Does anyone wear fleece anymore?

Matt Cashell

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Where are you guys seeing the new fleece from First Lite? An R1 type fleece in camo would be a hot item!

I fondled it at SHOT. Kenton said it should be available soon. The prototype seemed like a high quality product.

The one I saw was solid, IDK about camo.
 

brushape

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im decked out in fleece and all the synthetic baselayers and now just starting to aquire some merino wool and a puffy jacket. I will say I would 100% be in heaven if I had the puffy jacket and full merino gear when I was guiding steelhead fisherman on kodiak without a doubt.
 

boom

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i love my slightly oversized fleece vest. it is some cheap, bass pro vest.

i wear it under my sitka 90%..super warm like this and it doesnt affect my arms for bowhunting. if it get slightly warm, i move the vest to the outside of my sitka 90%..it still doenst affect my bowshot. i love the thing. it is a fantastic multi tasking layer.
 
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I wear a lot of fleece, mainly pull over quarter zip tops as layers (my fav is a hoodie). In addition to base layer tops & bottom. I have 3 different base layer weights and use the fleece Cabela's ECWCS or HS Tek4 only when it's REALLY cold during late season elk and waterfowl season. I usually team it up with the Russell APX UL rain gear as the top layer. This last year during 2nd season elk I had ~1.5ft of snow on the ground, single digit temps and usually hunted with only the TEK4 base layer and a Polartec fleece 1/4 zip, adding the APX jacket only to cut the wind when I stopped to glass.

Anyway, gotta go...buddy just called, he killed a big female cougar...
Hunt'nFish
 
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I have converted to mostly merino wool base layers. Kuiu and first lite mostly. Carry a kuiu spindrift plus FirstLite uncomp puffy. Kuiu Yukon jacket and pants for rain wear. Down jacket for in camp and extra layer in the sleeping bag.
 
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I wear a fleece for my insulation layer. I actually like it more than a puffy jacket. I had a Kuiu spindrift two years ago and although it was warmer than the fleece, I couldn't really move in it very well like I can the fleece.
 
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Fishhook, Alaska
I will often wear a light fleece as a mid layer in the mountains and will usually wear a fleece jacket as an outer layer when moose hunting.

Merino and Puffys are great, but neither are durable enough to stand up to brush, and fleece is QUIET in the thick stuff. Just a matter of picking the right tool for the job.

Yk
 

stephen b

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Like others here that have posted- I have and have used a ton of fleece. As mostly a bowhunter, it is great stuff- quiet and just plain works. I will admit that wool is my first love, but for for lots of situations fleece is better. My base layers are usually merino wool or silk.

I do have a couple puffy jackets, and a down jacket; but they are mostly camp or sitting still gear. Besides the quietness, I prefer the breathability of the fleece over a puffy. Another mid layer that works extremely well for me is a Pendleton light weight wool shirt. For me they are very warm for their weight, and so versatile.

For fleece, my favorites are usually the USA made Polortec stuff. I have some that is almost 15 yrs old and it still works great.
 

GOnDEEP

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I’ve hunted with fleece for over 12 years now and plan on using it for another 12. I still have infiltrated Merino products into my rotation as a base/mid layer over the past few years depending on conditions and need, along with a puffy but the quietness of fleece is second to none. Don’t get me wrong there are positives and negatives to any piece of gear you own fleece included, as I’m currently pulling burrs out of my fleece pants. But Fleece is a must have in your hunting arsenal as far as I’m concerned.
 

SDHNTR

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So listen up high end camo companies! We still like fleece! Make us some functional garments! I'd love a mid weight fleece jacket that fits athletic like my 90%!
 

Matt W.

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I replaced all my fleece with the Sitka Traverse line. Its not really fleece, but its a great product.
I still use fleece, although the Uncompaghre has really cut down on how often.
The Patagonia R1 is a staple because of the warmth to weight ratio. The R3 Hi Loft is in there often.
I prefer to support hunting clothing companies however, and I am excited to try the First Lite Grid Fleece (Very R1 like). It seems like it took forever for a hunting company to hit that nail.
However, I too have heard that the First Lite Halstead is good stuff. I'd like one in a solid color for its versatility. Excited to give one a whirl. Wish these gear companies could more quickly release the new stuff! ;)
 

Floorguy

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So listen up high end camo companies! We still like fleece! Make us some functional garments! I'd love a mid weight fleece jacket that fits athletic like my 90%!

Kryptek makes the Attila, a high loft fleece
. Ergonomically placed stretch panels coupled with an athletic cut make the Attila one of the most comfortable Highloft’s on the market.
 
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