221B Tactical - Keeping You Warm & Protected

Every now and then, a request for a wear test and review is just serendipitous.  This is one of those times.  As I live in the mid-Atlantic region and winter seem to have arrived a bit early with temps dropping below freezing tonight – and wind chill temperatures getting into single digits – I was pleased to get the 221B Tactical Rendition Hoodie and a pair of their Guardian Gloves.

The Rendition Hoodie

I have to admit: To me a “hoodie” is a pull over sweatshirt that has a hood incorporated.  It has zero wind resistance built in and no waterproofing or additional features other than the kangaroo pocket.  I like the variety of them that I have. I wear them frequently.  I’m one of those people who love fall and spring because it’s so easy to dress for comfort and conceal a weapon at the same time. Once winter sets in my gun is often buried under multiple layers of clothing and slow to get to. That’s an obvious concern.

So, when I received the Rendition Hoodie from 221B Tactical I was surprised.  While they call it a “hoodie,” it’s a jacket (to me).  This piece of apparel has a full zip front with a number of pockets.  I’ll get to them in a minute. The jacket itself, according to their website, is constructed “with a patented, heat pressed, dual-layer thermal system,” and they add on that it “incorporates a state of the art ‘wind blocking’ layer.”

My first reaction to the material it’s made of was, “neoprene.”  It honestly feels like a nicely lined thin neoprene jacket.  Now, bear in mind, when I say “thin,” I don’t mean thin like so many windbreakers and rain jackets that are on the market. I mean “thin” as in 2mm neoprene wetsuit.  Line that with a layer of thermal material and add in the sleeve cuffs and you get a good idea of the jacket.  The hood is made of the same material and has a short bill that extends out past the usual hood pocket. The bill should provide some minor protection from the sun in your face and rain that might fall.  After all, if it’s cold enough to wear this garment the rain falling would be… a little crisp hitting your skin.

The jacket has four pockets for carrying a variety of items.  The two pockets for your hands have magnetic closures.  That makes them quite easy to get your hands into, whether for warmth or to retrieve items.  The other side of that is it makes the pockets slightly less secure (as compared to a zip shut pocket) for holding your items. It’s a known trade off and the Rendition Hoodie – in those pockets – is more focused on the convenience of getting your hands in and out easily.

There is also a zip shut pocket on the lower portion of the right sleeve; on the right forearm.  It’s the perfect size to hold your phone, pens, a small flashlight, etc. The last pocket on the left side of the jacket – and it actually has a pocket in a pocket. The larger pocket is accessed via a large zipper just to the left of the jacket’s primary zipper.  This large pocket is big enough to put an iPad in… almost two of them if you could stack them one on top of the other. Two iPads would actually easily fit side by side. Inside that large pocket, high and close to the center of the jacket, is a smaller zip close pocket that is about the same size as the pocket on the sleeve; about right to hold your phone or other similarly sized essentials.

The jacket is obviously well thought out in its design, features and materials construction. The ONLY warning I’d give you is in sizing. I’m 5’-10”, 190#, 46” chest, 36” waist.  I wear a large shirt and usually get my hoodies or jackets in XL so they can fit over my other garments.  This Rendition Hoodie is an XL and it’s SNUG.  If I put it on over a sweatshirt and zip it up, it’s tight enough that you can easily see the print of my gun behind my right hip.  My recommendation is that you order a size larger than you normally would. You can find more information on it on this webpage.

The Guardian Gloves

The Guardian Gloves provide front and back cut, slash and abrasion resistance.  The upgraded variation – the HDs – now include a spectra lining that provides that protection on every part of your hand inside the glove.

Like most protective gloves, part of the protection comes from the materials the glove itself is constructed from and how many layers of that material there are.  The more layers, the less dexterity you have.  The fewer layers, the more risk you accept. Some gloves designs add to the protection provided by applying or incorporating other materials on top of the glove “cloth;” (put in quotes because it could be nylon, leather, etc).  In this case, the Guardian Gloves have a synthetic / rubber material applied to the back that provides an initial layer of abrasion and impact resistance. (It looks amazingly like tire tread). On the palm and fingers there are multiple layers of (what I assume to be) leather. The gloves take some breaking in to make movement easier but, if sized right, they fit snuggly and provide a decent level of not only dexterity but also tactile sensitivity.  For more information about them, check out this webpage.

In Closing

When the weather is right for me to wear the Rendition Hoodie over just a t-shirt or polo shirt, I’ll see how well it fits long term due to the snugness.  The gloves are going to see a LOT of use as the winter months move in. I tend to not wear true insulated winter gloves, but trade off some of the warmth for greater dexterity and tactile sensitivity. I like being able to feel what I’m doing and will accept some discomfort from cold as the trade-off.

This jacket/hoodie and glove pairing should provide a great winter set up for outer apparel.  I tend to wear a ball cap under the hood to provide greater coverage over my face from rain and sun. That’s just a personal preference and not necessary depending on your comfort levels with cold rain or bright sun.  Check them out.