Patagonia Expedition base layer help

[KRS]

So I hit my local put door shop today to update some old Patagonia Expedition #4 long undies and they are different, very different. They seem more like a mid-weight. What happened to the nice warm fuzzy fleece? Needless to say I didn't buy them. Who makes a warm fleece base layer anymore? I bought my wife some from Mountain Hardwear some years back and they don't make those either! Colombia has the weird reflective (uncomfortable inside). What going on with the clothing industry?????? HELP!

[Ben C]

I have used the Cap 4 material a bit now and really like it. It insulates a bit but really breathes well when you are working up a sweat. Throw a wind layer over it and it becomes much warmer.

[KRS]

How is it when you not moving? it seems so thin, It seems more like a mid-weight than an expedition-weight.

[Dale Wambaugh]

If you like soft and fuzzy, get some Power Stretch bottoms. I found some on sale at STP for $http://www.sierratradingpost.com/kenyon-polartec-power-stretch-base-layer-bottoms-heavyweight-for-men~p~2926g/). Power Stretch is usually expensive, so that is a screaming deal. EMS' sale price is $7 for similar (http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12315992)

I like Power Dry bottoms myself, as in Patagonia R1, or better yet the military version at 1/4 the price or better. Cabelas has good deals too.

[Ben C]

I don't know what temperatures you are using it in. But if you have a shell over it, I think its enough on the legs for well below freezing anyway, even when static.

[Jon K]

Cap4 is a lot warmer than it looks. I just got one a week ago, and I'm amazed at how well it's designed.

With that said, if you want the warmest baselayer possible got with the Minus33 expedition weight. 400g/m. Super thick. However, it will neither breath nor wick anywhere near as well as the Cap 4. So that's the tradeoff.

[Anonymous]

Yup, when combined with a wind resistant outer layer garment, Cap 4, aka Polartec Power Dry High Efficiency, high void grid fleece fabric is fairly warm for the weight.

To get maximum warmth from it, you want it slightly loose/over sized, and the wind resistant layer over same to be near form fitting.

There are other brands that use this fabric like MEC. Try to get the stuff with Polygiene treatment, as it helps with odor reduction more than the older treatments.

[KRS]

Thanks for the feedback. If its as warm as the old stuff lighter and more compressible i'm in.

[Mike M]

it's not as warm as the old EW 4 stuff, I still have some of the older pieces and they get used for static stuff- ice fishing, duck hunting, etc

the new pieces get used a lot of more- used as both a mid-layer or a base layer- it really shines w/ high activity stuff in the cold- trail running, snowshoeing, x-country skiing

[L Lanian]

Aren't Cap 4 and Cap 4 Expedition two different weights?

[Joe S]

I think the cap 4 is the old two layer wicking fleece arrangement, cap 4 EW is the grid PowerDry HE. I bought an LL bean version using the same fabric as cap 4EW, and love it. Similar to other reports here, breathes well and is super warm under a wind shirt or similar. LL Bean has tall sizes, which worked out better for me.

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