Fleece - Does it have a place in your layering system?

[oldskool67]

I have an old cabelas fleece with the wind shear. Love it for hunting out of camp. Too bulky and heavy for backpacking. When I hunt at lower elevations in CA, I leave fleece at home do to the way it picks up burs.

 

[LBFowler]

I love using grid fleece as a heavy base layer in cold weather (I use a PCU level 2 with an added hood, poor mans patagonia R1) wicks like a mofo and dries faster then wool.

I'm looking to fleece more and more as a midlayer, the less waterproof my outer layer gets the more appealing fleece is as a barrier/low maintenance insulation.

the fluffier the better in my book, the windstopper/softshell/powerstretch fleeces are all much heavier for their warmth. I have a wind shell for wind, I want my fleece very breathable so I can dump heat when I need to.

 

[coachjdub]

Count me among those who always carries a fleece. I used to wear, I guess it would be considered mid-weight, Mountain Hardwear fleece until I bought the FL Halstead last year. I generally run pretty hot so just a long sleeve merino shirt and the fleece keep my warm, especially if I am moving at all, down into the 30s. It basically has to be really cold or involve long periods of sitting before I need to add a puffy. In fact, I also have a much heavier weight Ex-Officio fleece I will often wear before a puffy.

Does the high collar on the Halstead Fleece bother you or get too hot? I just got one and like it, but haven't tested it out yet and the collar is my only concern.

 

[justinspicher]

I'm not a fan of high collars, but the collar on the halstead isn't too bad. It's really nice when it's cold out and you have a rain jacket on. It keeps the neck and face fairly warm. At least it did mine.

 

[halg]

I used to think that I couldn't live without fleece- the basic polar tech 100/200/300. But, in the last 2-3 years I've given it all away. For insulating layers today I'm likely to use a grid fleece with a solid face or a light primaloft layer in the 60g range. These things pack down smaller than normal fleece, and, in my opinion, are warmer. Plus, they are not subject to pilling and also seem to "grab" at other layers less than fleece.

While fleece still has a place, and it's mainly personal preference, fleece is only one of many options today.

 

[novcie870]

I had the FL fleece but I actually liked my Kings Camo Hunter Series 1/4 zip Fleece way better. I love wearing that fleece!