Perfect Fleece???

Pair the R1 Hoody with a wind shirt like the Houdini and you would a versatile system. Not a specific answer to your question but I have never liked windproof fleece and have pretty much stopped using fleece jackets all together for insulating layers since buying a therma wrap.

The hooded R1 is one of my favorite pieces of gear and I really like it for stop and go activities in colder temps.

You might get better feedback if you could explain why you are looking for a hooded windproof fleece instead of a softshell jacket or a wind shirt/insulating layer combo.

Matti

Good points.

I guess I like the idea of a one stop / all in one. I have a good softshell and a decent lightweight hardshell already; I'm looking for something with the same features but a little lighter on the warmth factor than the 2 combined.

I have tried windshirts before and have always found them to be a little too clammy for me, however I have never used one in the winter. It is worth consideration but I'm still looking for the perfect jacket.

Maybe I'm just too picky or I want something that doesn't exist, but I hope there is something out there.

Since you have a good idea of what you want, I'd be your own guide. Are you wanting the entire fleece to be wind resistant or just the hood? What other features do you like/dislike? Pockets? Full zipper?

I've found that I prefer my fleeces to be 200 weight (or proprietary equivalent), with handwarmer pockets, full zip and otherwise pure fleece (no wrist gaskets, etc). So with those requirements I simply look for a jacket that meets those specs at the best price. Reviews on fleeces are kind of pointless IMO as there are so many options and only a few "big name" fleeces receive any attention. And for me, polartec, is polartec, is polartec. Other than that it's all fit and finish.

A more important question would be what type of windblocking fleece fabric is optimal. They are wildly different. In the little experience that I've had, I haven't liked Windstopper and have much preferred WindPro.

The R1 Hoddy is made from Polartec Powerdry with X-Static.

Polartec also has a Power-Shield O2 for weather proffness.

So it depends on what you are in need of at that given time.

The TNF Apex jacket you mentioned is horrible. Heavy, very bulky and sweaty. Mine gets used for walking to the shops. Luckily it was a gift because I'd have been upset if I'd paid for it!

Last winter I had great success using either a Power Stretch or Power Dry (R1) hooded fleece as a heavy baselayer with a windshirt over the top. Very versatile set-up as already mentioned. Windshirt off, hood down, sleeves up and zippers open on the uphill grinds. Then close everything up and whip on the windshirt at the top to keep the heat in and the cold wind out. I found this great for skiing and hiking in the mountains over here. However, this winter I may try Rab's Vapour-Rise garments as an evolution on my current set-up.

I thought this might come close

http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=64&p_id=2306384

On further inspection it has some waterproof panels and is more of a softshell than a fleece.

Or maybe this?

http://www.arcteryx.com/Product.aspx?Mens/Jackets-Vests/Fugitive-Hoody

Another possibility
:
http://www.e-omc.com/catalog/products/3785/Mountain-Hardwear-Transition-Jacket-Mens.html

I think powerstretch is the perfect fleece, and certainly meets your requirements of a more wind resistant fleece that is much more breathable then a softshell. In addition to being super comfortable, powerstretch has just enough of a surface to block just a bit of wind, say similar to a classic cotton sweatshirt. The only possible downside of powerstretch is that it might absorb a bit more water, due to the lycra, but I don't think this will be meaningful in real life use. Putting it when soaking wet after swimming it dries fine.

I am sure anyone makes a powerstretch hoody for men though, so you may want to look around. My backcountry powerstretch nonhoody weighs around 10oz.

If you want wind resistance, you should look for fleece made of WindPro. It's more dense, so it cuts wind fairly well (unlike most other fleece). It won't substitute for a wind shirt though.

Currently, I only have WindPro gloves, because they were recommended for cold, wet conditions. Generally I find my hands getting either too hot or too cold in gloves, but I'm comfortable in them, so I've considered getting a WindPro hoody.

I haven't looked into it extensively, but I know Nau makes one:

http://www.nau.com/mens/categories/insulation/profile-fleece-hoody-308M420.html

melanzana.com

they are cottage. they are inexpensive. they are in leadville,co. they make a 200 weight WindPro fleece hoody for less than $80. I have their Micro Grid Hoody and love it.

I use a TNF TK 100 fleece that weighs around 9oz, but you would probably want at least a 200 fleece being in colorado

Wind Pro hoodie: http://melanzana.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/22/products_id/45?osCsid=077aad406b0252292fb78a71940b88b9

Hard Face hoodie:http://melanzana.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/22/products_id/49?osCsid=077aad406b0252292fb78a71940b88b9

I *love* my micro grid hoodie from Melanzana. That's 100 weight and clocks in at around 8 oz.

(oops, just saw somebody else already posted the same thing)

Mike,

I know you asked specifically about fleece. However just wanted to offer up another option:

Synthetic-insulated jackets/vests from Cocoon and Montbell. I own both and save a LOT of weight below your limit of 24oz and can meet your price objective, depending on sale prices, etc. Great wind resistance and better "compressibility", too! Best of all, such "puffy" layers are warmer than fleece for the weight. For all these reasons I no longer carry fleece when backpacking.

YMMV,
Todd

I'm with Todd. My MontBell U.L. Down Inner Parka is hooded, warmer than any fleece, windproof and it weighs 8.5oz. It does cost $160 but you can find them on sale. Montbell's synthetic jackets are cheaper I believe and still way lighter than a fleece.

I'm with Todd and Dan – I don't own or use fleece anymore, a light insulated jacket is for me a far superior product – light and warm. Ace for backpacking or just going to the pub!

Some folk are recommending down as an 'active' mid-layer. If you hike in wet conditions, down is only good for camp wear where it won't get soaked. A 100 weight fleece is my go-to active midlayer in wet conditions. Wearing wet down is like wearing wall-paper paste. :)

Agreed. Fleece remains king when your hardshell wets out.

+1 use a windshirt rather than looking for wind resistance in your fleece. Separating these allows you to cover a much wider range of conditions in comfort.

-1 for any of the wind resistant fleece than use a membrane to block the wind because they don’t breath well which includes the Cyncro and the Bionic.

Other ideas? Depending on the warmth you need:

1) 100wt fleece (or expedition weight base) such as the R.5 or R1, mountbell inner fleece, etc + windshirt. Bring a synthetic high loft vest for when activity level and temp drops. This is more or less what I have used for the last 8 years when expecting highly variable conditions.

2) pile/fleece+wind resistant shell: rab vapor, marmot driclim windshirt, buffalo, etc. Breaths better than membrane fleece while providing enough protection that it can be worn without a hardshell. The new rab vapor lite (powerdry lining, pertex equilibrium shell) looks like a winner. I have loved this sort of combination when the conditions on continuously cool to cold and I am active.

3) If it’s typically cold, an appropritely warm high loft synthetic jacket like the montbell thermwarp. The thermwrap doesn’t provide the most warmth/weight, but it’s less insulating than most of the other high loft jackets which means that it can be warm when you are activity when the temp is above 0F.

Some additional thought on my recommended clothing – insulation page.

–Mark

If you go with Todd, Dan and David here ya go. If it fits.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=24124&skip_to_post=196491#196491

only $75 unused. Thats a steal.

I don't like high loft synthetic insulation while active (down is even worse). It doesn't breathe well, the face fabric feels clammy, it holds a lot of humidity inside and the insulation suffers under pack weight. Fleece is rugged, breathes well, feels comfortable even when damp. It's so much better while active and particularly so in the winter when moisture build up from inside is your enemy and you need a clothing system that promotes wicking and transfer and doesn't hold humidity. Fleece is heavier and bulkier but that doesn't matter while you're wearing it. It does matter while it's in your pack though.

Fleece + windshirt is a very versatile combo. Apart from the obvious use in winter, I'm now back to fleece in 3 season, a thin pullover at just 187 gr. (similar to a full-featured base layer), it's not even heavy. It's just a bit bulky in the pack but it teams up perfectly with the other layers for a super versatile active wear set.

What you really mean is "Perfect PILE". Fleece is, in reality, very short napped fabric whereas pile looks like sheeps wool before shearing.

Patagonia makes a "Retro" pile jacket that's breathable and somewhat wind resistant.

To me Perfect" pile is:

1. made with HOLLOW fibers to trap more "boundary air" (that one or two molecule layer that does not move due to electrostatic adhesion)

2. 200 or 300 weight or a thick "Berber"-style pile

3. breathes well B/C it has no "windproof layer" (unless I need to constantly wear it as an outer layer)

4. has a high, zip-over-chin double layer collar

Look in L.L. Bean or Cabela's online

Eric

Thanks everyone – this is great input.

I like the Montbell jacket Ryan Teale posted the link to. I know it is not "Fleece" but it looks like it may have the features that I am looking for. So more things to consider, I guess I should have posted the title as Perfect Jacket???.

I have actually been interested in Melazana for a while now. I was aware of the Micro-grid, but I had no idea they had a wind pro hoodie. That looks very interesting, so does the hard face hoodie.

So many things to consider – at least I know there are options out there.

I think going with a windshirt combo is out for me, just not what I am looking for right now, but I think I may look into that down the road.

Thanks again, I may pull the trigger this weekend and I'll be sure to post what I did.

Mike

Marmot have a few nice looking lightweight fleeces which I've had my eye on previously. You can see them on the Marmot website, both full and half-zip versions.