[at-l] Windproof Fleece

[m_factor@hotmail.com (Mara Factor)]

I agree with what Ken wrote.  I would add that wind resistant/proof fleece
does have some good applications.

My two favorite pieces of hand protection are made from wind/pro/bloc
fleece.  I have one pair of fleece windpro gloves that I love.  I wear them
around town and often carry them while hiking.  I also have a pair of
glo/mitts - fingerless gloves with mitten coverings for the finger tips and
thumb attached.  These are made out of wind-bloc fleece.

In theory, Wind-pro blocks 95% of the wind and wind-bloc blocks all the
wind.

The windbloc works well with the glomitts because I can vent by pulling the
mitten covering back.  The wind-pro works well with the gloves because I
don't do a whole lot to generate heat while wearing them.

I also second the filled sweater approach to body insulation on the trail.
Filled sweaters insulate more, yet weigh less and pack smaller than fleece.
There are also options for synthetic filled sweaters.  Though I've moved to
down for my sleeping bag, I decided to stick with a synthetic filled sweater
(Primaloft PL-1) for my jacket on the likely chance that I will end up
sweating in it on occasion.

Mine is an MEC Northernlite jacket and I also carry a wind/rain layer to
wear over it.  There are plenty of other options out there, as well.

Mara

>From: ken bennett <bennettk@wfu.edu>
>To: <Bluetrail@aol.com>, <at-l@backcountry.net>
>Subject: Re: [at-l] Windproof Fleece
>Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2002 10:30:19 -0500

>On 11/26/02 10:07 AM, "Bluetrail@aol.com" <Bluetrail@aol.com> wrote:
>
> > I've been looking at fleece vests and notice that the windproof ones are
>at
> > least twice the price of ordinary fleece.  Is windproof fleece worth the
>extra
> > cost? This vest will have to do town duty as well as trail excursions.
> >
> > Any other advice on the warmest fleece also appreciated!
>
>
>Fleece is an insulating layer, and so (generally speaking) a thicker fleece
>gives you more 'dead space' and thus keeps you warmer. Thus a 300-weight
>fleece is warmer than a 100-weight.
>
>BUT, and it's a big one, normal fleece is very breathable and you can lose
>a
>lot of heat through convection -- any breeze moves the warm air away from
>your body and replaces it with cold air.
>
>Fleece works better with a windproof layer over it, like a simple nylon
>windbreaker. This allows the insulation to do its job properly.
>
>Fleece makers sell several types of fleece that are more wind-resistant.
>'Wind-pro' Polartec is simply a tighter knit fabric, and thus slightly more
>wind resistant. 'Wind-bloc' has two layers of fleece bonded to a windproof
>layer. This fleece feels stiffer and thinner than normal fleece, and it
>actually works pretty well, but it doesn't breathe as well, so you can get
>overheated.
>
>The lightest, warmest, and most efficient use of fleece insulation IMVHO is
>to use a simple nylon uncoated breathable jacket or anorak over regular
>plain old medium-weight fleece. There are several available, from the old
>standby LL Bean windbreaker to several offerings from GoLite and others.
>
>Now, that said, I don't usually carry a fleece (jacket or vest) for hiking
>in cold weather, as I prefer a down jacket with a windproof Pertex shell.
>It's warmer, lighter, and packs smaller than a fleece jacket. So I think
>the
>warmest fleece is made from geese. (Hey, that rhymes.)
>
>Ken
>Big Cranky
>


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