Athletic Mid Layers

[Stickbow13]

Okay I’m looking at getting some new mid layers and I’m leaning towards a synthetic type material with a fleece backing, but open to others. Is there any companies that make something that is an athletic fit. Bowhunting with a recurve doesn’t allow for materials to be baggy, loose, or ill fitting. TIA

 

[Erussell01]

There are three really great categories of active mid layers-
Basic fleeces, grid fleeces, and hybrid/ active insulation.

For basic fleeces depending on your operating temperature and output great choices include peloton 97, kuiu peloton 200, outdoor research, mountain hardware, columbia, eddie bauer, and a whole host of others make great "normal" fleeces that fit well, hold up to abuse and will do a great job.

For grid fleeces, sitka has their midweight zip t, heavyweight hoodie, first lite has their klammath, stone glacier has their helio hoodie, kryptek has 2 options, cronos and one other, midway usa has an unreal value option in the elk horn, as well as final approach, rogers in house brand, and a ton of others.

For hybrid active insulation, sitka has the ambient series, stone glacier, outdoor research has a good one, outdoor vitals is about to release a really good one and there are a few others.

It comes down to use case, and price range. If you let us know your use case and your price we can help you out.


@mtwarden did a fantastic review of multiple midlayers and is a voice of reason when it comes to real world use. He's a man who vets something out with real hard use and I'd take his word on any product he deems good.

 

[Texasbuckeye]

I will second the above.

As far as athletic fit, I think that will depend on the brand and the size ordered. I have sitka large that fit a little on the loose side that would not at all hinder a recurve hunt, and kuru large that fit more tight, while stone glacier fits in the middle. All of them are comfortable.

Your body may find certain brands or series within that brand fit you different. Very rarely do base layers or mid layers fit baggy enough to hinder a bow hunt. I would think that is more of a sizing issue than anything else.