PAKA Mountain Crew Sweater Review: Flexible and Durable for Travel

If you have been following the PAKA brand, you know that they make quite a few alpaca-wool sweaters and they all have slightly different personalities.

Among them are super soft alpaca sweaters (some with hoods), ultralight sweaters, merino wool blend sweaters and more.

The Mountain Crew is the first of its kind from PAKA, and I tried it because I was wondering how it would feel and fit. In this honest review, explore with me what you should know if you’re interested in picking it up for some travel or hiking/trekking. All thoughts here are completely my own!

The Score View detailed breakdown

4.16 / 5

The PAKA Mountain Crew is a thick, textured alpaca-merino-nylon sweater designed for active outdoor adventures. It features raglan sleeves for mobility, bouncy stretch for flexibility and provides warmth without bulk, though it runs long in length and sleeves and requires hand washing.

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Intro: the Mountain Crew

In this review, I’ll cover the PAKA Mountain Crew. Currently, it comes in both Men’s and Women’s. Both Dan and I got a Mountain Crew each (in different colors): the women’s for me and the men’s for him.

Here’s a brief summary of the Mountain Crew:

• It has a more textured knit. I’ll get into this later.
• The fabric is bouncier (my word for it) than the original Hoodie, for instance, because of the alpaca-merino-nylon blend.
• I find the fit to run long in both the length and the sleeves.
• It’s beautifully warm and cozy, with all those intricate details of PAKA’s handmade and handwoven travel apparel products (and that’s probably why you’re reading this!)

The style

The things to know about the Mountain Crew (in both men’s and women’s) is that is a raglan-style sweater. That means that instead of seams right at the shoulder, there is a raglan stitch attaching the arms to the body. It runs from the collar to the armpit.

For the style itself, there is a band design running down the front of the women’s sweater. I just want to point that out, in case you thought the sweater was completely uniform.

The fit

I’m 5’2” and 110 lbs., so I often do well with petite sizing. I hope you take this into mind when reading about how this sweater fit me, in the size I got, which was XS.

Overall, it ran too long on me, and too long on the arms. For that reason, I tend to think that PAKA apparel products run a little oversized, or a little big. I’m typically a true XS, and even though PAKA products are meant to run a bit loose and never body-contouring or “tight,” the sweaters are often big on me.

What I mean to say is that if you are a true size M, for example, expect that the M might run long or big (but if you’re tall, I think you’ll have much better luck). If you are in between sizes (like in between a M and L), dare I say you could try sizing down to the M.

The feel

This sweater has a much thicker and bouncier texture and feel than the PAKA Original Hoodie or the PAKA Original Crew. Those are more like thinner and finer alpaca wool textures, whereas the Mountain Crew is different: it is thick, sturdy, less fine and more of a big knit texture.

When I’m wearing it, it feels warm and cozy, and not delicate like I’m going to break it (I sort of feel this way about the Hoodie, Women’s Hoodie and the Crew Sweater).

That’s a good thing though, because this sweater is designed to be with you outdoors: hiking, trekking, fishing and camping.

Main uses

I’m excited to wear this sweater for fall hikes, travel days and cozy winter trips. One of the things PAKA excels in is sweaters that create warmth, but not bulk. So that means that I can wear the Mountain Crew as a layer over a T-shirt, and under my parka, puffer or jacket. And there’s no bulk or discomfort.

The Mountain Crew is also roomy enough to layer over long-sleeve base layers, as long as they’re tight ones. That means I can use the Mountain Crew to warm up my core during frigid winter mornings, the ones where there’s snow on the ground and we want to take a walk with our kids, all bundled up.

Should you get it?

The cool thing about the Mountain Crew is that it is not like the other PAKA products, so if you have collected a few PAKA sweaters to date, the Mountain Crew will be the first one that feels this thick and textured.

It’s an “active” sweater, meaning it’s made to withstand your needs of mobility and flexibility with the bouncy stretch and raglan arms.

If this sounds like what you are looking for, then yes: the Mountain Crew is a worthwhile PAKA product to try out for fall, winter, early spring and cold weather travel. I’d just keep in mind what I wrote above about the fit, so that there are no surprises.

Considerations and what to know

For washing this sweater, PAKA suggests hand wash only.

For me, that is a struggle. So, this is the kind of sweater where I just pray I don’t get sauces, food, crumbs or coffee on it, and avoid washing it as long as I can.

I’m a machine-wash type of person who does laundry for the whole household, and usually, handwash-only items are not a fit for my laundry schedule.

Detailed score breakdown

4.16 / 5

The PAKA Mountain Crew is a thick, textured alpaca-merino-nylon sweater designed for active outdoor adventures. It features raglan sleeves for mobility, bouncy stretch for flexibility and provides warmth without bulk, though it runs long in length and sleeves and requires hand washing.

Comfort against skin

90%

The alpaca-merino-nylon blend feels warm and cozy against skin. It's not delicate like some other PAKA sweaters - it feels sturdy and substantial. The thick, textured knit provides excellent comfort without feeling scratchy or irritating.

Fit, mobility & sizing accuracy

72%

It runs long in both the length and the sleeves. I'm 5'2" and 110 lbs, and the XS ran too long on me. PAKA products tend to run a little oversized or big. If you're a true size M, expect the M might run long or big, but if you're tall, you'll have much better luck.

Materials, care requirements & durability

76%

Made from alpaca-merino-nylon blend. PAKA suggests hand wash only, which is a struggle for me as a machine-wash person. This is the kind of sweater where I avoid washing it as long as I can. The care requirements are more demanding than I'd prefer for travel gear.

Breathability & moisture management

84%

The thick knit breathes reasonably well for a warm sweater. It's designed for outdoor activities like hiking and camping, so it handles activity without feeling too stuffy. The blend manages moisture effectively.

Temperature regulation

88%

Perfect for fall hikes, travel days and cozy winter trips. It creates warmth without bulk, so I can layer it over a T-shirt and under my parka or puffer without discomfort. Works well for frigid winter mornings when there's snow on the ground.

Stretch & shape retention

86%

The bouncy stretch and raglan arms provide excellent mobility and flexibility. It maintains its shape well after wear and packing. The thick knit doesn't bag out or lose its structure, even after layering and compression.

Functionality & layering practicality

82%

This is an "active" sweater designed for mobility and flexibility. It's roomy enough to layer over long-sleeve base layers as long as they're tight ones. Perfect for hiking, trekking, fishing and camping. The raglan sleeves help with range of motion.

Wrinkle resistance & packability

80%

The thick, textured knit handles packing reasonably well. It's not as packable as thinner sweaters, but it doesn't wrinkle badly. The sturdy construction means it emerges from luggage looking good.

Durability & knit quality

88%

This feels much more durable than other PAKA sweaters like the Hoodie or Crew. The thick, bouncy texture feels sturdy and less delicate. It's designed to withstand outdoor activities, so it holds up well to hiking and travel use.

Styling versatility

84%

Works great for fall hikes, travel days and cozy winter trips. It's warm enough for cold weather but layers well without bulk. Perfect for outdoor adventures and active travel. The textured look works well for casual settings.

Overall value for price

84%

The quality construction and unique thick texture justify the price. It's different from other PAKA products, so if you want a more durable, active sweater, it's worth the investment. The handwoven details and sustainable materials add value.

How we score gear

Where to get it

Right now, you can only get PAKA products at the PAKA Apparel website. You can check out the Mountain Crew and all the sweater styles.

Comparison with similar products

Here's how this product compares to similar options. Use this table to find the best of the bunch!

What is PAKA Apparel?

PAKA Apparel is a sustainable travel brand that we’ve come to enjoy both for their variety of unique sweaters, as well as basics and essentials. One of my favorite PAKA items is the durable joggers, and of course, the alpaca blend socks. I start wearing those as soon as the autumn chill sets in.

To see more about PAKA Apparel, their sustainable mission and how they employ women in Peru as artisans, head to my PAKA brand review.