REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Comfortable
Flattering
Breathable
Semi water-resistant
REASONS TO AVOID
Not very warm
Salomon Agile Full-Zip Hoodie - Women's Review
An affordable and surprisingly functional running jacket that is loaded with unexpected features
Credit: Salomon
Our Verdict
The Salomon Agile Full-Zip Hoodie is one of our favorite running jackets to date. It remains relatively lightweight while boasting quite a few extra features. So many extra features and such an affordable price, in fact, that we awarded this jacket our Best Buy award. Its water-resistant properties make it a great jacket for days when there is a chance of a slight drizzle. We love this jacket so much that it is not only a functional piece of gear for the backcountry, it is a pivotal part of our athleisure ensemble as well. If you are looking for a killer running jacket on a budget, look no further because the Agile Hoodie will be your new running bestie.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Salomon Agile Full-Zip Hoodie is a lightweight running shell comprised of mostly polyester with a bit of elastane thrown in for stretch and mobility purposes. It is moderately water repellent and offers a great balance of protection and breathability. Because of its features and comfort, we awarded it one of our highest honors — the Best Buy award.
Performance Comparison
We love the svelte design and comfort of the Salomon Agile.
Credit: Ally Meller
Breathability
We love the breathability of the Salomon Agile and appreciate how it complements the weather protection. This often isn't the case in the world of running jackets, but Salomon hit the nail on the head with the Agile.
The Agile's weather protection and breathability marry to create a wonderful everyday running jacket. It isn't the most breathable in terms of high-tech, laser-drilled holes or the like, but it is lightweight and allows cool air to move in while you're working up a sweat. It is technically a “wind jacket,” though it is not very heavy duty in terms of windbreakers. It offers just enough protection to cut the intensity of a brutal wind but leaves you with enough airflow to avoid turning your torso into a sauna while you run. We had a breezy time regulating our temperature while we ran in this comfortable jacket. Even on warmer days, we weren't super tempted to shed this cloak.
Comfortable, breathable, and oh-so soft- just a few things we love about the Salomon Agile.
Credit: Ally Meller
We ran most of our testing runs in the Salomon Agile in the outskirts of Seattle, which is absolutely a perfect place for testing the weatherproof versus breathability functions of running jackets. Numerous times while running hard in this Salomon shell, we were blasted by icy winds and caught in unexpected drizzles. The Agile handled each bit of severe weather like the champion it is and let us easily regulate our body temps. The Agile offers breathable protection during these times but doesn't offer much warmth for days when snow is on the horizon. Because of its attractive yet relaxed fit, it wears well over a thermal long sleeve on cooler days.
Getting caught in the rain in the Agile is no big deal.
Credit: Ally Meller
Weather Resistance
The Salomon Agile really shows up in this metric. Running jackets are, for the most part, lightweight jackets that offer mild protection. We say that to differentiate between the levels of weather resistance we are discussing. Salomon touts the Align as offering “light rain-ready” protection, and we wholeheartedly agree. However, the brand should throw in a “light wind-ready” parameter as well because that is truly what the Align does. It offers light weather resistance and a whole lot of comfort while doing so.
The Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating on this jacket provides a layer of drizzle resistance sure to keep you on the move. The hood is well-shaped, so it stays in place while running until big gusts of wind kick up. The is a subtle elastic edge and teeny-tiny brim built into the hood, which helps secure it without any extra ties to fumble with. There is also a small bit of ruching on the back of the hood, which aids in its protective and unfussy structuring. The Salomon Agile won't be your main pick if snow is falling, but for mild fall and spring runs, this flattering layer will hit just right.
The Agile is water repellent and wrinkle proof.
Credit: Ally Meller
Comfort and Mobility
The Salomon Agile might deceive you. Upon unboxing, we didn't think there was anything special about this jacket. To the touch, the polyester and elastane blend doesn't stand out as being exceptional. But how wrong we were!
There is something about zipping this jacket around you. It's not particularly cozy or soft, but the overall fit couldn't be better, in our opinion. It feels light while worn, making it great over an athletic tank or a thermal long sleeve. The elastic hood edging and minimalist-style cuffs add extra comfort, especially when you get caught in some unpredictable weather. We feel like we have a great range of motion in this comfortable superstar. If you want a lightweight jacket that you'll never tire of wearing, we think you'll love the comfort of the Salomon Agile.
Portability
The Agile isn't the lightest jacket we tested, but because of its lack of tactile adornments, it packs down to a mere fraction of what you'd think it would fold down to. It weighs in at 5.2 ounces in a women's size small, which is definitely on the lower end of the spectrum, but not impressively so.
The Agile can be neatly and easily packed into its own pocket. We ran with this jacket stuffed into the depths of our hydration packs and never even noticed it was there, thanks to its squishy, packable body. We don't usually take this into account when assessing running jackets, but we noticed that the Agile doesn't wrinkle as badly as some of our other running jackets. Many of the jackets we tested emerged from their sacks only to cloak us in wrinkly fabric. We know that running isn't about fashion, but we love that the lightweight textile of the Agile didn't leave us looking unkempt.
This svelte jacket is comfortable even as the mileage climbs beyond double digits.
Credit: Ally Meller
Features
In addition to the gentle elastic wrist cuffs and hood securing mechanism that we've already discussed, the Salomon Align offers a few other great features that are deserving of mention. The Agile's fabric has reflective properties built into it. We love a safety feature, and visibility is an important one.
The bilateral pockets both have zippered closures, which is great for securing items safely. We generally don't like to run without pockets stuffed full of gear, but the pockets are incredibly useful when we wear this jacket out and about. We even had success hiking with gear stashed in these pockets, so functional they are indeed.
The soft elastic bits around the wrist cuffs help secure the sleeves wherever you want them, and the reflective inserts aid in low-light visibility.
Credit: Ally Meller
Value
As you know, we love the Salomon Agile. This impressive jacket provides everything we want in a running jacket for a significantly lower price than its competitors. Every bit of this jacket earned its Best Buy ranking. We think that the Agile is one of the better values available in the world of running jackets today and would recommend it to most runners.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a lightweight, breathable, and attractive running jacket to round out your closet, look no further. The Salomon Agile is one of our favorite jackets and deserves our Best Buy award. Not only does the Agile hold up as your mileage climbs, but it also offers mild weather protection, solid breathability, and an affordable price tag.
It is sunny now. But we are well prepared for whatever weather comes our way with the Agile on our backs.
Credit: Ally Meller
—
Ally Arcuri
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