Lightest warmest fleece out?

I bought the lands end aircore fleece a while back, it's really nice and soft…
But honestly doesn't seem warm at all. Maybe just me.
I'd have to say my MEC T3 hoody is the lightest warmest fleece layer I own.
Next would probably be melanzana micro grid fleece. Warmer, but a bit heavier.

I'm always on the lookout as well, so maybe others have better options to suggest.

Sorry just noticed the low cost part of your post.
In that case I'd just keep an eye out for any generic 100wt fleece.
Many options around $20 at around 8-9 oz.

a 300 wt fleece is the warmest, but rather heavy and bulky for most needs.

A 100 wt fleece is a nice supplemental layer for many active conditions. A full-zip one is hard to find, but there are many pullover options in the sub-$20 range. The C9 fleece (Target) has many fans here. There may still be some kicking around on clearance for $10. Act fast though as they are rapidly vanishing from the stores and may even be gone by now.

Otherwise, hunt online for some other brands.

Weight wise they are all pretty much the same.

For fleece I would go with something that is pile or more like hair/fur. They breath really well without a shell on them and have more heat gain when there is one.

I have really liked the R2 line over the years (200wt). An R2 from 2012 in XXL weighs about 14oz but then again you really don't have to worry too much if it gets wet or is stored scrunched up for long periods of time. I use mine pretty much for all temps above freezing.

Sorry … But I don't know what the 100wt , 300 wt means. Can someone help?

I know many BPLers believe that a fleece is a fleece is a fleece. I am not one of those.

In my experience, cheap fleece is neither as warm nor as durable as the higher end products. Plus, if you are patient, and buy at the right time of year (now is the time to buy winter gear) you can get great deals. I value performance, feel, and construction quality. My current favorites are:

Patagonia Cap 4 quarter zip
The PowerDry fabric in the latest generation of Cap 4 is pretty amazing (of course, there are other companies using this material). Between the grid it is almost see-through…extremely breathable. My XL weighs ~7.4 oz.
REI currently has some on sale for ~$49.

Mountain Hardwear Micro Chill quarter zip
I just really love the way this fleece feels and the cut suits me perfectly. Lots of colors, great fit, super comfy, pretty light. I wear these to work and casually as well in the woods. They are all over the place right now for ~$28.

Best part is, I know both these pieces will, 3 years from now, look and perform almost exactly as they do now.

Fleece weights…either of these should help.
http://www.backcountry.com/sc/fleece-jacket-guide
http://www.ems.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=17191436

In the jackets I have seen it was not the cheapest option (by a long shot), but I think Polartec's Thermal Pro fleeces are among the warmest for the weight. If you could get items on sale with Thermal Pro I would definitely keep them in mind/compare them to any other candidates you might have..

I agree

Thermal pro seems to be warmest for the weight

I actually find cheap fleece more durable thant the $$$$ ones

Ive got the old gen cap 4 thats getting holes in it

Either way dont spend too much on fleece

;)

I'm a fleece lover myself, and will reiterate what many of the posters above have mentioned: go with a Polartec Thermal Pro fleece. They are by far the warmest for their weight and bulk. They also breath well, dry very quickly, and are easy to launder.

You didn't say what kind of conditions you'd like to use the fleece in, but for general 3-season use, I'd suggest going with a 200 weight fleece (or equivalent). It's insulative enough that it'll add some real warmth to your clothing system when used as a mid layer (above a base layer and below a shell), but light and breathable enough to be useful on its own without a shell in warmer conditions or while on the move.

I would only suggest a 300 weight fleece if you specifically intend to use it a lot in the winter, though a 200 weight would still be more versatile since you can always just add another layer to your system to increase your warmth.

As unsexy and potentially obvious as it might seem to say: layering is still where it's at. This seems to be overlooked sometimes though.

I use a full-zip Patagonia R2 fleece on a daily basis both at home and on the trail in all seasons. These would be on the more expensive end of the spectrum, but you can find these on sale multiple times a year for about $100:
http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/mens-r2-jacket-regulator-fleece?p=25136-1

The quality of construction of those Patagonia fleeces is really top notch (the stitching on them is absolutely impeccable, and I have one that's lasted over 15 years of consistent use), but there are many other perfectly good fleeces out there that use Polartec Thermal Pro fabric as well. You just have to look around.

A fleece vest is a great way to get core warmth but still reducing bulk (at least a little). Someone posted about these a few months ago and I picked up a Thermal Pro vest when they were a deal-of-the-day around $30.00:

MENS: http://www.rei.com/product/867454/rei-polartec-thermal-pro-fleece-vest-mens-special-buy

WOMENS: http://www.rei.com/product/867456/rei-polartec-thermal-pro-fleece-vest-womens-special-buy

With the current REI-outlet 20% coupon, these vests are $33.38 + shipping.

Like others said, for a full zip jacket, its hard to beat the Patagonia R2. Mine is still going strong after at least 7 years.

Hi

How does one determine what is a 200 wt fleece? For instance, http://www.thenorthface.com/en_US/innovation/product-technology/polartec/
talks about 200 wt and its advantages but nowhere do I see on particular fleece jacket or fleece vest pages what the fleece weight is (ie, whether 100, 200 or 300).

Thanks in advance.

I'm looking for the lightest weight 200 wt fleece jacket (I don't need advance features such as windproof, water resistant or anything). It's to wear beneath a rain jacket when the rain is frigid cold and you want extra warmth. It's also to wear when cold beneath a thermoball synthetic down jacket when cold too.

The lightest, warmest fleeces will be the high void, high loft grid fleeces, the thermal pro fur, and pile type fleeces. I agree with others who mentioned a vest being more efficient at keeping you warm for lower weight (in combo with a windjacket though).

Regarding cheap fleece verse other fleece, well there are a lot of variables to consider besides the obvious. The structure of the material is important. For example, ANY regular fleece will typically last longer than either grid fleece, pile, or thermal pro fur type fleece. In regular fleece, the fibers are densely packed and interlocked–strength in numbers/unity concept.

In grid fleece there is less of that going on, and in pile and thermal pro fur type fleeces especially there is more vulnerability due to the more separate nature of the fibers. The stress is not as shared by the collective as in regular fleece.

Recently, i made a vest out of cheap Pile fleece bought at Joann fabrics. My sense is that the pile fabric itself will not be that durable. To increase durability, i sewed some nylon tulle around the perimeter as a shell/lining. It's light and loose enough not to compress the fibers over much, but still adds some extra structure and abrasion resistance. It also doesn't decrease the breathability by much either. Unfortunately, it does raise the weight some, maybe about 1 ounce or so more than it would be normally.

Btw, the back of the vest is not pile, but pertex equilibrium that only goes down half way on the back, so the lower back does not have any fabric. This is to decrease weight as well as back sweat. You need the least insulation on your back while active due to wearing a backpack. No matter what i wear or how cold it is when i hike, if i wear a backpack, my back (particularly lower) still sweats and often a lot. The more you can minimize this, the better imo (though it won't have any great effect).

I have the mountain hardware monkey man fleece in thermal pro with a grid fleece pattern… super warm and breathable. But it's so breathable that's it's not that warm unless you wear a shell. Add a shell and the heat really cranks up. This is a good thing because you have two temperature levels, shell on and shell off. If you overheat you can pull off the shell and really dump heat fast.
The monkey man combined with a windshirt is warm enough to make me consider leaving the puffy at home.
It's around 13 ounces. It's a heavier weight fleece but warmth per ounce probably one of the best.

Easy Answer.

The Patagonia Micro-D fleece is super warm, weighs 8oz, and is only $60. Less on sale.

I use it all the time. It's a great warmth to weight ratio. I wouldn't want anything thicker, since when I'm using fleece, I'm moving. And the fit is great.

-M

Concerning the cheapest fleece, I get lucky on occasion at the local Goodwill store. I've found good to reasonable quality fleece and down jackets buried among the much larger numbers of hoodies and branded jackets.

I don't go often, generally only when I'm nearby for some other reason. I've heard that compulsive thrift store shoppers do quite well.

I live in the tidewater area of Virginia, not known for hiking/backpacking. I've always wondered what the thrift stores are like in Colorado, Seattle, etc…

I'm still clueless how to figure out fleece wt when one goes shopping and it is not provided (and it appears to be rarely provided). Is there a mathematical way to determine such? Thanks!

There's an anecdotal method:

100wt = thin fleece

200wt = medium fleece

300wt = thick fleece

Put the fleece on. Does it feel warm and cozy?

Ball the fleece up. Does it compact well?

Weigh the fleece. Is it light enough?

I found fleece to be a pretty delightfully uncomplicated venue. If you're concerned with price, cheap fleeces abound in all weights at thrift stores or department stores. If you care about weight and warmth, the top brands advertise both to try and sell performance garments, so you can be pretty sure whether the fleece you're looking for is the right "type."

Beyond that, you're attempting to look at fleece with the graphical accuracy of down, and that, I think, isn't going to be possible with the absolutely vast diversity of the fleece market.

I'm sure it's not THE lightest and warmest fleece out there but I love my patagonia R1 pullover. Used it all of last winter here in NY on my backpacking trips and daily commute. When layered properly it is an extremely versatile piece of my clothing system. It also works outstanding on its own. Got a nice hood (think balaclava), an offset zipper, discreet thumb hole loops(which I quickly fell in love with), I believe it has a slim chest pocket, the length is perfect, it's cozy, and it weighs about 12 ounces. It's not bulky so it's easy to pack and stuff if you are not wearing it.

BUT…it's not cheap..dang! It is well worth the money if you can swing it.

Roleigh,

I don't know, but I'm gonna answer anyway. …It's my M.O.

I bet its by weight/ sq yard.

100wt = 100grams/ yd2 or something like that.

just my guess.

So thermal pro users- What makes it different?

I have a grid fleece from Columbia that I got for like $30 or something that I like a lot. Its different from normal fleece due to the grid (duh)

How is Thermal Pro different?

—-Oh is it that really soft whispy kinda stuff?

thermal pro is considered to be the "best" fleece on the market these days … its quick drying, warm, and fuzzy on the inside, and its "low density"

i can walk in the pouring BC rain in my thermal pro with no rain shell … and while it gets wet, enough body heat when moving will push out the moisture from the inside next to the skin that you never really feel wet, just somewhat damp

its what the fancy new polartec alpha is based on …

the high loft versions that look like some wild animal skins are exceptionally warm and moisture resistance … the fuzzy inside allows the moisture to wick away from the skin

if can be totally soaked, you just wring it out and run around for a bit, and itll dry out enough fairly quickly

;)

my monkey man is hoody is actually thermal pro in a grid fleece pattern, very interesting fabric.

Fleece is one of the few materials that isn't all about marketing hype. There is a significant performance difference between the cheap stuff and Polartec. Not that the cheap stuff doesn't work…but the Polartec stuff is better. I have a few Thermal Pro and Power Dry products and they are fantastic.

Fleece is one of the few materials that isn't all about marketing hype. There is a significant performance difference between the cheap stuff and Polartec. Not that the cheap stuff doesn't work…but the Polartec stuff is better. I have a few Thermal Pro and Power Dry products and they are fantastic.

yes and no

the "cheap" stuff works just fine for most of what folks out there do … and honestly most of us will never push the limits where itll make a significant difference

however polartec is still the leader in fleeces … if you are going to be out in wet climates constantly, polartec is slightly "better" in general

the trick is to buy items such as the MEC T2/T3 or other such jackets that use the polartec material without paying $$$$$ for the fancy hipster brand name … or finding em on a deep sale

theres no way on gods green earth im paying 180$+ for a R1 hoody (even the sale prices are 120$+ on spadout now) …

however 75 maple syrup dollahs, or less when it goes on clearance for a MEC T3 hoody which is made in canada with polartec powerdry and polygiene silver treatment is more acceptable

and if you cant afford that, the cheap fleeces you find in discount and thrift stores will work absolutely and utterly fine

its like the difference between folks who use 900 fill down … and 700 fill … the difference is minimal for practical purposes unless you are trying to push the edge

theres TONS of marketing hype in fleeces, just look at the ridiculous prices dead bird tries to charge you

;)