I'm finalizing my gear list for my NOBO March 19th attempt and I'm a little stuck on my top insulating layer. I plan to have medium weight long underwear, a synthetic T-shirt and a thin rain shell (probably froggtoggs UL2), however, I can't decide between fleece or down for the last piece. I know down is the best insulation you can get for the weight, but it also has problems when wet and I'm on a tighter budget than I'd like.
So my questions are, is down really that much warmer than a fleece shirt of comparable weight? Have people had problems keeping their down dry? I'd also love to see your recommendations on sub $100 down jackets or specific fleece tops.