Alternative to Fleece Jacket?

[Little Rickie]

The price is good, it's all natural, warm and light wt.

http://www.alpacifica.com/index.php...CK3ZjYiFxaACFQhYbQodGBqdaw&vmcchk=1&Itemid=91

 

[dug]

I love the new lighweight puffs that are out. I have a Patagonia jacket and vest, but I know TNF and Marmot (at least make them). They pack down to about a Nalgene bottle, are lighter, and warmer.

 

[Hikes4fun]

Check out MontBell for high quality UL insulation..Down or synthetic

 

[Maddy]

http://www.rei.com/search?query=patagonia+down+sweater&button.x=13&button.y=6

Live link to the jacket I described in my post above.

 

[Stan]

I have found that a wool shirt packs well and even the fine Pendletons are competitively priced against some of the fleece.

 

[rup]

Are the Ibex wool sweaters any good? I've never seen one, so don't know how they pack.

 

[Grumpy]

I like a good mid weight wool sweater, tightly knit. You might find just the ticket at a secondhand GoodWill or Salvation Army store. If you can score an older genuine Cashmere sweater you will be golden. These can be very warm and quite comfy as an against-the-skin layer.

Supplement, perhaps, with a lightweight wool shirt, perhaps found while shopping for the sweater.

I find wool especially comforting if there is some dampness in the air.

G.

 

[adkayaker]

primaloft

The best fleece alternative I have is an REI brand hooded ultralight primaloft jacket with thin pertex exterior. It is lighter than any of my fleece layers, my Montbell down jacket, etc. and packs tiny. I have used it as both a midlayer to actually hike in when real cold and as a summit jacket when stopping. Unfortunately, the thin shell is now duct taped in a few places and may not survive too much longer. It is no longer made and i'm having a tough time finding an equivalent jacket that is so lightweight.

It is much nicer carrying in a pack than any of my fleece layers. Over 20 degrees and it is too warm when moving but great between 15 and 40 when resting.

 

[cbcbd]

adkayaker, check out the MH jacket mentioned by the op
http://mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=2034&prod=3525&cat=2075&viewAll=False

 

[paul ron]

You can't go wrong with a Montbell Ultra Light linner down parka. I used it all winter and it is so warm n light. Weighing 7oz n packs to teh size of a softball. What I like about the parka is the hood, it makes it the bomb.

http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?p_id=2301133

check it out?

 

[Hiking with Kat]

Thank you everyone for your input, especially about MontBell, I had not heard of them before.

For those who are curious, my decision ended up mostly based on cost. I was looking at MountBell products in backcountrygear.com and found last years Marmot DriClime jacket at $66, so I decided to order that, figuring at that price I could always find some use for it. Of course they were out of stock.

I continued searching in REI and found last years Mountain Hardware Compressor jacket (without hood) for $120 (regular $170), applying my dividend made it $20, so I went with that jacket.

I was really impressed with the MontBell Thermawrap Pants (for next years winter backpacking season) so I also got a pair of them at about 30% off.

My wife is still giving me a hard time for not going with the wool.

 

[Grumpy]

...

My wife is still giving me a hard time for not going with the wool.

She should!

G.

 

[Hikes4fun]

I was really impressed with the MontBell Thermawrap Pants (for next years winter backpacking season) so I also got a pair of them at about 30% off.

My wife is still giving me a hard time for not going with the wool.

You won't regret the Thermawraps..They keep me warm well into single digits and are real comfy inside your sleeping bag

 

[Hiking with Kat]

Jacket arrived, I'm in love