good one if you're looking for simplicity |
| Rating Categories | REI Co-op Flash Hyp... | Outdoor Research Vi... | REI Co-op Trailmade | Columbia Benton Ful... | Amazon Essentials F... |
| Warmth (25%) | |||||
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Breathability (20%) | |||||
| Layering Ability (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Specs | REI Co-op Flash Hyp... | Outdoor Research Vi... | REI Co-op Trailmade | Columbia Benton Ful... | Amazon Essentials F... |
| Measured Weight (Size Tested) | 10.6 oz (Size S) | 9.8 oz (Size M) | 10.7 oz (Size S) | 12.7 oz (Size S) | 12.5 oz (Size M) |
| Type | Midweight | Lightweight | Midweight | Midweight | Midweight |
| Main Material | 54% recycled polyester/35% nylon/11% spandex (bluesign approved) | bluesign approved 94% polyester, 6% spandex | 100% recycled polyester | 100% polyester MTR filament | 100% recyled polyester |
| Hood Option | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Number of Pockets | 2 hand | 1 chest | 2 hand, 2 interior | 2 hand | 2 hand |
| Features | scuba style hood, zippered hand pockets, hem draw cord | Thumbholes, UPF 30, moisture-wicking, off-shoulder seams, no armpit seams, chin guard | Seamless construction, UPF 30, large pockets | Adjustable hem, interior draw cord, zippered hand pockets | Double-sided knit fabric, polar fleece, plush materials |
| Cuff Construction | Elastic cuff | Elastic cuff | LYCRA spandex binding | Thick elastic cuff | Elastic cuff |
The REI Co-op Flash Hyperstretch is a feature-rich fleece jacket design that's available for an affordable price. Thoughtful features such as a full zip, hood, elastic wrist cuffs, two zippered hand pockets, and a drawcord at the waistline help to trap or release body heat based on your intensity level. The stretchy jacket features a smooth outer face fabric with a soft fleece interior that flatters a variety of body shapes and is easy to layer. For those seeking technical performance on a budget, the Flash Hyperstretch should not be missed.
The Flash Hyperstretch falls just above average in overall warmth when compared to other midweight options in our comprehensive review. That being said, the design includes thoughtful features to enhance warmth, such as a drawcord on the hemline of the waist to help trap body heat during cold-weather adventures. The full zip jacket also features a “wind flap,” or a strip of fabric located behind the teeth of the zipper to help block the wind and contain body heat. The jacket also features a hood with a “scuba” style fit that reduces bulk and fits tightly around the head to trap even more essential body heat. And finally, there are elastic hems on the wrist cuffs to keep the layer closer to the body.
The hip-length design functions more like a lightweight technical layer rather than a midweight fleece. And while the “wind flap” does help reduce the draft through the teeth of the zipper, we wish it ran the full length of the jacket rather than just the upper 8-inch portion. The lack of thickness as well as limited windflap reduce the warmth when pursuing low intensity activities such as moderate hikes or lounging around camp, however, this can be used to your advantage if you're trail running, rock climbing, or backcountry skiing and prefer a little more breathability. Though lacking in sedentary warmth, the Flash Hyperstretch is a lighter-weight design that breathes well, making it a great layer for those who plan to wear it on the go.
The Flash Hyperstretch features a stretchy construction that combines a hard outer face with a soft and cozy inner fleece material. The elastic hems on both the wrist cuffs and hood are soft next to the skin, and the raglan-sleeved design helps increase comfort while carrying a backpack and helps increase your overall range of motion. The jacket feels “stretchy,” moves with you, and is flattering on a variety of body shapes. The jacket is constructed from 54% recycled polyester, 35% nylon, and 11% spandex, which goes a long way in explaining the substantial stretch and accommodating fit. The full zip also supplies a “zipper guard” so that the teeth of the zipper don't bite your chin when fully zipped or layered beneath a cold-weather kit.
Our extensive testing period included a variety of activities: many days of rock climbing, bouldering, trail running, and even sleeping in the layer to carefully consider the comfort of each fleece. Whether pushing the pace, trying hard, or lounging around, this jacket combines the performance of a technical layer on the exterior with a warm and cozy interior. Perhaps our only complaint is that the outer face does sacrifice a bit of comfort in that it isn't as thick and fluffy as other fleeces that we tested. And if we're being really specific, the elastic cuffs were limiting when climbing at our limit as they were noticeably tight and intensified the “pump” or lactic acid to build up in the forearms. The Flash Hyperstretch supplies above-average comfort for varied body shapes thanks to a soft and cozy recycled polyester material that we consider true to size.
The Flash Hyperstretch offers great breathability for a fleece jacket, especially considering its more affordable price tag. While trail running, we couldn't help but notice the technical performance of the polyester fabric, wicking sweat and releasing it out of the fabric. During spring and fall adventures where unsettled weather is standard, our testers loved this layer. It can trap body heat, or you can increase ventilation, taking advantage of the full zip opening or the perforated material beneath the zippered pockets.
While we did notice some sweat building below our armpits and on our lower back during uphill approaches and trail runs, the layer breathed efficiently and successfully wicked sweat away from the skin. The jacket's moisture-wicking and release works best when it is exposed to wind if it is worn as a stand-alone layer. However, it also worked well when layered below other jackets, although it doesn't dry as quickly. The Flash Hyperstretch is breathable enough to be considered a technical fleece jacket, including a full zip design and zippered pockets that can also be opened for even more ventilation during high-intensity adventures.
The Flash Hyperstretch features a somewhat unique, smooth outer face that makes it easy to layer other jackets over the top. Though not exactly a slim-fitting design, the fleece does feature elastic material on the wrist cuffs that help hold the layer in place while layering over top, and there is minimal bunching in the fabric to tuck in. The significant amount of stretch also helps to provide a full range of motion, even with other jackets over the top.
The jacket is also quite easy to layer over top form-fitting underlayers such as tanks, sports bras, and t-shirts. Due to the cozy fleece interior, we recommend layering with slim-fitting synthetic base layers with a smooth interface for best results against the soft inner fleece material. We found Merino wool base layers caused a bit of friction and bunching with the softer fleece. Overall, the Flash Hyperstretch is easy to layer and functions well as a stand-alone piece or as a mid-layer within your cold weather kit.
Though the Flash Hyperstretch is considered a midweight fleece jacket, its overall weight is closer to a lightweight option. At 10.6 ounces for a US women's size small, the Flash offers performance features such as zippered pockets, a hip-length design, a hood, and a drawcord on the bottom hemline without substantial weight on the scale. The fleece also successfully limits bulk with a trim-fitting design and a smooth outer face.
Although considered a midweight fleece, this is definitely on the lighter end of the scale, meaning it doesn't provide as much overall warmth as some of the thicker, heavier fleece jackets that we tested. That being said, this is a great technical layer that performs without taking up a ton of space in your backpack.
If you're interested in a versatile design that combines the technical performance of a smooth outer face with the soft and cozy interior of a traditional fleece design, the Flash Hyperstretch is a great option to consider. Although the thinner material isn't as warm as other fleece jackets in our review, it does feature a full zip, zippered pockets, a wind flap, a zipper guard, and a hood that combine to trap or release body heat while increasing comfort. The Flash Hyperstretch is a great choice for those who are seeking a versatile layer that prioritizes performance without skimping on comfort, and it's available at a fraction of the cost.
The REI Co-op Flash Hyperstretch is a fleece jacket that prioritizes technical performance, easy layering, and comfort appropriate to a variety of body shapes, all within a lightweight and more affordable design. If you'd rather invest your dollars into a thicker, warmer, and much more comfortable fleece jacket, the Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody is a great option to consider as both a technical and a lifestyle jacket. If breathability is a key performance feature you're interested in, check out the Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody supplies performance that's difficult to beat. If you're interested in a more cozy, budget-friendly option, the REI Co-op Trailmade Fleece is even more affordable than the Flash Hyperstrectch. That being said, it is less of a technical fleece jacket and more of a lifestyle fleece for low-intensity activities.
