Outdoor Research Transcendent Down Hoody Review

The Outdoor Research Transcendent Hoody is a longtime favorite that was updated last year with wider baffles, a softer shell and lining, and responsibly sourced insulation. The latest version is among the more comfortable down jackets on the market, and the 650-fill-power down provided all the warmth I needed for around-town wear. The Transcendent isn’t the lightest or coziest option out there, but it’s a capable companion for daily use and casual winter outings. Below we break down our experiences with the OR Transcendent. To see how it stacks up to the competition, see our article on the best down jackets.
 

Table of Contents

• Warmth
• Weight and Packability
• Weather Resistance
• Construction and Durability
• Fit and Sizing
• What We Like/What We Don't
• Comparison Table
• The Competition

Performance

Warmth

The Outdoor Research Transcendent Hoody quickly has become my go-to down jacket for casual cold-weather outings when comfort is a top priority. The supple lining feels exceptionally cozy against the skin, and the 650-fill-power goose down—although middle-of-the-road in terms of quality—keeps me toasty down into the 40s Fahrenheit with just a t-shirt on underneath. When the temperature really begins to drop, the accommodating fit allows plenty of room to slip a layer underneath. Realistically, it can’t quite compete in warmth with premium down jacket options like the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody (800-fill down) or performance-oriented Feathered Friends Eos (900-fill), but the OR Transcendent is a great match for everyday use during the shoulder seasons. In fact, it’s my preferred puffy for all non-technical outings. 

However, the Transcendent Hoody does fall short for more demanding outdoor use. While backcountry skiing, for instance, I prefer my Arc’teryx Cerium LT (850-fill down and 10.8 ounces), which packs down smaller, is considerably warmer, and easily layers underneath my shell when needed. It’s also worth mentioning that the down inside the Transcendent’s baffles has shifted considerably over the past year and doesn’t have the same loft that it once did. While I expect this to eventually happen over time, my three-year-old Arc’teryx—which has been stuffed away for many more outings than the OR—is in much better shape. At the end of the day, the OR is offered at a lower price point than the Arc’teryx and is a really good value, but there are compromises in terms of build quality.

Weight and Packability

Weighing in at 1 pound 0.2 ounces on my scale for a men’s medium (the listed weight is 1 lb. 0.4 oz.), the OR Transcendent Hoody is fairly heavy for a down jacket. You can shave significant weight with performance-focused options like the Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody (10.8 oz.) or Feathered Friends Eos (10.6 oz.), which come with higher-fill-power down (and higher price tags). However, the Transcendent starts to look more favorable when pitted against other more casual options like the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody (15.1 oz.) and Marmot Highlander Down Hoody (1 lb. 4.5 oz.). All in all, while the OR isn’t my first choice for technical adventures where space and weight are at a premium, it is competitive in the casual realm.

Given its weight and lower-quality 650-fill down, the OR Transcendent Hoody doesn’t pack down super small. Outdoor Research conveniently includes a two-sided zipper on the hand pocket, but it ends up being rather bulky at 9 x 8 x 5 inches once stuffed away. For comparison, that’s about the size of two Cerium LTs. That said, the Transcendent Hoody offers more warmth and packs down smaller than synthetic or fleece alternatives, which is good news for those who want a warm jacket that they can stuff into a duffel bag and travel with.

Weather Resistance

The Transcendent Hoody offers reasonable weather protection for around-town use, but I wouldn’t expose the jacket to sustained rain or wind in the backcountry. Despite its water- and wind-resistant polyester shell, the jacket quickly absorbs rain and snow, and I’ve been able to feel strong winds through the stitching and thin baffles. It’s true that most puffy jackets aren’t designed to shed heavy moisture, but the Transcendent seems especially prone to wetting out. If you live in a place where winter is more wet than cold (such as the Pacific Northwest), I recommend looking into a synthetic jacket. They don’t offer the same warmth-to-weight ratio as down jackets, but shed moisture better and continue to insulate when wet. Or, you can always carry a rain shell in your pack, although the cut of the Transcendent isn’t optimal for wearing a layer overtop (for more on that topic, see our “Fit and Sizing” section below).

Construction and Durability

We’ve found that Outdoor Research products generally are middle-of-the-pack in terms of build quality, but the Transcendent Hoody is holding up impressively well. After almost a full year of regular use—which has included everything from backcountry skiing to van-building projects in my garage—the jacket has shown very little wear. While the 20-denier shell fabric initially gave me pause, it remains free of any rips or tears. After careful inspection, there isn’t a seam out of place and the zippers continue to operate smoothly without issue. However, as mentioned above, the down has shifted significantly and lost some of its loft. And the jacket does seem to collect dirt and grime a bit easier than others I’ve worn, and particularly around the cuffs, but washing is relatively straightforward (we recommend using a gentle wash cycle and throwing tennis balls in the dryer to fluff it back up).

Fit and Sizing

Outdoor Research describes the Transcendent’s fit as “standard,” and I agree with that designation. All told, the men’s size medium fits true to size (for reference, I’m 5’9” and 160 pounds) and provides just enough room for a midweight layer underneath, without feeling overly baggy with just a t-shirt on. That said, those who want to wear a shell over the Transcendent may need to look elsewhere—I found it to be too bulky. While it’s certainly possible to layer overtop (I was able to add my large ski shell), mobility became restricted and it generally was uncomfortable. If you’re searching for a warm puffy to serve as an occasional midlayer, I recommend checking out the Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody, which has a noticeably trimmer fit.

Other Versions of the Outdoor Research Transcendent

We tested the men’s Transcendent Hoody for this review, but Outdoor Research also makes a non-hooded Transcendent Jacket ($199) and Transcendent Vest ($149), which offer less coverage but have similar constructions including 650-fill down and 20-denier shells. For those who want a little extra warmth and weather protection, OR’s Super Transcendent Hoody is worth a look. The jacket uses the same responsibly sourced 650-fill goose down as the regular hoody (although more of it) but beefs up the front and shoulders with 50-denier, 2-layer Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper fabric. However, this comes with both cost and weight penalties (the jacket runs $349 and clocks in at 1 lb. 10.7). In the end, we think the Transcendent Hoody tested here is the better bang for your buck. Women's versions are also available in all of these options for the same price as their men's counterparts.

Sustainability: Responsibly Sourced Goose Down

Outdoor Research has joined other outdoor brands like Patagonia and REI in using responsibly sourced materials for their products. In the case of the Transcendent Hoody, OR partnered with the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) for the 2019 update to this jacket. In short, the RDS uses approved third parties to audit each step of the supply chain process to ensure their standards are met. This includes making sure that animals are not force-fed, there’s no live-plucking, and each animal is looked after in a responsible way throughout its lifetime. The use of responsibly sourced materials is becoming increasingly common in outdoor gear, and it’s nice to see another big brand like Outdoor Research join the ranks.

What We Like

• A nice down jacket option for everyday use and casual outdoor outings at a good price.
• The shell fabric and lining are extremely soft and comfortable, and the fleece-lined hand pockets are exceptionally cozy on cold hands.
• Fit allows ample room for laying underneath.

What We Don’t

• Not the warmest or lightest down jacket option available. For backcountry use, we favor more performance-focused models with higher-quality down. 
• 650-fill down isn’t super compressible and has shifted over the course of a year of testing.
• The 20-denier shell feels fragile, although we haven’t had any durability issues to date.
• The jacket shows stains quite easily, and particularly around the cuffs. 

Comparison Table

The Competition

The Outdoor Research Transcendent Hoody is one of our favorite casual down jackets thanks to its above-average comfort and reasonable price. In the same category is Patagonia’s Down Sweater, which sits at the top of our down jacket round-up. Compared to the Transcendent, the Patagonia uses higher-quality 800-fill down that is warmer and more compressible (although slightly less of it). It also features a more robust 20 x 30-denier face fabric (the Transcendent uses 20D) with a DWR coating, which does a better job of standing up to daily abuse and shedding moisture. Both are nice options for around-town wear, but we give the nod to the $55-pricier Patagonia for its premium materials and ability to cross over more easily into the performance realm.

For an even bigger step up in performance, Arc’teryx’s Cerium LT Hoody is a premium down jacket option at a whopping $379. It’s much lighter than the Transcendent at 10.8 ounces, packs down to about half the size, and is noticeably warmer. Additionally, the unique blend of 850-fill down and Coreloft synthetic insulation (used at the cuffs, underarms, collar, and shoulders) performs better in wet weather, and the protective StormHood does a great job at sealing out wind. If you’re looking for a lightweight down piece for activities like backpacking or backcountry skiing, the Cerium LT is one of our favorites. However, if you simply want a cozy jacket to wear around town, the Transcendent is super comfortable and significantly cheaper.

Swinging to the budget end of the spectrum, we love what REI has come up with in their 650 Down Hoodie 2.0. Like the Transcendent, the REI uses lower-quality 650-fill down and transitions nicely from casual to backcountry use, but it manages to undercut the OR in price at $119 and weight at 13 ounces. That said, the OR includes adjustability at the hem for sealing out the cold, adds an exterior chest pocket, and is more durable. Whether or not you need these added features is up to you, but we consider the 650 Down Hoodie the better all-around value. 

Another casual option to consider is Mountain Hardwear’s Super/DS Stretchdown Hooded Jacket. What stands out most about this piece is its flexible polyester shell, which offers great mobility and durability. Stacked up against the Transcendent, the Super/DS is heavier at 1 pound 1 ounce and pricier at $275 but uses higher-quality 700-fill down and has a noticeably plush feel and a lot of around-town appeal. Neither jacket excels for backcountry use (they’re both bulky when packed and lack technical features), and we prefer the lower price point of the OR, but the Mountain Hardwear has its place for those that put a premium on comfort and stretchiness.

A final option to consider is Marmot’s Highlander Down Hoody. This jacket uses 700-fill and water-resistant down but features a Pertex Quantum shell which helps shed moisture and repel wind. The Highlander also has a slightly trimmer fit than the Transcendent, which makes it the better option for layering under a shell (we struggled with mobility when adding a ski shell over the Transcendent). The Highlander is considerably heavier than the OR at 1 pound 4.5 ounces and noticeably bulky when packed down, but the additional heft shouldn’t be a major concern for most casual users. Both jackets retail for around the same price, but in the end, we give the edge to the Transcendent for its superior comfort and lower weight.