Topic

Grid Fleeces, any major differences between them?


Forum Posting

A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!

Home Forums Gear Forums Gear (General) Grid Fleeces, any major differences between them?

  • This topic is empty.
Viewing 15 posts - 26 through 40 (of 40 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #2042079
    Rick M
    BPL Member

    @yamaguy

    del

    #2042232
    James holden
    BPL Member

    @bearbreeder-2

    my old mec T3 doesnt have doubled shoulder fabric, only a bit of doubled fabric at the collar … same with my old cap4 … i dont believe that the new T2s have double fabric either

    i will need to check in store on the new T3s/vegas again

    it seems pretty weird that you would use one of the quickest drying, fastest wicking, most breathable fabrics around and negate that by doubling the fabric … would have been better IMO just to use a thicker powerdry like what they used for the R1 for those areas

    as to windpro it does have a place for stop/go activities or as a very breathable outer layer for very cold temps … think of it as a more breathable but less durable softshell … its actually more breathable than a fleece + the "average' windshell … just that the temperature use is much lower

    i wrote about this a few days ago …

    http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=83678&skip_to_post=713550#713550

    ;)

    #2042714
    Steve K
    BPL Member

    @skomae

    Locale: northeastern US

    > When do you favor the R1 over the cap 4?

    The R1 is ideal in the shoulder season with a light windshirt or puffy for stop and go sports like climbing and awesome in the winter as a second skin for any sport. For 3-season backpacking the Cap 4 Hoody easily wins, but once the weather becomes constant about 42ºF I'm happy to just wear the R1.

    If you don't do much winter sports you could probably forego the R1 Hoody and get the R1 Pullover instead. In a duller color like black it is not too outlandish, however both of my R1 Hoody pieces are fluorescent colors!

    #2042847
    James holden
    BPL Member

    @bearbreeder-2

    None of the T series has doubled fabric on the shoulders or hood except for the collar trim on the zip neck non hooded versions

    Checked in the store today

    Also its been awhile since i looked at the MEC RD

    It passes the breath test easily, much more so than my trail wind or dead bird celeris

    http://www.mec.ca/product/5019-388/mec-rd-windshell-jacket-mens/

    And i dont even sound like darth vade in the process

    ;)

    #2042906
    Dan
    BPL Member

    @supro

    Locale: Adirondacks

    I'll add my experience.

    I've had the R1 Hoody (Size L) for a few months and I wear it all the time. Mine is black, and I think it looks fine for around town. I wear it pretty much everywhere but work. As for on the trail, I haven't had enough experience weather-wise to give a full report, but it's a warm piece that breathes well and does a good job wicking moisture. I've found that it's too hot for high output hiking in the 30-50 range, but is awesome for light hiking in that range. I'm expecting that it will work great over a base layer for winter hiking. The design is perfect, from the thumb loops and hood, to the long zipper for venting, and the lighter weight fabric at the cuffs and hem for easy layering.

    I've had two of the Terramer Geo Fleece Hoodies since last winter and they have their positives and negtives.

    First, the positives:

    1) Very warm for their weight
    2) Form-fitting – great over a base layer
    3) Kangaroo pouch – great hand warmer and stash pocket
    4) Wicks moisture / fast drying
    5) CHEAP! I bought two…

    The Negatives:

    1) No thumb loops
    2) Loose fitting hood with poor adjustment
    3) "Catchy" fabric that pills somewhat easily (but is also very durable)

    I bought a Terramar hoody from STP for $20 last winter and used it quite a bit. I liked it enough to buy another. It's no R1 as far as features, but it gets the job done. I think that the R1 might wick moisture a bit better, but I think that the Terramar hoody would be a great substitute if it had thumb loops and a better hood. However, it doesn't, so since I bought the R1 I've relegated the Terramar hoody to around the house use and campfire/yardwork use, which it is AWESOME for. I bought two (Medium & Large), and the medium is great for warmer temps over a base layer and the large is great for colder temps over a base and mid-layer. The large Terramar hoody over the R1 is an extremely warm and rugged combo.

    FYI – I'm 5'9" and about 170 lbs.

    #2042920
    Ryan Bressler
    BPL Member

    @ryanbressler

    I just did a 4000+ foot climb in around 3 hours wearing the cap4 hoody and some soft shell pants (no other bace layer). Top 1200 was on skis breaking trail in powder, the rest in running shoes on dirt. At the top I added a Houdini and a nano puff and wore the nano puff skiing down until i sweated it out. Wore the cap4 and houdini for the rest of the walk down.

    At the end I was dry and sweat free. In fact, I don't think i've rarely finished a ski tour in such comfort. I had extra clothes in the car but didn't bother changing for the drive home.

    I've been an r1 user for 4 or 5 years (I actually wore one out) and I think the cap 4 might be a step forward. I need to test the cap 4 in more conditions but I never really liked the r1 as a baselayer as I would get too hot…I would use it as a mid layer over a thin merino layer. The cap 4 seems perfect.

    #2043012
    Diane Pinkers
    BPL Member

    @dipink

    Locale: Western Washington

    I'm looking for ideas on a midlayer for our 40°F, damp climate. I have wool long sleeve tops at 200 g/m2, and a Houdini. At those temps, it's just barely enough when moving, but I feel just slightly chilled. I don't know if I just need a thicker base layer, or if I could use a light mid-layer. A full fleece jacket is way too much. I have an old Sierra Designs fleece vest thst is a touch too small that seems about perfect, but I can't find anything as light-it has no pockets, no collar, and is cut just to the waist, no extra fsbric anywhere. Any suggestions in the fleece department?

    #2043015
    James holden
    BPL Member

    @bearbreeder-2

    do you feel chilled because its not warm enough .. or because you sweat in it and it retains dampness ?

    the grid style fleece work best with a very light base layer or next to the skin to maximize the breathability and wicking

    ;)

    #2043710
    Diane Pinkers
    BPL Member

    @dipink

    Locale: Western Washington

    Eric, I waited to answer your question, because I had to think about it. On my last outing it was warmer than the conditions stated above, and definitely the chilling was due to sweating and retaining moisture. I removed my windshirt halfway through, and was just in my wool baselayer. And, the wool was 150 g/m2, not 200 like I thought.

    I've gone for wool deliberately, but maybe I need to rethink and use a grid fleece baselayer instead?

    #2043746
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I really like my wool-synthetic baselayers because they dry faster than the 100% wools, but not so fast to get the flash freeze effect that pure synthetics are prone too (especially when exposed to wind). Have tried different kinds of blends. Rab MeCo 165, 55% merino to 45% nylon, Dri release wool, and thin, lighter wool-acrylic sweater blends. Listed in order of what I like most to least, but they all work well.

    Plan to use the new Pat. Cap 4 hoody as a mid layer where super fast drying in cold weather is only a good thing.

    #2043747
    James holden
    BPL Member

    @bearbreeder-2

    Diane …

    The problem i find with wool is that it

    – retains moisture longer than synth generally
    – unlike grid fleeces it has a faily flat against the skin surface … The bumps on the grid fleeces, which sone people may find chaff in the long run, give a dryer next to the skin feeling

    IME … The possible solutions to your problem would be

    – more proactive heat management … Take off the shell before becoming warm … In cool temps by the time u feel warm youve already sweated into thr layer

    – a very light fuzzy/grid synth fleece MAY help dry quicker on the move … Though it may feel a bit cooler initially as the moisture "flashes off", but in the long run it should dry faster and feel dryer due to the bumps …

    However i do not believe that the material is the root cause of yr problem because 150 gm wool is already preety thin, and a cap4/R1/T2/T3 is warmer than that weight merino

    The issue i would suggest is overheating then cooling off …. This can be dealt with by more proactively managing yr body temps

    Ie … Taking off shells before heating up … An when stopped or moving slow , putting them on or zipping up before getting cold

    Hope thar helps

    ;)

    #2043758
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    I am going to back up Eric here:

    > more proactive heat management … Take off the shell before becoming warm …
    > In cool temps by the time u feel warm you've already sweated into the layer

    Our rule of thumb here in Oz is that you strip off as much as possible right at the start, to avoid all sweating. (We leave the sweating to days >35 C.) Sue and I will be wearing a single Taslan/Supplex layer down to nearly freezing right from the start. It's standard teaching in all the Walking Clubs for novices.

    I understand the fear some have of getting cold, but a sweaty top is far more dangerous later on. Remember, 'UL' means ultra-light travel, not all bundled up with excess clothing and sweating.

    Cheers

    #2043763
    Jerry Adams
    BPL Member

    @retiredjerry

    Locale: Oregon and Washington

    occasionally screwing up and sweating is unavoidable

    if you're just wearing Supplex, or Supplex and jacket, and the Supplex gets a little wet from sweat, it'll dry quickly

    if you get a synthetic or down jacket wet, it's more difficult to get it dry

    #2043767
    James holden
    BPL Member

    @bearbreeder-2

    People will screew up

    Which is why its quite important to know how to recover from a moist clothing system

    Some gear is more tolerant of mess up than others

    Generally for i screewed up situations…

    Fleece > synth > down ….

    Or synth > wool > cotton

    But at the end of the day its the persons skill and experience with dealing with these situations that makes the difference

    Even the great skurka screewed up by not bringing a fleece, however he had the skills to get through it

    But do we?

    ;)

    #2043774
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    "Our rule of thumb here in Oz is that you strip off as much as possible right at the start, to avoid all sweating."

    There is an old Sierra Club phrase that is similar. Put on extra clothing before you get cold, and take off extra clothing before you get hot.

    –B.G.–

Viewing 15 posts - 26 through 40 (of 40 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Forum Posting

A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!

Get the Newsletter

Get our free Handbook and Receive our weekly newsletter to see what's new at Backpacking Light!

Gear Research & Discovery Tools


Loading...