Outdoor Research's Ascendant Hoody is a holy grail "perfect mid-layer" with a cult following. The newest in active insulation technology, the Ascendant drops excess heat & moisture when you're questing uphill-but shelters you from the cold when you downshift. The stretchy, weather-shedding Pretext Microlight 20D ripstop outer layer moves with you; the wicking, fuzzy Polartec Alpha Direct Insulation is perfect over a base layer or your skin. Ski in it, climb in it, ride to work in it-live in it.