Posted: 12/27/2009 3:54:44 PM EDT
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Hey all,
I'm looking for a new baselayer to go under my gore-tex shell. My current stock doesn't cut it when the temp. goes below 30 or so. My activity will be day hiking/walking for 1+ hour periods, with a pack. I'll be wearing a shell on top of it, so water/windproofing isn't necessary (nor really desirable). I'd be nice for it to be decently compressible, but it's not 100% necessary. I'm thinking of: Mountain Hardware Monkey Man Arcteryx Delta SV Patagonia R3 Does anyone have experience with any of these? Or does anyone have suggestions for other options? One alternative I'm considering is down - I have a down hooded trench coat that works well, but it's too bulky IMO for extended trips with bags. Besides, right now it's my only real winter coat, and I'd like a backup. 
ETA: edited title. See explanation below...... |
On a trip I did two weeks ago, I wore long john pants and a spandex/lycra sport shirt as a baselayer, and snowboarding pants and a Russell poly/lycra type sport hoody for an outer layer. For me, that was good down to 10 or 15 while walking, but I was wearing a wool cap as well. At night, when walking, and it was below 0F, I also threw on a fleece over the top. It was on the light side, but as long as you were walking you were fine. Stopping was an issue. but it was easy to put a coat on as soon as you stopped.
What would work for you personally probably depends on your own body/comfort level/level of exertion. |
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I have been using polartec 300 wieght fleece under goretex for the last 4 years or so. It work well under a shell, but without, the wind cuts right through it. I have another no name fleece that is half as thick, but keeps the wind out, and without a shell keeps me twice as warm. So, if i was buying a new fleece layer, I would make sure it had some wind resistance to it.
Last year I bought a Wild things primaloft insulated jacket with 6oz of insulation. The outer fabric is micro encapsulated and blocks the wind and is water resistant. It is very warm, and a great jacket, but a little bulky for wearing under a shell. The same company makes a lighter jacket with somewere around 2oz of insulation, and is less bulky. I dont have one, but have considered getting one to use in "less cold" temps, and as a layer under a shell. Primaloft compresses alot more than fleece. It might be worth looking into something like that for your needs. I think about all the big name companeys are using it. If you look at some of the wild things jackets, you may decide to only use a shell in down pours. That is kinda the direction I have gone. I still use my heavy goretex parka shell, but dont wear it for wind protection like I used to. I have bought a much lighter, and packable goretex jacket to take with me in case of down pours. |
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My wife has a Mountain Hardwear Monkey Fleece jacket. It is decent, but after a couple of washes the fleece fibers begin to clump and then it looks kind of beat up. And I kind of suspect that reduces the insulation of the jacket. Same thing as the North Face version. Based on that, as much as I love Mountain Hardwear and Arc'Teryx, I'd go for the Patagonia R3 (a great brand itself, so not a bad pick).
I have a 300 weight Mountain Hardwear fleece (purchased ~4 years ago, before the Monkey Fleece and Windstopper was all they had) that I wear under an Arc'Teryx gore-tex shell, and even in the low 20's or high 'teens, it's a bit too warm if I'm walking at a good pace. The fleece/gore-tex combo is pretty much unbeatable. |
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Anything by polartec will be great. Just remember that The North Face Denali Polartec 300 fleece is $180.00. The Cabelas brand Polartec 300 is on sale for $49.00. Polartec is a registered trademark for their own material. So any brand that advertises Polartec on the garment is essentially the same thing. The only difference is the tag on the back and the price.
The poster above complained about wind with his polartec, they make a polartec wind shear as well. |
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Thanks, everybody, for the suggestions. I'm susceptible to cold, and for what I'm doing (winter photography) I'll spend a fair amount of time standing around. So, something thicker works best for me I think.
I got the monkey man for $110. (I almost got a primaloft coat, but chose the MM instead). We'll see how well it performs - if it doesn't cut it, they have a 120 day return policy! @duenorth: agreed that polartec should be polartec. But I have a EMS 300 weight polartec fleece, and for some reason it just doesn't cut it. Maybe it's because it's so freaking big on me - it's supposed to be a medium, but I really think I could layer it over an Arcteryx or MH large. I think two of my torsos can fit in it. The Monkey Man medium fit much better - we'll see how it holds up. |