Grid fleece comparison

[fmyth]

And they're sold out on sale everywhere

https://www.rei.com/product/230793/outdoor-research-vigor-grid-fleece-full-zip-hoodie-mens?sku=2307930002&cm_mmc=aff_AL-_-34947-_-46631-_-NA&avad=46631_f386c7d05&CA_6C15C=120217890017928380

 

[nick21]

The kangaroo pocket is actually really intriguing.. how's the sizing?
I'm 6'2, 215 crossfitter build. I'm a large hw hoody, what size in the mtn ops?

The sizing is funky, I normally wear medium everything but their medium was pretty snug. If fit but wouldn't be comfortable trying to get layering underneath. So definitely go a size up.

 

[nick21]

I also enjoy the sitka heavyweight and the fanatic hoody. Premium hoodies. I may purchased the mtn ops fleece and man!!!! I'm impressed. It's pretty heavy. I love the fit and the zipper. Good shit

Correction: I did purchase mtn ops fleece.

 

[Erussell01]

Correction: I did purchase mtn ops fleece.

How'd you like it?

 

[nick21]

How'd you like it?

I love it, fit is definitely athletic, but it's comfortable and heavy enough to be on its own if weather permits. The hood is my favorite hood of all....

 

[Erussell01]

I love it, fit is definitely athletic, but it's comfortable and heavy enough to be on its own if weather permits. The hood is my favorite hood of all....

I like it too, but the tight forearms made me size up, which ended up being a great option. It's a tighter knit, so it's done really well in wind and cold. It might end up being my primary for deer season this next fall because I love the kangaroo pocket and the hood is solid

 

[VuduDoc]

@Erussell01 Any experience or thoughts on the Patagonia R1 Techface or R2 series? You mentioned the R1 not being windproof enough for biking but the Techface version is made more windproof (no personal experience) and I don't know enough about fabrics or fabric weights to make assumptions of how the R2 would stack up. Looks like they had a full-zip hoody version.

I am just beginning my journey down the "replacing some of my everyday wear with quality earth-toned layering pieces that I primarily want for hunting or outdoor recreation as to get the most value out of my purchase" path and started by looking into the Condor and the R1. So your thread and personal write-up have been extremely informative. Thanks a lot!

Currently I overheat in mid-late season whitetail hunts on my hike in. Approx. 1 mi. with a FL Kiln quarter-zip and an Under Armour Cold Gear quarter-zip. The Under Armour piece I got at a Kohls with some Kohls cash and an additional discount for something stupid, like $6? It's been an excellent outer layer and has proven to be durable for 2 seasons so far. In fact, I don't put another jacket on unless is <32* F if I'm still hunting or <40* if I'm stationary. I would guess this would definitely be considered a heavyweight garment but no clue how it compares to say the Sitka HW.

Being able to use these pieces on outdoor runs could greatly increase my outdoor running season. Don't really have anything that works for that. Pants too... I try to wear "jogger" style sweatpants but they are too heavy and don't breathe so I end up not regulating moisture or temperature well. Any recs on pants for running that can also be used as a hunting layering piece?

Defintely interested in the Condor, the R1 (to wear to the office as well), and the newish Sitka Ambient UL. Plus now I need to consider the Mtn Ops...

 

[oldskool67]

Yeah I really like my Mnt Ops. Wasn’t expecting much when I bought on sale, but was pleasantly surprised. Then again it’s a grid fleece. I don’t see that much “ performance “ difference between any expensive brand and my old ECWCS Army issued one. I also have a Kryptek one I like that they don’t make any more.

 

[cumminsbassguy]

If you don't like a hood, it's hard to beat an ecws grid fleece. Made from polar tec dry, they're cheap and durable. I run one and a polypropylene 1/4 zip. That thing cuts the wind more than a grid fleece and holds up really well busting through willows and alder thickets.

 

[Erussell01]

@Erussell01 Any experience or thoughts on the Patagonia R1 Techface or R2 series? You mentioned the R1 not being windproof enough for biking but the Techface version is made more windproof (no personal experience) and I don't know enough about fabrics or fabric weights to make assumptions of how the R2 would stack up. Looks like they had a full-zip hoody version.

I am just beginning my journey down the "replacing some of my everyday wear with quality earth-toned layering pieces that I primarily want for hunting or outdoor recreation as to get the most value out of my purchase" path and started by looking into the Condor and the R1. So your thread and personal write-up have been extremely informative. Thanks a lot!

Currently I overheat in mid-late season whitetail hunts on my hike in. Approx. 1 mi. with a FL Kiln quarter-zip and an Under Armour Cold Gear quarter-zip. The Under Armour piece I got at a Kohls with some Kohls cash and an additional discount for something stupid, like $6? It's been an excellent outer layer and has proven to be durable for 2 seasons so far. In fact, I don't put another jacket on unless is <32* F if I'm still hunting or <40* if I'm stationary. I would guess this would definitely be considered a heavyweight garment but no clue how it compares to say the Sitka HW.

Being able to use these pieces on outdoor runs could greatly increase my outdoor running season. Don't really have anything that works for that. Pants too... I try to wear "jogger" style sweatpants but they are too heavy and don't breathe so I end up not regulating moisture or temperature well. Any recs on pants for running that can also be used as a hunting layering piece?

Defintely interested in the Condor, the R1 (to wear to the office as well), and the newish Sitka Ambient UL. Plus now I need to consider the Mtn Ops...

I haven't played with the R2 at all, @mtwarden have you?

If that under armour cold gear quarter zip is the same one that I have with the lofted fleece inside that thing is TOASTY and is more similar to the Sitka traverse coldweather hoody I love so much.

I too sweat a little much for the kiln in the late seasons. My thinking on merino has really changed. I like light weight merino (150gsm or below) as a baselayer in hot or mild weather and then I just go full synthetic. My baselayer set up is almost always either a sitka core LW or the Kryptek equivalent now because moisture management for me is just better. Then I start my hike super light and actually cold, which was really hard for me at first. I'll take my beanie off as I'm going so I can vent better and then when I'm at my tree I layer back up to retain heat and I'm much better off. For me, a light baselayer and a windproof vest is great combo.

Mtwarden was right the first time he told me to wear a windshirt. I rock a windshirt over a baselayer now a ton for biking, hiking, skiing and I'll finally take his advice and add one to my kit for elk and muledeer season this year. (The one for running is a bright color)

 

[mtwarden]

I haven't tried the R2; I have tried (and use) their thermal weight capilene- which is a mid-weight grid fleece. I originally envisioned using them as a mid-layer, but I now use them as a base layer in cold conditions. They are warm, pretty light and dry fast. Perfect to sleep in as well in cold conditions.

 

[rcb2000]

I'm interested in testing out a couple of new grid fleeces for winter running and cross country skiing and I'm trying to figure out thickness of different ones, since I would imagine the thickness of the grid fleece would determine breathability

I have a few of them
I have a cabelas grid fleece quarter zip which I'd say I'd extremely heavy, far heavier than my core heavyweight hoodie

Sitka heavyweight and grinder hoodie- I believe this is around 330 weight fleece based on what I can see from the internet

Rogers elite heavyweight hoodie- more open grid, way more breathable than the heavyweight, but not nearly as warm when static

Sitka midweight quarter zip- lighter than the rogers, but one of my all time favorites for high activity. Not warm for static as a stand alone but makes a great base layer when really cold and low to moderate activity

I have a mountain hardware grid fleece in the mail and I'm looking at a a condor grid fleece, an eddie bauer and maybe, possibly a patagonia R1. I'd rather not buy patagonia for personal dislike of the brand but if it's the best for what I'm doing I guess I could be swayed.

Right now the condor is the biggest unknown to me. I've never touched one and normally I like a hood, but I hear them recommended heavily. I don't know how thick it is, so I'm hoping someone can help me who has personal experience.


My current favorites are the sitka mid and heavyweight, and the rogers elite. All of them have done a great job so far, but since I'm always looking to test and tinker I thought I'd play with a couple more this winter.


Has anybody tried the r1 directly against the condor, and or any others to be able to speak to thickness and breathability?

Cost is absolutely a factor here too, if the condor Is 85% as good as the others I'll try one. If the r1 is 1000% better, I'll swallow my pride and eat some granola.

I have the Condor and the R1,, similar warmth, but R1 much better fit and breathes better(regulates heat better).
Also have the Kuiu 240 peloton, again, similar warmth, but breathes and regulates better.

 

[nickstone]

I've owned alot of the fleeces mentioned over the years - but the Arcteryx Naga 1/2 zip is one of my favorite pieces of all time.

 

[Erussell01]

I've owned alot of the fleeces mentioned over the years - but the Arcteryx Naga 1/2 zip is one of my favorite pieces of all time.

I don't have any arcteryx products, just haven't found any on sale that I wanted to try at the time but I hear great things!

 

[DmrbigEshotT]

I’ve tried the Pategonia R1 (old models and new), Sitka heavyweight and mid, Kuiu Peleton and Strongfleece, Arcteryx Delta LT and found the Arcteryx to be the most breathable, top notch active oriented fleece.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

Really was hoping to see Stone Glacier Helio in the mix for comparison. It is grid fleece closer to sitka mid weight but with hood. It breaths very well. Also fits very well. However if its really cold out i'm running in my sitka ambient hoody. Cool to mild I'm running in a SG helio.

 

[norcalkh]

I don't have experience with the pieces listed here, but have worn an Eddie Bauer High Route quarter zip for the last 5 years and love it. It breathes well in warmer weather and makes a great midlayer when the temps drop.

 

[Erussell01]

Really was hoping to see Stone Glacier Helio in the mix for comparison. It is grid fleece closer to sitka mid weight but with hood. It breaths very well. Also fits very well. However if its really cold out i'm running in my sitka ambient hoody. Cool to mild I'm running in a SG helio.

I love SG and I intend to give one a try. My only issue with the helio is the location of the pocket on the chest. It sits directly behind my bino harness which is a bummer because I do actually use my chest pockets on other fleeces I have. If I can catch a sale on a helio I'll buy one. I think the sitka midweight is a super under rated piece of gear because it's light enough to not really need to take off during warmer times of the day and provides just enough warmth during the cooler times of the day. It's also priced awesome and if it had a hood I'd have 15 of them lol

 

[Erussell01]

I don't have experience with the pieces listed here, but have worn an Eddie Bauer High Route quarter zip for the last 5 years and love it. It breathes well in warmer weather and makes a great midlayer when the temps drop.

I really liked the eddie bauer I tried, but for some reason some of their fleeces don't fit me well. I tried large, xl and large tall and for me the large and xl had too short of sleeves, and the large tall was almost the same. The material was awesome, loved the quality of the stitching but the fit just wasn't for me specifically. It was a bummer because I caught one on sale for 25$ and ordered all 3 for that price with free shipping

 

[Erussell01]

Thanks to @GARLICSALT I gave the final approach acuta grid fleece a try. I snagged one off rogers for 25. It's white, so it's a daily wear piece as of now but I can honestly say this thing punches above it's weight class. It has a kangaroo pocket, the fit is fantastic. Perfect stretch (somewhere between the rogers heavyweight grid fleece and a sitka heavyweight in terms of stretch and fit) and the material is very breathable. I've bee running in it and it's very fast drying, on par with some of the more expensive grid fleeces I have. It's of better quality than the condor grid fleece for sure, and my only complaint is that I didn't buy one when they had them in brown. I'm a big fan and due to the kangaroo pocket I'd call it a top 5 grid fleece for me absolutely. It fits me better than the rogers grid fleece (not as tight through the shoulders) and the sleeves are a great length. If I could figure out how to dye this one grey brown or some combo I'd say it could easily be a replacement for my sitka heavyweight.