Black Diamond First Light 1.0 Stretch Hoody Review
The Black Diamond First Light 1.0 Stretch Hoody ($299) is one of the warmest active insulators we’ve tested, blending 60-gram PrimaLoft insulation with cozy merino side and back panels for cold-weather breathability. It offers great mobility and venting for high-output use in frigid temps, and doubles as an ultra-comfy everyday layer in shoulder-season conditions. That said, the uninsulated back can feel drafty when you’re not wearing a pack, and we were let down by premature pilling and underwhelming water resistance.
Warmth
Comfort & Mobility
Breathability
Weight & Packability
Weather Resistance
Sustainability
Weight
12.7 oz.
Insulation
60g PrimaLoft Gold Active & merino
Fabric
20D & merino/nylon
Packable
No
Pros
Cons
Black Diamond First Light 1.0 Stretch Hoody
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets.
The Black Diamond First Light 1.0 Stretch Hoody is one of the warmest active insulators I’ve worn—which is both a blessing and a limitation. First, a quick definition: active insulation is designed to balance breathability and warmth for high-output use, usually resulting in less insulation overall. But the First Light 1.0 bucks that trend, with 60-gram PrimaLoft insulation and thick merino panels at the back and underarms—a big jump in loft and warmth compared to my go-to Nano-Air Light Hybrid, which uses 40-gram fill and R1 Air fleece.
On a hut trip in British Columbia’s Purcells, where daytime temps hovered in the single digits Fahrenheit, I wore the Black Diamond First Light 1.0 over a light base layer while skinning uphill. We were moving quickly, and the jacket kept me perfectly comfortable without needing to layer up or down. On the descent, I threw a shell over it to trap the warmth I’d built on the way up, which was just enough to stay toasty. It’s a wonderful solution for fast-paced activity in real-deal cold, but the extra insulation does become a liability in milder conditions—on 20°F tours up Snow King in Jackson, I overheated noticeably faster than usual. For fast-paced movement above 25°F, it’s simply too much jacket.
As with most active insulators, the First Light’s warmth isn’t fine-tuned for lower-output use or standing around. I found that the uninsulated back let in drafts when I wasn’t wearing a ski pack, and I wanted a lot more insulation while lingering in the parking lot after Snow King laps. The thick merino does a decent job trapping heat once your body’s already working, but it feels a bit undertooled for truly static use. I’d trust the First Light’s standalone warmth (i.e. without added body heat) into the 40s, but for anything colder, I’d reach for a fully insulated synthetic jacket.
Comfort is one of the First Light 1.0's standout features. Every fabric on the jacket feels soft to the touch—the outer shell is smooth and slightly satiny, while the merino panels along the back and sides have a luxe, fleece-like feel. The lining is soft and moisture-wicking, and the zipper garage at the chin is plush and unobtrusive, even when fully zipped to block wind while booting up Mt. Glory outside of my home in Jackson, Wyoming. The First Light’s active insulation design is a true boon for comfort—it’s noticeably cozier, stretchier, and more mobile than more standard puffies like the Patagonia DAS Light Hoody or Rab Cirrus Flex. It even has a slight edge in loft and next-to-skin feel compared to the similarly breathable Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid.
With uninsulated merino-nylon panels along the sides and back, the First Light 1.0 has solid breathability baked into its design. Compared to fully insulated synthetic jackets, it vents heat more effectively and performs well during high-output activities like shoulder-season hiking or cold-weather ski touring. That said, the 60-gram front insulation is still fairly thick for an active midlayer, and the merino blend—while thin—traps more heat than expected once your body warms up. I’ve overheated in the First Light 1.0 while skinning or booting in temps around 20°F, whereas the Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid has done a better job keeping me regulated in similar conditions.
The Black Diamond First Light 1.0 checks in at 12.7 ounces for the men’s version, which is about average for a synthetic jacket—though most synthetic options are fully insulated, unlike the First Light’s merino-backed design. It’s by no means an ultralight layer, but that’s not the point: this jacket is built to be worn, not packed away. It doesn’t hang heavy on the shoulders, and I rarely noticed the weight while it was on.
However, when it came time to stuff the Black Diamond First Light 1.0 into a pack or stash it under a helmet, the extra bulk became apparent. On an ascent and ski of Mount Levesque in the Purcells, I had a full kit—layers, food, crampons, and more—and found myself wishing the jacket packed down smaller. When stuffed into its own hood, the First Light compresses to roughly the size of a football, which is fine for short days or cold starts but a bit bulky for minimalist missions. Compared to most active midlayers I’ve worn, like the Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid, it’s a thicker, puffier piece that takes up just a bit more space. I’d still bring it into the backcountry on truly frigid days, but if packability is a top priority, there are trimmer options out there.
The Black Diamond First Light 1.0 offers minimal defense against the elements, with a DWR finish that handles dry snow fine but wets out quickly in anything soppier. Moisture beads at first, but in my experience, it only takes a few minutes of light drizzle or wet snow before the fabric starts to soak through. And while the nylon shell covers vulnerable areas like the shoulders and sleeves, the merino at the back and underarms offers zero protection against moisture (though it does keep insulating when wet). For anything beyond a dry, cold flurry, I’d recommend throwing a waterproof shell over the top. I also noticed the jacket stained pretty easily—unclear whether that’s a fabric flaw or just my own sloppiness, but either way, it didn’t inspire confidence.
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For a jacket built with active use in mind, the First Light 1.0's durability came up short. Surprisingly, my issue was not with the merino panels, which feature a nylon face for added abrasion resistance. Where I started noticing pilling and fabric snagging (after just a few short days of wearing it with a ski pack) was on the back of the hood and shoulders—surprising wear and tear for a synthetic midlayer in this price range. The 20-denier shell fabric isn’t unusual for synthetic insulated jackets, but its supple, stretchy feel seems to make it particularly vulnerable. All told, I expected better longevity based on my past experiences with Black Diamond gear. For comparison, I haven’t seen similar wear on either the Arc’teryx Atom Hoody or the Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid after much longer stints of use.
That said, the First Light is still tougher than ultralight options like the Outdoor Research SuperStrand LT, which I managed to tear multiple times on casual brushes with branches. The zippers are smooth and reliable, and I’ve had no issues with snags or failures. At $299, the price feels steep for a jacket that shows wear so quickly, though to be fair, that’s the going rate for premium active insulators these days.
The First Light 1.0's feature set is simple but effective. The hood is roomy with elastic binding but no adjustments—it fits well over a beanie or ball cap and can stretch over a low-profile climbing helmet in a pinch, although your side-to-side movement will suffer as a result. It does not fit over a standard-sized ski helmet.
Pocket-wise, you get two zippered hand pockets and one external chest pocket, all of which are well-sized for stashing snacks, a phone, or other essentials. The chest pocket was my go-to, as the hand pockets sit low and can be tough to access with a hipbelt or harness in place. On the plus side, the zipper pulls are glove-friendly, and all zippers operated smoothly throughout testing. Nothing flashy here, but the First Light has everything you need for most mountain missions—just don’t expect premium adjustability or alpine-ready features.
The Black Diamond First Light 1.0 runs a bit roomier than most active insulators. I typically wear an XS or small, depending on the brand, and the size small felt looser than both the Arc’teryx Atom Hoody and Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid Hoody. That extra room translated to excellent freedom of movement for transitions, kick turns, and pole plants, and I never felt restricted while skinning or layering up.
That said, the fit wasn’t perfect. The sleeves were longer than average and bunched slightly at the wrists, and the hem fell lower than ideal—just past the bottom of my butt. I’d call the cut “regular,” though it leans toward roomy for someone with a smaller frame. It layers well under a shell, but if you’re looking for a super dialed trim fit, especially as a midlayer, you might need to size down (if possible) or consider a more tailored alternative.
Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid Hoody ($299): Lighten Up
If you tend to run hot, spend a lot of time moving uphill, or get out in mild winter or shoulder-season conditions, the Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid is the better match. It uses 40-gram FullRange insulation and airy R1 Air fleece under the arms and back, which dump heat far better than the First Light’s thicker insulation and merino paneling. You sacrifice some warmth and weather protection, but it’s the kind of jacket you can wear skinning or hiking above freezing without constantly venting. Keep in mind the Nano-Air fits trimmer, which is great for layering under a shell or warmer synthetic jacket (though you might want to size up for standalone use). The First Light wins for cold-weather comfort, but for high-output pursuits in moderate temps, the Nano-Air Light Hybrid is in a league of its own. For more, read our review of the Nano-Air Light Hybrid Hoody.
Arc’teryx Proton Hoody ($350): Breathable Warmth
For a step up in warmth within the active insulation category, consider the Arc’teryx Proton Hoody. It uses 80-gram Coreloft Compact insulation throughout, giving it a noticeable edge in insulation over the 60-gram fill and merino-paneled design of the First Light Hybrid. The Proton is the more versatile piece for hanging around camp or après-ski but lacks the venting you’d want for truly high-output use. We’d recommend it for slower-paced activities like ice or alpine climbing, while the First Light remains the better choice for fast-moving efforts in frigid conditions. For a deeper dive, read our Arc'teryx Proton Hoody review.
Business in the front, party at the back: The First Light 1.0 Stretch Hoody features stretchy merino panels along the back and sides for functional venting without sacrificing too much warmth. But it’s still overkill for most active use in mild weather—and without a pack, you’ll definitely feel the drop in insulation across the back.
Warmth
Comfort & Mobility
Breathability
Weight & Packability
Weather Resistance
Sustainability
Active insulation at its finest, the Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid Hoody combines 40-gram synthetic fill with fleece panels for a breathable, mobile, and comfortable jacket that’s built to move with you. However, it falls short in both warmth and weather resistance compared to much of the competition.
Warmth
Comfort & Mobility
Breathability
Weight & Packability
Weather Resistance
Sustainability
If you’re a sweater, check out the Proton—this jacket is purpose-built for temperature regulation during cold-weather activities. However, it’s expensive and has limited weather resistance and durability. And buyer beware: it runs large.
Warmth
Comfort & Mobility
Breathability
Weight & Packability
Weather Resistance
Sustainability
Is the First Light 1.0 for You?
If you’re heading into truly cold conditions and want a breathable synthetic layer you can wear on the move, the Black Diamond First Light 1.0 Stretch Hoody is a great match. Its 60-gram PrimaLoft and merino construction offers more warmth than most active insulators, making it ideal for slow-to-moderate ski tours, cold-weather hikes, and winter belays. The soft, stretchy fabrics and relaxed fit also give it high marks for comfort and mobility. That said, its warmth is overkill for fast-paced movement in mild temps, and the durability of the shell fabric leaves a bit to be desired for a $300 jacket. But for cold-weather athletes, the First Light 1.0 strikes a sweet spot between warmth and performance.
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