I'm looking to pick up a new fleece midlayer. I'm replacing my beloved Eastern Mountain Sports polartec powerstrech hoody. I got that bad boy on a clearance rack for $40 before hiking the Long Trail in 2014. The zippers broke and I have completely shredded the sleeves/thumbholes. It's time to retire it. It's no longer fixable. It's one piece of gear that somehow always finds it way into my pack for backpacking trips. It weighs 13oz on the dot. I like the weight of it.
I went to EMS to buy a new one and I would have dropped the $90 they were asking but the construction of the hoody isn't the same as the one I have and did not like it.
I'm currently really liking these two pieces from Montbell. Actually really liking the specs of alot of their gear.
https://www.montbell.us/products/dis...06105&gen_cd=1
https://www.montbell.us/products/dis...06599&gen_cd=1
I'm looking at the combustion parka and the warm up parka.
Looking at the specs the materials seem to be made of the same fleece. Comparing these jackets side by side. Assuming the extra weight on the combustion is from the cut of the parka and the addition of a chest pocket which I really like. Also these two jackets have hand pockets which my EMS did not have. The warm up parka looks a little slimmer/trim fit. I'm happy with the price of either piece too.
I also like how they're not super technical looking pieces. I'm not a fan of a Patagonia R1 for example. Too techincal for me.
Any input on clothes from Montbell or these two pieces specifically?
I'm working on putting together a new upper body layering system. Possibly gonna look at utilizing a Montbell tachyon wind breaker over the fleece. I however, very rarely hike in my fleece hoodies for long. But I've never been in conditions where I'm hiking in cold for multiple days. Worst I've been in is 38-50 degrees. Pouring rain. 4.5 days straight. Northern Vermont. I was chilly at times. But hiking strong kept me warm enough. Put on a rain jacket and needed to vent within a half mile. It was also a down pour. Soaked through to the bone.
In the spring I'll run up some smaller peaks when it's in the 30 low 40s. I'll typically wear my polarstretch hoody alone. I really like it for that. On the summit I'll throw on my helium ii. Not warm. But able to handle the cold wispy summits.
Would anyone be able to give advice on how a piece likes this would work in a layering system?
What about pairing it with a warm down vest for colder conditions. Or a down jacket.
I typically hike in a long sleeve button up. And carry either a long sleeve or t-shirt baselayer top.
And I'll be honest. Im a big fan of fleece. I have a down jacket and a synthetic jacket. I find the fleece more comfortable to wear day in and day out. Softer fabric. I also like how fast it dries. It never really feels clammy to me.
Maybe I just realized from living in the Northeast where its wet and humid all the time that fleece performs better for me in wetter/ always damp conditions.
So... What's your thoughts? And I've read a few times pairing a proper windshirt with a fleece midlayer is an excellent combo. I've just never done it.
Planning on thru hiking the AT nobo this year. Will start the trail with said fleece and probably my synthetic LL Bean jacket. Will drop one of them when the weather warms.
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