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Time for a new fleece ...
Michael L. Palmieri, Photographer
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Barnegat | NJ | USA | Posted: 10:55 AM on 11.30.07 |
->> The time has come to retire my 7+ year old North Face Denali fleece. This thing has been awesome -- I've worn it nearly every day from October until April for a very long time. But, it is starting to show its age.
That said, I would gladly buy another except for one thing -- I want a little more protection from the wind.
That said, here's what I am looking for -- something like the NF Denali but made from a wind-bloc-type material. It needs to warm enough to be the only layer I wear (unless it's raining) all winter in NJ, have a one or two Napoleon chest pockets and be hood-less.
I don't mind paying a fair amount and name brand isn't important to me -- quality is. That said, the $160 or so I paid for my Denali was money well spent, considering it lasted a tough 7 years.
Thanks for your input. |
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Caleb Simpson, Photographer, Assistant
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Dallas | TX | USA | Posted: 11:20 AM on 11.30.07 |
->> That as your only outer layer should work just fine as long as you have a warm under layer. Even in light rain that should work well (assuming this is a water proof jacket, which I think it is). Heavier rains, you will want a rain shell.
In cold weather, all I wear is long selves and my Mountain Hardware fleece jacket and since it doesn't have wind blocker I wear a Marmot rain shell for wind or rain. works great.
I highly recommend Mountain Hardware products too, NF is overrated. |
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Scott Morgan, Photographer
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Rockford | IL | United States | Posted: 11:22 AM on 11.30.07 |
->> I have an ArcTeryx softshell that I LOVE. It was expensive, but it fits great (I'm pretty thin), is light but very warm, and you have a full range of movement in it. In my mind, I saved money since I payed a little more for a jacket that I'm happy with, instead of buying two or three that I'm not really happy with but are cheaper.
http://www.arcteryx.com/product.aspx?EasyRider-Jacket# |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 11:26 AM on 11.30.07 |
->> Well, if the current model of the Denali is not what you want, take a look at rei.com
Click on Mens clothing, then jackets and then fleece and wind proof
You'll get a list of jackets that you can then check various other things like the pockets.
One that looks similar to what you are asking about is a Mountain Hardwear fleece that gets good customer reviews:
http://www.rei.com/product/646599 |
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Joel Kowsky, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Columbia | MO | United States | Posted: 1:05 PM on 11.30.07 |
->> Take a look at Patagonia's R4 jackets
I have one that I got a few years back and it's one of the best jackets that I've bought, having also had a North Face Denali. I regularly wear just my Patagonia during the winter when I'm home back up by Chicago. The jacket is well worth the money and who can beat being able to send it in and have a broken zipper fixed or normal wear and tear fixed for free!
http://tiny.cc/gTN4E |
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Walt Middleton, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 1:15 PM on 11.30.07 |
->> Take a look at http://www.sierratradingpost.com They carry overstock and discontinued items. It is where I get most of my camping/climbing and outdoor gear. Usually better that the pro discounts those companies offer. I got my Marmut soft-shell there for about 70% off.
The one I have is a Wool/poly blend with Gore's windstopper layered into it. It isn't waterproof but I've been in a downpoor and not gotten wet or cold...
Well worth it.
If you are often in extreme weather, you should think about getting a GoreTex hard shell as well.
Walt |
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Primoz Jeroncic, Photographer
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Kranj | SI | Slovenia | Posted: 9:31 AM on 12.01.07 |
| ->> There's one option to consider. Most of wind or waterproof materials won't stay wind/water proof for long time. Some "noname" materials are as good, if not better, then original Gore materials, but for less then half price. So I stay away from expensive jackets (North Face is ok, but also extremely expensive around here, and nothing so special in my opinion) and go with something else (Millet, Halti, Salomon...), which is cheaper mostly because they use their own materials and not Gore. And after year or two at most, you have to change them anyway... Gore or "noname". |
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Walt Middleton, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 9:58 AM on 12.01.07 |
->> I'm not trying to contradict you... Except I'm going to, If you take care of your coats, i.e. wash them the correct way, then they last. My Marmot, 3 ply Gore-Tex shell I have had for 7 years now... It has literally been around the world twice and it is still totally water proof. The manufacture's suggestions of how to take care of the coat is important to follow.
As for the windstopper material, my mother got me a windstopper pullover, not from Gore-Tex but I think it was from LLBean. That thing lasted me until it was just about thread bear. I finally tossed that about a year ago... I had it since I was a freshman in High School... I'm turning 30 in 2 months.
So, get the good gear, take care of your gear properly, and it will last a whole lot longer that you think it will. You may find that your actually get the few hundred bucks more that you spent on it, out of it.
Sorry for the rant, Once upon a time I was a guide. I always laughed when clients would tout the better qualities of the cheaply made and cheaply bought gear. Usually right before it broke. You get what you pay for usually. So, do the research and get the best quality you can afford and then take care of it.
Clothing brands to look at, in my opinion, Marmot, Arc’Teryx, Mountain Hardware, Mammut, and Patagonia. Marmot and Mountain Hardware are my too favorites, Mammut is great but really hard to find here in the states. North Face is owned by Vanity Fair and their quality has gone way down since they were bought out by them. So I would not recommend then at all these days.
Good luck,
Walt |
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Dave Kennedy, Photographer
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Danbury | CT | US | Posted: 1:12 PM on 12.01.07 |
| ->> The North Face is not overrated but now that they have branched out into beyond serious outter wear they certainly are looked differently. I bought a Kitchatna heavy shell jacket more than 16 years ago for about on sale for $300 USD in a store in Kingston Ontario (at the time the same jacket was nearly $600 USD in the stores in the states). I've worn that jacket every winter, all winter since then. No rips, no tears, nothing worn out except a few of the strips inside the jacket that cover the seams are now coming loose. But considering the amount of use I've gotten out of that shell, it's been worth MORE than every penny I spent on it nearly a generation ago. |
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Dave Kennedy, Photographer
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Danbury | CT | US | Posted: 1:13 PM on 12.01.07 |
| ->> For fleece I have a few NF fleeces and a Mountain Hardware fleece jacket. |
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Steven Mullensky, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Port Townsend | WA. | USA | Posted: 1:58 PM on 12.01.07 |
->> I'm partial to Mountain Hardware. My wife asked my what I like about MH so much and I had to confess that I liked the logo.
I have several pieces, one of which are the windstopper pants. The first time I wore them was skiing in a heavy snow storm at Mammoth Mountain in the eastern Sierra. Sitting on chair 18 can be real annoying if the lift stops and you are near the top. The wind blows so fiercely you are almost horizontal. Yea, I know, a little bit of hyperbole. But I have to say, I felt warm and cozy, like in a down sleeping bag.
I never did buy the windstopper jacket because I like to layer differently but it is a terrific product.
Steve |
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George Holland, Photographer
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Kent | WA | USA | Posted: 2:15 PM on 12.01.07 |
| ->> I just bought a North Face S.T.H. Jacket. Water resistant, breathable Apex Weatherblock with fleece backer. Wish I knew how overrated they were before I bought it. Regardless, I’m happy with it and it is perfect for our cool, wet Pacific NW weather. An added benefit is it resists my yellow labs hair unlike my black Denali that quickly looks like a cashmere coat the way it attracts dog hair. |
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Adam Hemphill, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Willimantic | CT | | Posted: 2:58 PM on 12.01.07 |
| ->> I love my Helly Hansen outerwear, but lately I've been eyeing a Marmot softshell for something a little more versatile. Like most of those above me, I think that spending money up front will save you a lot in the long run. One avenue to consider is LL Bean, because they will stand by their products for life (literally). |
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Susánica Tam, Photographer
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Thousand Oaks | CA | United States | Posted: 3:49 PM on 12.01.07 |
->> Agh, I can't resist being sucked into this thread.
As someone who shoots and works in the outdoor industry, I've field-tested practically every jacket out there.
If you're looking for a fleece, my favorite one is the Patagonia R4. It's already been mentioned in this thread, but it's got a wind-proof laminate that makes it really warm compared to the Denali jacket. Mountain Hardwear has been mentioned. They make a great down jacket. And great expedition equipment.
I used to have a denali jacket too until a guy in a bar in the Peruvian Andes bought it off me for $50. The R4 is definitely better.
I might add that I used to work for Patagonia so there may be a bit of a bias. But really, the products are well made and there is the iron-clad guarantee that goes along with it. |
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Christian del Rosario, Photographer
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 8:11 PM on 12.01.07 |
->> I also don't think TNF is over-rated. They still make some top quality stuff. It just may be they are so popular and "common" now, they aren't the "in" brand as they used to be 10 years ago. Credit to their marketing team as well as making great product IMHO.
TNF, Mountain Hardwear, Arc'Teryx, Pantagonia, etc....all have great stuff. But IMHO really, how hard can you mess up a fleece shell? Conduit, Thermal Shield, Vapor Wick, Polar-tech...whatever it's called by what company....it's pretty comparable either way. usuallu the real deciding factor is fit and functionality (buttons, zippers, places to stash stuff, compatibility with hard-shells, etc..) that wins out.
If you need more wind-resistance and prefer not to zip fleece into a hard-shell, like Steve said check out the wind-blocker type of fleece soft-shells that have a weave to reduce penetration of air.
Since you seem open to any brand, maybe consider a "system" where the fleece is interchangeable with a goretex hardshell. Also might want to look for a fleece shell that converts to a vest. Stretch the functionality as much as possible. |
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Peter Huoppi, Photographer
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Pomfret | CT | USA | Posted: 9:07 PM on 12.01.07 |
->> Check out Beyond:
http://beyondclothing.com/
They're a lesser known company that makes custom fit garments, including wind block and soft shells. You give them your measurements and preferences and they custom build your jacket (or pants). |
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Jonathan Steinberg, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Ventura | CA | USA | Posted: 9:31 PM on 12.01.07 |
| ->> Go for the patagonia R4. for windproof fleeces, i think thats the best you can get. |
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Tom Knier, Photographer
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Landisville | PA | USA | Posted: 11:46 AM on 12.02.07 |
| ->> I bought a fleece jacket that's highly wind-resistant and extremely comfortable made by Cloudveil a few years back and during winter, it's pretty much all I wear into and out of basketball gyms... |
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