Materials

The following fabrics are used in our garments. They have been selected for specific qualities, and each stand out in a special way. Read below for a description of fabric types, qualities and recommended uses. If you have any questions reach out and we can go deep on any or all of these. 

 

FLEECE

Alpha Direct (ultra-light fleece hoodies, pants, socks and gloves)

Alpha Direct by Polartec is an innovative active insulation material origionally designed for the US military for start and stop activities in cold conditions. It is constructed by adding fine loft fibers to a breathable mat. This makes for a high warmth to weight ratio with maximum breathability. Alpha direct's standout quality is breathability and moisture management. While active, it keeps the user warm and protected while allowing moisture and excess heat to move through the layer. This translates to comfortable temperatures during moderate to high exertion and avoiding wet cling to remain insulative during periods of inactivity. The highly breathable nature of the fabric makes is a poor choice for a static insulator when used alone in wet or cold and windy conditions. It is preferred to use it in a system with a lightweight breathable wind shell or waterproof layer if needed.

90gsm-This is the standard workhorse. 90g strikes the perfect balance between ultra-light, warmth and packability. At around 4.5oz for a large, Theres not really a better active insulator available. It makes an outstanding layer for high output activities in temps from the mid 20’s up to the high 40’s. And a great emergency layer to throw in the pack for big summer days and nights in the mountains. Being comfortable in such a large range of temps and varying outputs, it can be worn alone without the need for changing or shedding layers as output or conditions change. It's also becoming the preferred weight for thru hikes where a light weigh puffy is also included in the load out.

120gsm- This is the heavy weight version and while still very good at managing moisture, its WARM. Unless it's well below freezing the 120g will generally be too warm for very high output activities like running. It makes for a fantastic low to moderate output layer like hiking, and some winter sports. It works great under a ski shell at the resort and is great when combined with a wind layer on cold windy winter hikes. It's also just really cozy and will often find itself being worn around town on chilly days.

60gsm- Super ultra-light, maximum packability. 60g alpha is the choice when prioritizing weight and packability over everything else. A large pullover will weigh under 4oz and will pack incredibly small. It’s a great summer emergency layer to stuff in the vest or pack and makes a great layer for folks who run hot and extremely high output activities like CC skiing. Its also very comfortable in the warmer season during a cool morning or evening and can be worn into pretty warm temps comfortably. It’s a very open structure and should be paired with a breathable wind layer if wind or static use is expected. If you’re new to Alpha, start with the 90g and move here when wanting maximum versatility.

190gsm- The Furry Deluxe. 190g is the heaviest style of alpha direct available and is extremely warm at the cost of weight and bulk. Its not widely used, but I do stock some and can make customs if desired.

 Warning! Alpha Direct and Velcro are sworn enemies. its best to keep them separate and not find out why. 

 

Micro Grid Fleece (fleece hoodies, dresses, pajama pants)

Another Polartec fabric, Micro Grid is a velour/jersey grid that is somewhat light weight and breathable. Its less breathable than alpha direct which makes it a little warmer during static use while still managing moisture pretty well. Its standout quality is comfort. It makes a very cozy casual layer and is recommended for daily wear, hiking or other low to moderate output activities. Micro Grid comes in a variety of colors and can be mixed and matched to your liking. Micro Grid has a large, long time following, looks and feels great and production is very limited and exclusive. I source limited quantities and make fleeces with it because it's hard to find and people want it. You can't go wrong with a Micro Grid and everyone should have one. Just don't make it your first choice for an ultra-light, high performance garment. Thats what alpha is for... 

 

BASE

 

Delta (advanced cooling sunshirts with a moderate upf rating)

Polartec Delta is an advanced cooling and UPF rated fabric for hot dry conditions. There are many variants of Delta. For my sun shirts I use a lightweight, moderate UPF style that is comfortable to wear, suitable for hot conditions and does well in the desert. It also takes dye really well and makes for some really amazing color designs. Delta is made of complicated blend of synthetic and natural fibers. The polyester helps wick moisture away from the skin, while the lyocell spreads moisture out to maximize evaporative cooling. This makes for a garment that will hold moisture a little longer which is ideal for cooling in hot conditions but can be a drawback on cooler/wetter conditions where a full quick drying option may be a better choice.

 

UPF 50 Poly (quick drying, max protection sunshirts and baselayers)

This fabric is a polyester/lycra blend with a full UPF 50+ rating for maximum sun protection. Its high polyester content makes for a soft comfortable wear, a cool feel and a quick dryer. At around 175gsm it's not the most ultra-light option but it makes up for that when full sun protection is desired. This fabric is white and is usually hand dyed for fun designs and is also the print base for funshirts when available.  

 

 

Too much information 

A note on weights

GSM is a weight measurement of a fabric expressed as grams per square meter. Alpha products will simply be labeled as their gsm and expressed as 60g, 90g, etc...  We also talk a lot in Oz/sq yard. You can easily convert gsm to oz/yd by diving the gsm by 33.9. A standard large pullover consists of about 1.7 yds of fabric.

 So for example, a Large Alpha 90 can be looked at like this, 90gsm/33.9=2.65x1.7yds=4.5oz

Please note that other materials like trim, drawstrings and zippers ad weight and bulk and are not accounted for here. Additionally different runs of alpha come out of the mill in slightly varying weights and finished product weights will vary because of this.