Fuzzy Function: Haven Polartec® Alpha™ Ascent Review

This website is made possible by readers. We may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through the links in this article at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Review Summary

Technical and functional fabrics making up a utilitarian form that is geared towards movement is one of the main motivators that led to the creation of megaleaper. Haven has quickly and effectively mastered this combination with their in house brand and become a staple in my regular rotation. The FW25 Haven Ascent sweater is a garment spanning multiple seasons that has slowly been optimized over the years. Its recent inclusion of Polartec® Alpha™ as the base material is an enhancement that takes the already desirable silhouette and turns it into a moisture wicking and body heat regulating everyday layer. During the past few weeks of testing, I’ve found this to truly be a premium mid layer for an outer shell or as an awesome standalone lofted fiber fleece.

If you’re familiar with past seasons of the Haven fleece line, then you will notice that this updated version has a slightly more tailored cut. I’m not certain when they made this change, but a few inches in length have been removed from the bottom torso and sleeves allowing it to fit more naturally with less stacking. Freedom of movement is still front and center with raglan sleeves and underarm gussets which I’m always a proponent of. As with all things Haven, I have experienced nothing but exceptional durability both in construction quality and material selection.

Buy at Haven

Review Ratings

Pros:

A very lightweight, compressible, and packable mid layer perfectly suited for cold temperature activities
Polartec® Alpha™ material is peak comfort and aesthetics paired with breathable moisture wicking function
Haven branded YKK Metaluxe zipper glides super smooth and is super durable
High half zip neck and thumbhole sleeves are on deck whenever extra warmth is desired
Elastic at the wrists is snug, keeping frigid air out at all times and making layering simple

Cons:

May need to double check sizing as this newest iteration fits slightly shorter in the torso than past versions
Utilizing the thumb holes leaves little slack in the sleeves for those with lengthy arms

Haven Polartec® Alpha™ Ascent Sweater

Buy at Haven

Review Details

Haven Polartec® Alpha™ Ascent Sweater Sizing

I currently own many seasons of Haven’s Polartec® mid layer line dating back to 2021 which gives me a decent baseline for which to compare the Fall 2025 release. Over the past 4 years, there seems to have been some subtle changes to the pattern of the Polartec® Ascent sweater, most notably to reduce length in the torso and arms. This is a welcomed change from my perspective as the original iteration was slightly baggy in the sleeves and body, making it a bit bunched when layering. I would also find myself cinching my outer shell at the waist to keep the longer length of the Ascent sweater tucked away and shielded from the elements. While a fan of this revised cut, I would say that you may need to size up if you prefer a baggier or longer fit or are used to past seasons of this sweater.

At the time of this article, I am 5’11” and weigh roughly 180 pounds. I have a relatively athletic build as an active distance runner and cyclist, although I am more in off season mode at the moment, and it shows. As is typically the case with all of my outerwear, I opted for a size large in the Haven Ascent sweater. When I first threw on the sweater over a t-shirt, I instantly felt the refined fit that was a bit unfamiliar. As mentioned, my Polartec® 100 versions of the Ascent sweater had significantly longer sleeves, to the tune of roughly 2 inches on each arm. The torso length traditionally hit half way down my pant pockets where this Polartec® Alpha™ version is just slightly below the waist line. This works incredibly well when used as a mid layer, but may be too short for some who are on the taller side or have long upper body proportions.

The overall shape of the torso is also more on the spacious side. I wouldn’t call it boxy, but it’s slightly more relaxed and not necessarily an athletic or trim fit like you’d find with Reigning Champ. The chest and mid section have plenty of room for comfort, but avoids a sense that you’re swimming in the sweater. An elongated back adds just a bit of length towards the bottom rear of the sweater which helps keep you covered when maneuvering or bending. The raglan sleeves and underarm gussets provide effortless free range of motion which is completely unrestrained and a detail I always appreciate. Sleeve length hits right at the wrist with just enough additional length to allow for use of the thumb holes if you seek to utilize them.

When layering under an outer shell, there is no unwanted bulk or fleece exposure. Snug elastic at the wrist makes it a bit difficult to fit a large watch through, however, it firmly keeps the sleeves in place when sliding a jacket over the top. The high neck collar can be fully zipped when needing maximum warmth (and comfort if I’m being honest), or left unzipped for heat modulation. The ¼ length zipper leaves a plenty large enough opening to easily slide the sweater over your head for easy on/off without any issue when left in the full open position.

Haven Polartec® Alpha™ Ascent Sweater Construction

Aside from the aesthetics, Haven has one massive undeniable selling point for me, it’s made in Canada. I’ve always been fond of the quality, materials, and construction of made in Canada brands including my all time favorites, Wings + Horns and Reigning Champ. Haven is no different. It’s a brand that has set out to cultivate some of the most technical and tested raw materials with true real world proven performance. They then successfully utilize construction techniques that result in durability not found in your standard everyday outerwear.

The base material for the Ascent sweater is Polartec® Alpha™ Direct, a synthetic created in 2012 specifically for the U.S. Special Operations Forces. This unique material has the ability to insulate and retain heat when needed, however, the mesh core allows for airflow and heat dissipation during high intensity activity. It’s an ideal base for constant stop and go movement where body heat and exertion constantly fluctuate. An additional added benefit is the moisture wicking properties which pull sweat away from the core and allow it to dry quickly, preventing dampness and discomfort.

Raglan sleeves, underarm gussets, and the high zip collar are all secured in place via color matched flatlock stitching. This is both an incredibly durable stitch pattern as well as it aids in comfort without pinch seams rubbing and chaffing against the body. Each thumbhole precisely placed right near the cuff at the end of each sleeve is also surrounded by flatlock stitching to ensure rigidity and avoid any unwanted tearing. A very mild stretch elastic surrounds the circumference of each sleeve end which is the perfect size for gently hugging the wrist. I found this to be easy to fit the hand through while still snug enough to black any gusts.

The only real piece of hardware adding any weight on the Haven Ascent sweater is by way of the YKK metaluxe zipper. Metaluxe is an incredibly reliable, smooth, and durable zipper line which Haven has been using for many years across silhouettes with the inclusion of their custom logo zipper pull. I’ve yet to ever have one of these zippers fail or separate which certainly gives some peace of mind. The overall zipper length is 7.5” from the top of the neck to the bottom of the chain. When fully unzipped, there is plenty of space to fit even larger heads into the sweater which can sometimes be a concern with quarter zip and anorak style shells.

Canadian construction is definitely real. It's synonymous with quality and with quality comes cost. If you’re a highly active individual in a cold climate that prefers long lasting gear at the conjunction of form and function, you may want to strongly consider adding the Haven Ascent Polartec® Alpha™ sweater to your rotation. The longevity is proven and the functionality allows for endless combinations of mid layer wear or standalone usage.

Haven Polartec® Alpha™ Ascent Sweater Style

There’s something about the Polartec® Alpha™ synthetic material that usually prompts conversations with strangers which then end with their desire to touch it. I can’t say that I blame them, as the fuzzy, lofted fiber, uniform mesh grid appearance does give off a futuristic plush teddy bear vibe. To the dismay of some, however, Alpha™ is not as soft as it looks. But that’s not what really matters – it looks frickin’ cool.

The Haven Ascent sweater is currently available in a color palette perfectly aligned with the makeup of my closet, natural earth tones plus shades of grey and black. I always applaud the restraint and strategic vision of the Haven team for the seasonal colors that they employ, namely my two personal favorites bruise and stone (this is a plea to bring back bruise!). These subtle pops of color, or lack thereof, complement the moody warm tones often found on many of their staple pieces. I opted for stone in the Ascent sweater, which has a bit more of a grey hue than what’s seen on the GORE-TEX line of the same color. Keeping the color spectrum neutral really allows for some aesthetically pleasing layering between base, mid, and outer layers.

While testing this sweater, I predominantly used it as a mid layer under a Veilance Arris jacket, at least 80% of the time. In this configuration, it worked flawlessly and looked even better. The sleekness of the GORE-TEX is contrasted by the fluffy high loft fibers in the Polartec® Alpha™ making for a visually pleasing aesthetic. Keeping the sweater fully zipped and the jacket partially unzipped exposed the high neck which I thought worked well. For the other 20% of the time, I found it to be very easy to casually pair the Ascent sweater on its own with a worn set of black jeans from Nudie or 3sixteen. On the more mild days, I often reached for a pair of olive cargo shorts, a black shirt and pulled the Ascent sweater on over the top, keeping it fully unzipped.

From a design standpoint, the omission of any blatant external branding is chef's kiss and again demonstrates the team's restraint. If you look hard enough, you’ll find the Haven logo adorning the YKK Metaluxe zipper pull, and that’s it. The rest of the sweater is a logoless basic that can be worn with just about anything.

Haven Polartec® Alpha™ Ascent Sweater Sizing

Lately I’ve fallen into a lane of reviewing subjectively high price items where the value is difficult to justify unless you heavily weigh the aesthetics. The Haven Ascent sweater, I would argue, is just the opposite, and for more reasons than one. For me, the value is obviously evident on this piece from the initial point of purchase. Priced at $235, the Haven Ascent sweater is quite reasonable when you factor in all of the key characteristics, material quality, and the functional range.

Polartec® Alpha™ is a slightly costly and highly performant synthetic that looks as good as it performs. Very few materials are as warm, moisture wicking, lightweight, compressible, layerable, and temperature regulatable. Factor in the beloved Haven utilitarian aesthetic and you have a piece that can be worn on a frigid hike, during winter urban commuting, or to the casual coffee shop. Its ability to quickly dry when wet and shed heat when needed make it multi functional, highly usable, and my go-to during a majority of the winter months. Since the inception of the Haven brand, I have yet to have one piece from my collection experience any durability issues, even when faced with prolonged outdoor abuse. For that reason, I expect the Haven Ascent sweater to allow for many rotations this winter season and beyond.

Buy at Haven

Mentioned in this article: