The Black Diamond CoEfficient Hoody is our fastest drying pick, and we rate it 78 out of 100.
A 281g Power Grid hoody with a smooth low-friction face, built to slide under a hardshell and to dry out before you need it again.
Same five scores as every fleece we tested: Breathability, Warmth, Layering and Fit, Weight, Value for Money. Drying speed is not one of them, and it is where this jacket makes its case, so we timed it separately.
Fastest Drying
Black Diamond CoEfficient Hoody
- Weight: 281g
- Fabric: Polartec Power Grid, 51% polyester / 36% nylon / 13% elastane
- Weight class: Midweight
- Pockets: 1
- Hood: Yes, helmet compatible
Pros
- Dries faster than any fleece we tested
- 281g, the lightest here
- Smooth face slides under a hardshell
- Hood fits under a climbing helmet
Cons
- Tight through the forearms
- One pocket
- Runs cold as soon as you stop
The Verdict on the Black Diamond CoEfficient Hoody
The quickest drying fleece we tested, which is the reason to pick it over the more famous grid hoodies.
That performance put it at 78 out of 100 and earned it our fastest drying spot.
Dries faster than any fleece we tested, and that is the whole case for it.
You pay for that somewhere.
Tight through the forearms.
It suits multi-day trips where you have to re-wear a sweaty layer the next morning best.
Soaked it on a climb, hung it in the tent porch, and it was dry before the R1 Air I had hanging next to it. The forearms are cut tight though, and one pocket is stingy at this price.
Ryan, Top-Notch test team
Our Analysis, Comparisons, and Test Results
It leads on weight and gives ground on value for money.
Metric by metric, against the same nine panels.
Breathability
The Power Grid backing moves moisture at the same rate as the best grid fleeces on test. Where it separates itself is drying speed after heavy uphill sweat, which is faster than both the Patagonia R1 Air and The North Face FutureFleece.
If you sweat hard and have to put the same layer back on in the morning, that ordering matters more than any overall score. Our testers still hit the same wall as the rest of the grid fleeces, which is that it runs cold the minute you stop.
| Breathability | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highest in this guide | 8.5/10 |
| Black Diamond CoEfficient Hoody | 8/10 |
| Guide average | 7/10 |
| Lowest in this guide | 5.6/10 |
Warmth
Warmth is thin by design, and it is not the layer to sit at camp in.
There is no wind resistance to speak of, so a shell goes over it at every stop.
Long sleeve reach and an under-helmet hood keep the extremities covered while you are moving.
| Warmth | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highest in this guide | 9/10 |
| Black Diamond CoEfficient Hoody | 6.5/10 |
| Guide average | 7.1/10 |
| Lowest in this guide | 6/10 |
Layering and Fit
The smooth exterior is the point, not a finish choice. It slides under a hardshell without binding at the shoulders, which is where bulkier fleeces snag and ride up.
Forearms run tight, so anyone with heavier arms should size carefully. One pocket only, which is fine on a climb and short for daily use.
| Layering and Fit | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highest in this guide | 8/10 |
| Black Diamond CoEfficient Hoody | 8/10 |
| Guide average | 6.7/10 |
| Lowest in this guide | 5.5/10 |
Weight
281g, the lightest jacket in this ranking.
Compresses smaller than the Rab thanks to the thinner face fabric.
Construction is not the toughest here, and the light face is part of that trade.
| Weight | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highest in this guide | 9.1/10 |
| Black Diamond CoEfficient Hoody | 9.1/10 |
| Guide average | 7.2/10 |
| Lowest in this guide | 3/10 |
Value for Money
Premium money buys the fastest drying and lightest fleece on test.
The Rab Ascendor does most of the same job for less, which is why it takes the top slot rather than this one.
Worth the money if your trips involve back-to-back sweaty days rather than one big push.
| Value for Money | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highest in this guide | 9.5/10 |
| Black Diamond CoEfficient Hoody | 6.5/10 |
| Guide average | 7.5/10 |
| Lowest in this guide | 5.5/10 |
Three Alternatives Worth a Look
It will not suit everyone. These three came closest in the same test.
Rab Ascendor Light Hoody, our best overall for hiking. The only fleece here that stayed on all day at a working heart rate, and it undercuts every jacket it beats.
Mountain Hardwear Summit Grid Hoody, our best value. A fully featured grid fleece at half the premium money, and the one our testers had to be talked out of keeping.
Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody, our best for cold camp. The warmest stretch fleece here and the most comfortable thing on test, held back by pack-strap pilling that should not happen at this money.
Also from this test: the Arc'teryx Covert Cardigan, our best for travel and town pick, if the jacket has to look right off the trail.
Specifications
| Weight | 281g |
| Fabric | Polartec Power Grid, 51% polyester / 36% nylon / 13% elastane |
| Weight class | Midweight |
| Pockets | 1 |
| Hood | Yes, helmet compatible |
The Bottom Line
After the full round of testing, the Black Diamond CoEfficient Hoody holds our fastest drying spot on 78 out of 100.
Dries faster than any fleece we tested. That is what you are buying.
Tight through the forearms. Decide if that matters for how you camp.
Buy it if that describes you: multi-day trips where you have to re-wear a sweaty layer the next morning.
Want the head to head? The full field sits in our 10 Best Fleece Jackets for Hiking, Tested and Ranked guide.
