[at-l] Gear I would like to see at the Ruck (or can bring)

[m_factor@hotmail.com (Mara Factor)]

Thanks for the tips...  I've already got a great fleece jacket...  It's so 
great that after more than ten years of use including my AT thruhike, I had 
the zipper replaced last year and continue to wear it quite frequently.  The 
fleece is still in excellent shape.  I also have plenty of other layers, 
too, but am trying to replace the midweight fleece right now.

Fleece is much heavier and bulkier to pack than the thin filled sweaters 
available now that give as much or more loft (ie. insulative value) than 
fleece at a fraction of the packable volume and weight.

These jackets come filled either with synthetics or down.  While I'm willing 
to go the down route with a sleeping bag, for the jacket, I'm only 
interested in synthetics.

For an example of what I'm referring to, you can check out MEC's Northern 
Lite jacket at 
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=18001

I'm looking forward to seeing some of the options out there at the Ruck.

Thanks again everyone,

Mara
Stitches, GAME99


>From: Clark Wright <icw39@ncfreedom.net>
>Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 21:51:50 -0500
>
>I love my Moonstone lightweight fleece jacket; unobtrusive green color;
>key points re fleece to me are:
>
>1)  DON'T get a heavy one - the whole idea behind layering is to keep
>each layer light and packable into a small space.
>2)  Be sure and avoid cotton sleeve cuffs or neck pieces - you want the
>thing to be ALL fleece - no cotton!
>3)  Be sure it has a coil zipper - best for reliability and self fixing;
>4)  Try to size it so that you can have several (thin) layers on
>underneath - possibly including a thin down or fleece vest; and
>5)  Look for one with no lump things of any kind, such as lots of
>zippers, etc. in case you want to [as I always do] use the fleece as
>part of your pillow at night; and
>6)  Look for whatever is on sale, for there are lots out there that meet
>most or all of the above criteria.
>
>hike on!
>
>thru-thinker
>
>Mara Factor wrote:
> >
> > Hi PA Rucksters,
> >
> > I'm in the market for a synthetic filled sweater (full zip jacket style) 
>to
> > replace my 200 weight fleece (heavy and bulky) jacket and I've only 
>stumbled
> > across a couple of them in the local stores.  I'm hoping that if you're
> > planning on attending the Ruck and have such a garment hanging around, 
>that
> > you could bring it so that I might get an idea what the different styles
> > look and feel like - in person and maybe even a side-by-side 
>comparison....

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