Fleece Jacket?

[Goldilocks]

Bill,

I have both silk and nylon long undies. I like them both but the silk are definitely the best.  You can't go wrong there.  In October, the nylon will do you fine and they are easier to find but there is no substitute for long underwear as a first layer.  In October, you need to prepare for rain and for colder temps so a good first layer is important.  For me, the nylon seems a bit warmer but the silk holds up better under a wide variety of conditions.  Don't skimp on this!  Just my two cents worth...

[Al]

At this risk of wearing out this thread . . .  a silk or nylon long underwear top packs like it's almost nothing yet makes for a most excellent pajama top to complement nearly every sleeping bag after retiring.  If you have to get up in the middle of the night in order to provide vital moisture and essential nutrients to local vegetation, it carries at least a 4 star rating.

Al

[mule ears]

Fleece is on the way! I hope this is like what I think it's like...and doesn't weigh 4 pounds!
I ordered one of these:
http://tinyurl.com/6ayzbo

Had to get the electric blue...not my first choice...but on sale that's the only choice I had.

That beast could weigh 3-4 lbs.   The temps should only be in the 40's unless something unusual comes along.  Long underwear, down vest, windshirt/rainwear should do it with the sleeping bag after sunset.

[SA Bill]

Hmmmm....Goldilocks and Al have convinced me to add a long underwear top to my clothing arsenal for the S Rim Expedition of October (maybe September) 2008. I have some sort of synthetic top left over from my backpacking days 20 years ago. I'll pull it out and see if it is still servicable. Looks like I can get silk long john tops for around $20.00 if it comes to that.

Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of mule ears. If it's a boat anchor, I'll look for something lighter, which will invovlve trips to various stores to see fleece jackets in person. I've been looking on line because I don't remember seeing hooded fleece jackets in the places locally where I've seen any fleece jackets.

No one has any specific recomendations for a fleece jacket, preferably with a hood???
  Thanks!
    Bill

[TexasAggieHiker]

REI has some nice fleeces (with out hoods) for $30-$40.

http://www.rei.com/category/4500253/q/Men%27s+Fleece+Jackets

[oldfatman]

While in Washington State playing in the cold for a few years, I was introduced to using a hood that is separate from your upper body clothing.  It allows a lot more freedom of movement without venting your upper body clothing.  I did not believe it would make a difference until I tried it.  Now I do not use attached hoods.  I got mine at that high tech hikers store called Wal-Mart up in Richland Washington. Just my half cent worth.

[SA Bill]

Hmmm....I dug up the old long-john-style top...it's a very lightweight (read thin) Patagonia Capilene top. Silk it's not but should do for a base layer as the sun goes down.

Thanks TAH! Some of those are definitely worth considering if the Cabelas model I ordered is too heavy. I really wanted a hoodie, but....

...ofm has intrigued me with the idea of a separate hood. Makes sense that it would help keep heat in because of the venting that happens with an attached hood. I have a parka with a detachable hood so I could take that. I could always get one of these:
http://www.kevinscatalog.com/images/17-5401.jpg   
   Bill

[SA Bill]

This?
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-11545572856523_1982_240020   
   Bill

[jeffblaylock]

Bill, I took silk as a base layer to Yosemite. They have more runners than the Boston marathon. I recommend wool, and if not wool then polyester. To me, wool has the best feel. It's more durable. And it's warmer, when it's chilly, but yet comfortable when it's still warm outside. Somewhere in my backpacking life, someone who knows these things imparted great wisdom upon me:

The Secret to Staying Warm Is, Don't Get Cold.

To me, this means changing into warm, dry clothes before it gets dark and chilly, and putting on a hat before too much body heat spills out of your noggin. The choice of fabrics is largely a personal one -- in most conditions, they will all do fine.

[SA Bill]

I hear you Jeff!
I've always taken the "it's easier to stay warm than to rewarm" approach. For me, in cold weather, that means a nice down parka that goes on before I even start to get chilled. Alas, it weighs a ton and takes up LOTS of space to pack. Hence my quest for the best way to handle the somewhat chilly temps I expect to encounter.

Looking at the temps over the last few days, I'm thinking about moving the trip up a month to go in September instead of October. In reality, I just can't wait to go, period!   
  Bill

[SA Bill]

The fleece has flown its way to my house! FedEx did their drive-by delivery this afternoon. The box looked like it had been used as a chair while the driver ate lunch...crunched in on one side. Being it was fleece inside, there was no damage.

Good news: The color is not nearly as "electric" as the picture on the Cabelas web site. It's not too bad for being a "different" color of blue. The color name is "Pacific".

Good news: I ordered a "tall" since some of the reviewers complained of the jacket being kinda short. Overall, the fit is pretty good...not too loose...not too tight. Should do well to keep the warmth in.

Good news: Material is Polartec...100% polyester.

Good news: Weight is okay. I measured just under 2 pounds on my ancient baby scale. I should have a newer scale on hand in the next day or two and I'll get a more accurate weight.

Good news: The zippers, while not exactly robust, work very smoothly.

So so news: Being a tall, the sleeves are just a little long. Not bad though.

Fixable news: The hood has a cord to tighten it around the face. There are no toggles to tighten the cord. It's kinda like a hoody sweatshirt where you're expected to just tie the strings under your chin. I'll add some toggles to take care of that issue.

All in all, it seems like a very good product for the money. If it weighed just a little less, it would definitely be on the pack list for the S Rim trip. To keep to my 40 pound starting weight goal, a nearly two pound fleece jacket will have to be carefully considered before it gets packed.
   Bill
 

[Al]

Cabalas makes good stuff.  I have all kinds of Cabalas stuff ranging from boots to flashlights.  It's hard to go wrong with their stuff and if you don't like it just send it back. . .  no questions asked.

Al

[TexasGirl]

re:  silk longjohns

I have pairs from Steinmart, TJ Maxx, Land's End, and LLBean.  Land's End's are by far the best.  I think REI's are comparable to Land's End's.  They are knit with a different stitch, so no runs.  The thinnest ones, just like stockings, run the most easily. 

Silk is truly a miracle fiber, and as others have mentioned, packs very small.  I take silk LJs most every trip, wherever I go.  They also dry in a flash when washed in a sink (or zip-lock bag). 

I've preached this sermon before, so will stop now.