The Mirage Merino Sun Hoody

 

The Mirage is the product that really started it all. When owner and founder Nic "Darwin" Rakestraw was preparing to thru-hike the Continental Divide Trail in 2021, he was looking for the "perfect" hiking top. He wanted a sun hoodie with a more extended cut that wouldn't ride up while hiking, and one with better ventilation made from a natural material. After looking everywhere for something that fit the bill and coming up empty-handed, he decided to try to develop one himself. 

 

In the summer of 2021, Darwin hired a small contract sewing shop in North Carolina to make the first prototype of what would become "The Mirage". The prototype was made out of a cheaper synthetic material as a starting point for fit, design, and patterning. Darwin started the CDT in July 2021 with this sample to test fit and overall function. After a couple of hundred miles, adjustments were needed to the placement of certain stitching and the overall fit.

 

(Darwin wearing the first Mirage Prototype at the CDT start)

 

A second prototype was made for Darwin and tested in a small portion of Colorado on the CDT to check fit and hood sizing. 

A third prototype was made towards the end of the CDT and tested in the New Mexico desert to see if a particular fabric would be a good choice for sun protection. 

In early 2022, after multiple samples had been made, Darwin remained dissatisfied with the prototypes he was independently developing, as he couldn't find the right material for the sun hoodie. While founding Evolved Supply Co. in late 2022, Darwin decided to team up with Zpacks to further develop the Sun Hoody with a Merino Wool manufacturer they had already been working with. 

 

(Multiple early Mirage Prototypes)

 

Merino Wool fabric was ultimately selected as the final material for The Mirage because of merino’s exceptional temperature regulation by trapping air for warmth or releasing it for cooling, superior moisture-wicking that keeps skin dry, natural odor resistance and anti-microbial properties, and breathability that supports the body's cooling function. Not to mention merino wool’s natural UV-protection.

Multiple different merino wool blend fabrics were tested to find the right material for an active top throughout early 2023. 

Some of the first merino prototypes were too thin and lacked sufficient stretch. Causing them to tear with movement. Other merino fabric prototypes were too stretchy and would not retain their original shape, while other merino fabric prototypes would massively shrink after being washed.

 

 

Finally, a “pre-shrunk” 135 gsm Merino Wool blend (96% Merino, 4% Spandex) was selected for its superior durability, feel, fit, anti-microbial properties, and naturally high UPF capabilities.

By the late spring of 2023, over 10 different prototypes had been made of the hoodie and after almost 2 years of trial and error, a final prototype with the correct fit, material, and features was produced and tested by Darwin in the High Alps on the Tour du Mont Blanc, along with a small climbing mountaineering trip around Mont Blanc. 

 

(The final Mirage Prototype in the Alps)

 

After extensive testing in various environments, evaluating multiple fabrics, patterns, and features, The Mirage was finally released as a "Co-Branded" product with Zpacks in August of 2023. Over the past couple of years The Mirage has become a go-to sun hoody for Thru-hikers and backpackers alike and a women's version has been released with an updated fit.  

 

The Mirage Merino Sun Hoody is Adventure Developed