Pullovers Vs. Full zip Jackets

I have a Micropuff pullover and a Sierra Designs down jacket with a full zipper.

Jacket: easier on and off, better ventilation, wider comfort range, easier to use inside sleeping bag draped over torso, usually has hand-warmer pockets.

Pullover: lighter weight.

That's it? Geez…I'm not that much of a gram weenie! I guess I'll get the jacket which is already stateside, rather than waiting for a smock to be shipped.

…unless someone else has anything to chime in..

For that kind of piece I would personally get the jacket over the pullover. The increase flexibility and venting would easily outweigh the extra zipper weight for me.

I always go with jackets. Pull-overs limit my options too much.

…unless someone else has anything to chime in..

I just prefer pull-overs??? no, really. I do.

Another benefit of jacket is that you can wear one backwards; you can don the jacket without having to stop and take off the pack.

Eins

I also prefer pullovers for the pieces that I might also use as cross-over clothing within civilization. The reason is only aesthetic. When I sit down with a full-zip jacket on, the stiffness of the zipper makes it pooch out (usually in front, toward the bottom) in that familiar rippling shape . . . which I usually find annoying and/or unattractive. Pullovers don't do this, of course, because there's nothing down there that's stiff enough to make that pooch.

I can't think of a better word for it than pooch :-D

I like them both. I prefer pull overs for under and mid layers, including fleece, to avoid doubling up on zippers, and zippers for an outlayer jacket. I think that RAB looks really cool and I want one too (maybe the pants?). In any case, with something this useful and expensive I would wear it around all the time, and for that a full zip is much better, plus this is the type of garmont that when you bring it with you you wear it all the time and never take it off, so carrying a bit of extra weight in the jacket shouldn't matter nearly as much.

" In any case, with something this useful and expensive I would wear it around all the time…"

This is actually the best reason of all to get a pullover-you're less tempted to wear it out bumming around town. I also find zips to get uncomfortable when layering, but as an outer layer they are nice.

The only other thing I can say about pullovers that really rocks my boat is when you can get a kangaro-pouch style front handwarmer pocket. I find this kind of pass-through pocket much warmer and more ergonomic than individual side pockets.

Aye Allison, I feel the same! The kangaroo pocket is what REALLY sold me on the pullover. I can imagine the joy! Though, I plan to wear it as a midlayer and this makes the pocket less useful on the trail for this season. It will be nice in the shoulder seasons though when I plan on wearing the Rab piece as my outerlayer.

I do plan on wearing the jacket to work everyday. I work at a scientists house and I have a 1.5 mile walk to and from the bus stop. I wouldn't wear it out on the town, but I will use it to get me to and from work during the New England winter.

Everyone has given great insight so far. I think that I will go with the full zip because in the shoulder seasons this will allow me to have more versatility as I move. Though that kangaroo pocket keeps calling me….I think that is a GREAT feature!