Active fleece hoody; R1, Piton or Cap4

I'd go with the piton if you're into awesome and offensively bright colors. I think its probably warmer than the R1 from trying it on in the store, and its a more versatile mid layer with the full zip, windbloc and durability. I have the MEC version of the cap4 and I think its a brilliant baselayer. I use that with a breathable windshirt when I'm skinning up on cold days. For winter hiking or snowshoeing I'd go with either a light base and the piton or the R1 and a windshirt. IMO the R1 and cap4 shine as baselayers with a windshirt, since you can do a lot of thermoregulation with the deep chest zip, hood and sleeve options.

Totally different sort of piece, but a marmot driclime or rab vapourise over a light base is a great winter action layer as well. Not so good for summer insulation though.

I used a Cap4 hoody with an Icebreaker 200 baselayer and Houdine windshirt to hike recently in the 20's with winds gusting 30+ and blowing a wintry mix around….my body was quite warm on the move. My opinion after this hike was that the Cap4 was an excellent piece.

The female cap 4 has proper thumb holes while the male version has a short elastic band inside the edge of the sleeve which sort of functions as a thumb hole. It doesn't cover as good but it keeps the sleeve in place.

Check out the MEC T3 hoodie. It's essentially the same as the R1 but a lot cheaper ($68 Canadian). Mine came in last week and I can't stop wearing it. It's very comfortable and the thumbholes and hood were excellently designed.

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/MensClothing/BaseLayerUnderwear/ExpeditionWeight/PRD~5026-604/mec-t3-hoodie-mens.jsp

Just a warning that the T3 is no longer equivalent to the R1. The old version was, they kept teh name the same and lightened the fabric. It is now the same as the cap 4. The MEC Vega is now the equivelent to the R1 but no longer comes in hooded zip tee. You have the choice between zip tee and full zip with hood. Also the full zip with hood does not have thumb loops. On the plus size the new colours are far nicer.

I love the Cap4. It's best used as an active base layer. For me (I run hot) I can wear the Cap4 (+ windshirt when appropriate) between around 30-60F and be reasonably comfortable. At the cold end, it does a great job creating air pockets if you have a tight fitting windshirt. I think wearing something below it would make it less effective. I would roast in it at 60F with a windshirt, but if have some air movement (e.g. no wind shirt and a breeze) it's comfortable because it is so air permeable, and move moisture really well. It has become my favor 50-65F cycling shirt.

Given it's form fitting and fairly light weight nature, I wouldn't think of it as summer evening insulation, unless you run really warm and/or you have very mild summer evenings.

R1 combined with a light tech-tee is a nice winter base and works better as a light summer insulation piece in my experience. Very useful garment. That saidm I recently had to replace my a lot of my clothing. Rather than repurchasing my R1 I decides that a combination of a Cap4 and a TNF TKA 80 fleece was going to be better for me. Partly because I owned them, but also they gave me more flexibility for not much more weight.

–Mark

del

the new Cap 4 really shines for many of the reason stated already, but as an insulating garment for summer (save very warm environs) it won't cut it

I'm starting to view my Cap 4 more as an cool weather active base layer vs mid-layer; the R1 imo solidly falls into the mid-layer spectrum- including providing decent warmth on a summer's night (of course for the weight you could have an even warmer down garment)

if it's going to be really cold and on the move, I'd want the R-1 layered over a thin base layer vs a Cap 4 over a base layer

"I'm starting to view my Cap 4 more as an cool weather active base layer vs mid-layer; the R1 imo solidly falls into the mid-layer spectrum- including providing decent warmth on a summer's night (of course for the weight you could have an even warmer down garment)"

That is pretty much the conclusion I'm coming to as well, although I'd go with the down in the summer. A Montbell Ex Lite paired with a MH Aircore Beanie is a good substitute, IME, for about half the weight.

"if it's going to be really cold and on the move, I'd want the R-1 layered over a thin base layer vs a Cap 4 over a base layer"

+1 Now, if they'd just make the R1 with Powerdry HE….
Maybe in the next life.

Thanks for the advice guys! :)

I think, despite all of the recommendations, that I'm going to scratch the Cap4 from the list, simply because it sounds like it won't offer me the versatility I'm looking for in this particular piece (chiefly summer night time warmth). That's not to say I won't buy one eventually though…

I've learnt from Patagonia Australia that they won't be getting the Piton this season, so frustratingly I won't be able to try it on side by side with the R1, but I can still get it online.

I'll try on the R1 though, mainly looking at whether I think the offset neck zip, thumbholes or extra length are must have features – if not I think I'll take the wind protection and lower weight of the Piton :D

del

I think I'm still wedded to one of the mid fleeces… but the site I would buy the Piton from does have great prices on both the down vest and the nano puff pullover… maybe I'll just pick up one of them as well?

hijacking my own thread a bit :P

I've already got the down hoody, and I love down, but would I be right in thinking the nano is more versatile? thinking this would be for summer night insulation, when no other insulation is needed during the day and for rest stops and camp activities in winter over the R1/Piton and likely under a shell.

del