PAKA Women’s Hoodie Review: Unique Sweater for Female Travelers

PAKA Apparel’s signature product is here, with a women’s fit. This is great news for me, because I had tried the Original Hoodie, and ultimately, the fit and flattery was not there. I got a unisex size in it, and I was not jiving with the look.

With the PAKA Apparel Women’s Hoodie, the fun in this product is back, and the fit and style is perfect for women travelers. This is a travel layer that is supremely soft, very durable and the quality comes from hand-weaving in Peru.

I think it’s an interesting product either to have for yourself, or to gift someone who would love it. Read all about my findings here.

The Score View detailed breakdown

4.16 / 5

The PAKA Women's Hoodie is a supremely soft, hand-woven alpaca blend hoodie with a women-specific fit that finally delivers the perfect sizing. With its oversized, chill aesthetic and sustainable artisan story from Peru, it's ideal for woodsy travel and cool-weather adventures, though it's hand-wash only and may be too long for those shorter than 5'2".

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Pros and Cons

Below is a quick summary of the Women’s Hoodie, so you can see what you’d be getting into if you got one.

Pros

• This sweater is a PAKA fan-favorite, with a women’s fit. No more unisex sizing.
• It’s a sustainably-made sweater for travel from an eco-conscious company that employs woman artisans in rural Peru.
• It has a chill vibe, an oversized look and extreme softness and durability for a lot of travel.

Cons

• It is hand-wash only. That means no machine-washing. You can’t dry-clean it, either.
• Some women may not like the oversized look.
• If you are very short, shorter than 5’2”, you may find the length overly long and not flattering.

First impressions

This is a sweater unlike anything else I’ve ever owned. When I took it out of the bag and did my try-on (which you can see in the video below), I was immediately satisfied with the fit.

I’ll be mentioning this a few times in this review, that the fit is different from the Original Hoodie from PAKA. That sweater was made unisex, probably to please everyone, but the fact was that the fit wasn’t pleasing for me, nor for Dan (he had it in a larger size, and it was unisex as well).

Now with the Women’s Fit, there were so many fewer surprises. I tried it on, and it hit below my backside, and long in the front, but that was expected. It’s because I am 5’2” and I typically wear petite sizes, which PAKA does not make.

That is okay, though. This is an oversized piece that still looks fun and chill when I wear it.

As for how it feels, it’s super soft. That comes from the alpaca fiber blend. The hood is a nice size to fit my entire head, and the arms have good movement because of the “raglan” seams. Therefore, there’s less of a fuss about how the shoulders fit specifically.

Video try-on review

To see my out-of-the-package unboxing and first try-on, I do it all in this video review.

The fit: What to know

Size I ordered: XS

I am 5’2” and 110 lbs., and I think this context will help you with deciding on your size for the PAKA Women’s Hoodie.

Given the comparison to the Original Hoodie, the fit is tons more spot-on for what I’d expect from an XS. For context, here is an explainer about the “Hoodie” in our PAKA Original Hoodie review.

With the Original Hoodie, I got a XXS in a unisex size. It fit like an XS, but overall, I just didn’t love the measurements. There was very little flattery and I felt like I was drowning in the hoodie.

With the Women’s Hoodie, it has been solved. I think this was the product that PAKA needed all along, for all the women interested in a chill travel hooded sweater like this one.

The shoulders are a much better and appropriate width for me. The sleeves are long, but that is the style. They are not overly ridiculous.

And the length is long, but this hoodie in particular is meant to drape on your frame, not be tucked in, ever. So, with this oversized style and the generous length, I find that I look exactly how I’d expect I would, in a women’s XS.

As a note, I find that PAKA does run a bit big overall but only in the sweater line. I have PAKA V-neck T-shirts, the sweatpant-style joggers and the Tri-Blend Shorts, and they all fit VERY true to size, with even some snugness on the bottoms.

Quality and details

The Women’s Hoodie is the female-specific version of the company’s hallmark items, so you can imagine that the quality and details are top notch.

What I mean by that is, the fabric is stretchy and cozy. There is strong stitching at the raglan seams where the arms meet the middle of the sweater, and cool thumbholes for if you want to use those for hand warmth.

There are two drawstrings on the hood, and instead of being cord or string, they are made from the same material as the sweater itself.

Usage review: how it’s working out

After wearing this sweater for half a year during winter months, the quality is working out to be everything that was promised. There is some pilling, just as you could imagine from cashmere, because after all, alpaca fiber is a natural substance. It is far from factory-made.

Having the Women’s Hoodie is always a conversation-starter. It’s everything from a compliment in a hostel that leads to a chat about my travels in Peru to running my hands over the softness of the sleeves.

There’s minimal fraying, as well, after all this wear and use. I think that’s due to the ribbing at the sleeves, and the fact that I treat it nicely. I don’t toss this sweater around with my travel T-shirts.

Sustainability promises from PAKA

One of my mantras has always been to travel as sustainably as possible. Initially, I didn’t know it could be done with my apparel, too.

The benefit with all products from PAKA Apparel is the “origin,” or the traceable alpaca, which you can read about that on their website. Every product comes with a little QR code that you can scan, and it shows you exactly where in Peru, down to the map point, your sweater’s alpaca is located. I cannot think of other brands in the travel world that do this.

PAKA is also promising environmental initiatives. The company strives to be nearly carbon-neutral and works on lessening its footprint on the earth. They use gentle shearing methods to minimize stress to the animals when getting the wool from the alpacas for alpaca fiber.

Why you could want it

The Women’s Hoodie is the epitome of “chill travel attire.” If we are going on a woodsy trip, whether it’s out to the countryside, or truly, down to Andean South America where PAKA makes all their products, the Women’s Hoodie is the on-brand look for these types of travels.

And of course, it is very special. It’s hand-signed by the artisan in Peru who made it, and if you’ve read into PAKA’s mission and the company’s story, this is a brand that is way more interesting (and also better for the world) than big-box competitors.

Why you might not want it

This sweater is hand wash only, and that may be a deal-breaker for some.

I tend to do all our family’s laundry in the washer, and even when we travel (I’m thinking back to our rented apartments in Colombia, and Peru), I do our laundry in washing machines.

This hoodie is a bit too delicate and intricate to throw into a washer, even on a gentle cycle. It has to be hung to dry, so there is no use of your dryer, EVER. If you’re traveling, that’s a bit easier of an ask, because so many countries outside the US do not use dryers.

You also can not dry clean it, even though it is a delicate item.

So in essence, you have to keep it really clean. You can get away with avoiding washing it for a pretty long time, though, because it’s good at keeping body odors to a minimum.

Detailed score breakdown

4.16 / 5

The PAKA Women's Hoodie is a supremely soft, hand-woven alpaca blend hoodie with a women-specific fit that finally delivers the perfect sizing. With its oversized, chill aesthetic and sustainable artisan story from Peru, it's ideal for woodsy travel and cool-weather adventures, though it's hand-wash only and may be too long for those shorter than 5'2".

Comfort against skin

94%

This sweater is supremely soft and feels incredible against my skin. The alpaca fiber blend creates a cozy, comfortable feel that I can wear all day without wanting to take it off. The raglan seams provide good movement and the hood fits my entire head perfectly.

Fit, mobility & sizing accuracy

80%

The women's fit is so much better than the unisex Original Hoodie. The XS fits me well, though it runs a bit long since I'm 5'2" and typically wear petite sizes. The shoulders are appropriately wide, sleeves are long but that's the style, and the length drapes nicely. If you're shorter than 5'2", you may find it overly long.

Materials, durability & easy care

64%

This is hand-wash only, which is a deal-breaker for some. You can't machine-wash it, even on gentle, and you can't dry-clean it either. It has to be hung to dry, so no dryer ever. The good news is it keeps body odors to a minimum, so you can avoid washing it for a pretty long time.

Breathability & moisture management

86%

The alpaca blend breathes well and manages moisture effectively. I wore it on chilly flights and during cool-weather travel without feeling clammy or sticky. The hand-woven construction allows for good airflow.

Temperature regulation

88%

Perfect for cool-weather travel. It kept me warm in drafty airplane cabins and during frosty mornings, but I didn't overheat when we ducked into cafes or shops. Works well in the 40-70 degree range for travel.

Stretch & shape retention

84%

The relaxed, oversized fit maintains its shape well after packing and wearing. It doesn't bag out at the elbows or lose its drapey silhouette. The hand-woven construction holds up well to compression in a backpack.

Pocket function & security

80%

The hoodie has a front pocket that works well for essentials. The drawstrings on the hood are made from the same material as the sweater, which is a nice detail. There are also cool thumbholes for hand warmth.

Wrinkle resistance & packability

82%

It folds reasonably well for packing, though hand-woven items can show some creasing. The knit fabric handles compression better than you'd expect, and it emerges from luggage looking good. Not as packable as thinner sweaters, but acceptable.

Styling versatility

86%

This is the epitome of chill travel attire. Perfect for woodsy trips, countryside adventures and Andean South America travels. It's cozy enough for flights but polished enough for casual outings. The oversized look works well for relaxed travel settings.

Overall value for price

84%

The hand-woven construction and alpaca blend justify the price, especially considering the unique artisan story behind each piece. It's sustainably made and signed by the artisan in Peru. More special than mass-produced travel products, and the quality shows in both feel and durability.

How we score gear

Comparison to other PAKA women’s products

The fit from the Women’s Fit Hoodie (Women’s Hoodie) is by far better for women, than with the Original Hoodie. However, if you have someone with whom you want to share the Original Hoodie, opt for that one because it is unisex!

The other PAKA sweater I’ve tried is the Ultralight Sweater for women. (As a note, it’s really popular and it is almost always sold out in most sizes). That one is much smaller, with tapered sleeves and a tapered bottom. The fit is much slimmer, more form-fitting and it runs even longer, relative to the Women’s Hoodie.

I think the Women’s Hoodie is my favorite PAKA sweater this far into trying a few. If you’d like to learn more about the brand overall, head to my PAKA Apparel travel brand review.

Comparison with similar products

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

Where to get yours

The Women’s Hoodie is only available at PAKA Apparel’s website. There, you can check out other sweaters and see if this is the right one for your travel style.

It also makes an amaaaazing travel gift for someone who loves being on the road and out in nature.