This lush top is the third generation of Chrome Industries’ Cobra hoodie. While it retains features from both of its predecessors, it also brings some changes—most notably a move away from 100% Merino to a Merino/poly blend. Diehard wool fans may be disappointed by this change, but I’ve lost some wool pieces I really loved when they accidentally went through the dryer, so I’ll accept partial Merino in exchange for laundry survival.
Price: $185.00
Rating: ★★★★ ☆
Specs: 53% Merino wool, 44% recycled polyester, 3% spandex
What I like: Enough Merino wool to be warm and comfy, with just the right amount of stretch and enough polyester to make it machine-washable (and dry-able). Comes in any color you want as long as it’s black.
What I’d change: I’d like to see more consumer visibility into what “sustainable recycled polyester” means and looks like with regards to the Cobra 3.0 hoodie.
My call: I love this hoodie. If I could Oprah this hoodie to everyone I know, I would. My teammates at Dawn Patrol will attest that I’ve rarely taken it off since it came in.
Women’s Cobra 3.0 Hoodie: Features
While I often wear the Cobra 3.0 hoodie at my desk, it is definitely designed with riding in mind. Longer sleeves with thumb loops at the cuffs are just as effective at covering my wrists while typing in my cold office as they are during a chilly ride. I rode with a small hip pack underneath the hoodie, and the two-way front zipper allowed me to partially unzip the bottom half of the hoodie when I needed to quickly grab a snack or a tool. The hood fits over your helmet but also has pull tabs to cinch it down if you want a closer non-helmet fit.
Women’s Cobra 3.0 Hoodie: Pockets
While I wouldn’t want something as heavy as my phone in the front pockets when I’m riding, they’re easily large enough to hold your phone when you’re not riding; plus, the low-profile zippers keep things from falling out when you are (in my case, chapstick and my car clicker). The back pocket with its two pass-through zippers is huge—I’m not sure what all you’d need to put in there to fill it up on a normal basis, but I comfortably carried a shock pump flat across my back while I was testing bikes.
Women’s Cobra 3.0 Hoodie: Sustainable?
Chrome Industries states that the polyester part of this Merino/poly blend is sustainable and recycled, but they stop short of explaining what they mean by “sustainable”. Does it mean something else in addition to “recycled” here? On their website, Chrome touts their Citizen Bags (or Heritage Collection—it’s unclear if those are different product lines or the same line) as being bluesign® approved, so Chrome isn’t new to identifying sustainable elements or processes.
Even if the sustainability of the Cobra 3.0 isn’t verified by an independent third party (yet?), “sustainable” feels like an empty buzzword if the company using it doesn’t provide some level of transparency for how or why a particular product is “sustainable.” I want to know why Chrome is claiming the Cobra 3.0 hoodie has some element of sustainability; I don’t need a full whitepaper (I’d read it though), but a line or two in the product description would help.
Women’s Cobra 3.0 Hoodie: The Ride
Admittedly, I’m not much for mountain biking in hoodies. I generally overheat and then the hoodie is too bulky to fit into most other pockets or packs. The Cobra 3.0 was no different. During a Dawn Patrol weekend in Moab, UT, I wore the Cobra 3.0 on a short shuttle run. The temperatures were in the low to mid-forties. While the hoodie has a comfortable fit for riding, by the end of the three-mile lap, I had completely unzipped it and was more than ready to drop a layer.
That being said, if my butt wasn’t on a bike that weekend, I had the Cobra 3.0 hoodie on. The weight of the material combined with the fleeced interior makes it a super cozy pre and post-ride layer. I think it also has potential for bopping around town. I live in the sticks and have few opportunities to commute or run errands by bike, but if your trips are short, it will probably work well.
Women’s Cobra 3.0 Hoodie: Final Word
The Cobra 3.0 is the coziest, most comfortable hoodie I’ve had in a long time. It isn’t cheap, but it has a great fit and so far has held up to near-constant wear. If you’re looking for a commuting layer that you can wear to the bar or grocery store without looking like a nerd, this should fit the bill. If you just want a warm, quality hoodie to wear anytime you aren’t biking, this is the one.