I have fleece that's 30 years old or more and it still keeps me warm. A few pieces stay at home now and they're only worn on cold winter nights. As investments go, this is the Rolls-Royce of clothing.
Wow, that's impressive! It's amazing how durable fleece can be, especially when it keeps you warm for so long. Timeless pieces like that are definitely a treasure!
Great video! I'm currently wearing the Arc'teryx Kyanite lightweight fleece. This one is made with Arc's homebrew fleece, while its heavier Kyanite sibling is made with Polartec. Tried them both in the store and the lightweight is the one that suits me best because I run hot and because it is so insanely soft on skin.
I bought a Patagonia R2 over a year ago and it is brilliant. I used it in horrid conditions on Mount Anne. As you've mentioned, it is really good at repelling and wicking away moisture. It kept me warm and dry! Note that it is best used as a technical alpine fleece; it's no good in the Tassie scrub. When I went off track and hooked some Scoparia, I put a hole in it straight away.
Good video. I lent a friend of mine, who was not an outdoors person, a fleece jacket and vest for a trip to Canberra and when he came back he was pretty quiet. A few days later he told me that he got too close to the fire on his trip. There wasn’t much of it left when he handed it back. Seems that an ember drifted onto it and the rest was history. He came out of the incident unscathed but the jacket and vest certainly didn’t.
Hi Mowser, I was looking at both nitro and the R1 myself for a bit there and i was going to buy the R1 because i was concerned about snagging with the Nitro. But then i went to Macpac and saw the Prothermal Fleece Top (found in thermals) and it's so so so soooo good. It's very versatile and small enough to pack as an extra layer. Very comfortable on bare skin which is what its designed for. Ill often use it in tandem with my Macpac Trail Long Sleeve Hooded TShirt or my Smartwool merino sun hoodie but it may not be enough for the colder Tassie adventures.
Thanks for the detail! I recently bought Prothermal fleece from Macpac too. Love it. Will be great for running too in winter. The moment I saw it I had to get it. Great top!
I agree the old r1 hood pullover is one of my favorites. The R1 next to the skin and a light softshell is my go-to for cold-weather rock climbing but is often too warm for hiking uphill. My most used is the North Face Future Fleece light pullover hoody(octayard) which is about a 1/3 the weight of the R1 and maybe 1/2 the warmth. It dries faster than the r1 and paired with softshell give me the right warmth for a wide range of temps. For colder days the Moutain Equipment Kinesis jacket is amazing. About the same weight as R1 but somehow is warmer, breathes better, fries faster, and blocks the wind.
Yes, the R1 is definately too warm for uphill hiking. I haven't used much North Face gear but the Future Fleece at that weight looks like a great option! Doesn't look as delicate as something like a Alpha Direct fabric too.
@@mowsertas Yeah the NF future fleece I have is more durable than alpha but less durable than R!. It is also my first NF piece. I found it in a discount store cheap and now wish I bought two. I also didn't light the zip version as they fit was a bit odd. I think they also make a heavier/warmer versions.
Give Alpha direct a go. The Macpac Nitro is pretty easy to get hold of. I’m a Tassie hiker and find I use it all the time except off track. Its breathability, warmth to weight and extreme hydrophobic nature is what sets it apart. It also complements a wind jacket for a really versatile layering system.
@@mowsertas Just make sure you don't use it as an outer layer in any off track terrain where it might get caught. I've bought it and it has already pilled about 3-4 times with light use and very little hiking. I wouldn't want to know how much pilling would happen if I got it caught on the wait-a-while bush!
The plot thickens. Following your video I purchased an R2 Techface, when it arrived I fell in love with it. I became curious about the R1 Techface and now it has just been delivered today. All your fault I swear 🤣 your channel is dangerous ‼️⚠️⛔️
What are your thoughts on wool midlayers? I don't want to say necessarily compared to fleece given there's likely a price difference but looking at your past videos, the North Face fleece is surprisingly more pricy than some merino/tech merino hybrid midlayers, so seems somewhat comparable? Some actually use merino under the armpits or so too with fleece on top
I use Wool midlayers at home (icebreaker) but have never really taken any hiking as I find they are a little heavier than the fleece midlayers I carry. And synthetic does tend to dry a bit better than merino. The mid layer variety are good but If I can make a small weight savings with a fleece I have I'll go for it. I do sometimes carry an extra merino thermal in addition to my synthetic thermal if things are looking really cold.
@@mowsertas That's fair. In some of your videos you're in pretty hardcore conditions so can see the reasoning behind optimizing weight. I'm still trying to find the perfect layer as I run pretty hot, even in winter hikes and think I bought the wrong fleece - Mountain Jacket from macpac, so have been researching them like crazy which led me to your videos. But the tech ones definitely jump up in price from your average $20 amazon one.
Fleece, polyester, merino damn I can't keep up lol 😆 I just changed from a cheap anaconda jumper from cyberg now I have a merino icebreaker....if they get to hot or there too heavy I'll just wear them out in public I suppose lol damn that Patagonia R1 looks comfy and light?
@@mowsertas yeah awesome I just got the icebreaker merino hoodie quantum 3 it's legit comfy, That Macpac one would be good but I'm not sure if I should buy it to swap for a cheap synthetic down jacket I got from anaconda ? As my base layer with thermals on at base camp ?
The other day I tried on The North Face Homesafe hoodie which has polar fleece but wearing it on top of a t-shirt I felt shivery in it on a cloudy summer day. Garment feels very weird too, thin and like some of those cloth-like hiking towels. I have been physically active in it and felt too hot so either too cold or too warm, rings a bell, lead me to doubt its breathability. I'd rather want to trust a grid fleece Like The North Face BOLT POLARTEC PULL ON out on the trail. Maybe that's just me? Edit: Watched your video till the end and see you got the Patagonia R1 and it appears to be a grid fleece too. Seems we got to the same conclusion aye?
@@hooptroopers yep totally understand where you’re coming from! Have been recently trying some thinner ones on the trail but am always wearing my R1 type fleeces at home. Love them!
I thought the opening sounded very generic ChatGPT text and then you showed ChatGPT in action and it confirmed my suspicion. Look, ChatGPT can be really helpful for making a draft, but just like copying someone’s homework, just change it. Be yourself!
@@mowsertas I dont have the summit series soft shells I have some other ones but I have a zephros summit series midweight that I use but I 9nly use it for really cold weather. Also I am usually wearing the snow bibs by that time. And parka
@@mowsertas also it's hard to find summit series here theyve discontinued. I did find a second hand gear shop I have bought some pieces from them but they carry loads of track gear brands and not much outdoor stuff. I got some Adidas track suits from them.
hey i just got my first fleece and i wanted to ask is it normal for it to leave lint on my shirts beneath it? Im worried i'm wearing the wrong material and it is worsening my fleece.
Some lint shedding may occur but I have not seen that with any of my fleeces. What brand is it? I would contact the manufacturer and ask their opinion as this is not something I would expect to occur especially with high quality brands. Other garments you where should not affect the fleece.
@@mowsertasalright, watched it in full after dinner. As usual, you speak common sense and from experience, and that's so valuable these days. I reckon we need a solid campaign to get your subs count up. I stand by the alpha direct. There's a place for one of those garments within a layering system.
Biggest criticism I've heard of alpha direct is its durability. The little fibres just pull out everywhere so maybe not an issue in some parts of the world but in QLD scrub and Scaparia ridden Tassie I'd be worried I'd only get a couple uses out of it. Would hope to be wrong though! It looks like an amazing material
@@ryanb3908 You know we get snowstorms here, especially down in Tassie and Victorian high country right? And you think we don't need a fleece for that?
This is a great video. I do not know why but for some reasons I can stand more reviews made by British guys rather than Americans. They are pretentious and😅 fakes like Dan Becker something
I have fleece that's 30 years old or more and it still keeps me warm. A few pieces stay at home now and they're only worn on cold winter nights. As investments go, this is the Rolls-Royce of clothing.
Wow, that's impressive! It's amazing how durable fleece can be, especially when it keeps you warm for so long. Timeless pieces like that are definitely a treasure!
Great video! I'm currently wearing the Arc'teryx Kyanite lightweight fleece. This one is made with Arc's homebrew fleece, while its heavier Kyanite sibling is made with Polartec. Tried them both in the store and the lightweight is the one that suits me best because I run hot and because it is so insanely soft on skin.
Glad you enjoyed the vid! Was only looking at a Kyanite yesterday. They look like a fantastic fleece!
I bought a Patagonia R2 over a year ago and it is brilliant. I used it in horrid conditions on Mount Anne. As you've mentioned, it is really good at repelling and wicking away moisture. It kept me warm and dry! Note that it is best used as a technical alpine fleece; it's no good in the Tassie scrub. When I went off track and hooked some Scoparia, I put a hole in it straight away.
Yep great jacket but mine has come off second best in the scrub
Good video. I lent a friend of mine, who was not an outdoors person, a fleece jacket and vest for a trip to Canberra and when he came back he was pretty quiet. A few days later he told me that he got too close to the fire on his trip. There wasn’t much of it left when he handed it back. Seems that an ember drifted onto it and the rest was history. He came out of the incident unscathed but the jacket and vest certainly didn’t.
Oh dear!
Hi Mowser, I was looking at both nitro and the R1 myself for a bit there and i was going to buy the R1 because i was concerned about snagging with the Nitro. But then i went to Macpac and saw the Prothermal Fleece Top (found in thermals) and it's so so so soooo good. It's very versatile and small enough to pack as an extra layer. Very comfortable on bare skin which is what its designed for.
Ill often use it in tandem with my Macpac Trail Long Sleeve Hooded TShirt or my Smartwool merino sun hoodie but it may not be enough for the colder Tassie adventures.
Thanks for the detail! I recently bought Prothermal fleece from Macpac too. Love it. Will be great for running too in winter. The moment I saw it I had to get it. Great top!
I agree the old r1 hood pullover is one of my favorites. The R1 next to the skin and a light softshell is my go-to for cold-weather rock climbing but is often too warm for hiking uphill. My most used is the North Face Future Fleece light pullover hoody(octayard) which is about a 1/3 the weight of the R1 and maybe 1/2 the warmth. It dries faster than the r1 and paired with softshell give me the right warmth for a wide range of temps.
For colder days the Moutain Equipment Kinesis jacket is amazing. About the same weight as R1 but somehow is warmer, breathes better, fries faster, and blocks the wind.
Yes, the R1 is definately too warm for uphill hiking. I haven't used much North Face gear but the Future Fleece at that weight looks like a great option! Doesn't look as delicate as something like a Alpha Direct fabric too.
@@mowsertas Yeah the NF future fleece I have is more durable than alpha but less durable than R!. It is also my first NF piece. I found it in a discount store cheap and now wish I bought two. I also didn't light the zip version as they fit was a bit odd. I think they also make a heavier/warmer versions.
@@mikekelly6603 have purchased one. Will test it out soon!
Dude you should be a much larger channel. Your content is amazing and super high quality. Keep grinding man. Ps. I also love fleece.
Great to have you here and thanks for the compliments 😎
Nice vid thanks. Definitely deserve more subs, very comfortable presentation good info clear.
Give Alpha direct a go. The Macpac Nitro is pretty easy to get hold of. I’m a Tassie hiker and find I use it all the time except off track. Its breathability, warmth to weight and extreme hydrophobic nature is what sets it apart. It also complements a wind jacket for a really versatile layering system.
ok. I'm going to do it! Off to Macpac I go!
@@mowsertas Just make sure you don't use it as an outer layer in any off track terrain where it might get caught.
I've bought it and it has already pilled about 3-4 times with light use and very little hiking. I wouldn't want to know how much pilling would happen if I got it caught on the wait-a-while bush!
First video of yours I've watched, amazing video! Will definitely be watching more. You'll blow up soon mate!
Thanks so much for watching! Plenty moving to come!
second vid ive seen by you, sounds good!
I like your r1 pullover hoodie that looks alright. 👍
I love that thing! So good.
Heaps of great technical detail in this video, I learned something! Actually it prompted a cheeky R2 Techface purchase :)
Great to hear! You'll love the Techface 😂
The plot thickens. Following your video I purchased an R2 Techface, when it arrived I fell in love with it. I became curious about the R1 Techface and now it has just been delivered today. All your fault I swear 🤣 your channel is dangerous ‼️⚠️⛔️
@@explorethebush you won’t regret those purchases! I certainly understand the danger you face 🤣
@@mowsertas😂🤣😆
What are your thoughts on wool midlayers? I don't want to say necessarily compared to fleece given there's likely a price difference but looking at your past videos, the North Face fleece is surprisingly more pricy than some merino/tech merino hybrid midlayers, so seems somewhat comparable? Some actually use merino under the armpits or so too with fleece on top
I use Wool midlayers at home (icebreaker) but have never really taken any hiking as I find they are a little heavier than the fleece midlayers I carry. And synthetic does tend to dry a bit better than merino. The mid layer variety are good but If I can make a small weight savings with a fleece I have I'll go for it. I do sometimes carry an extra merino thermal in addition to my synthetic thermal if things are looking really cold.
@@mowsertas That's fair. In some of your videos you're in pretty hardcore conditions so can see the reasoning behind optimizing weight. I'm still trying to find the perfect layer as I run pretty hot, even in winter hikes and think I bought the wrong fleece - Mountain Jacket from macpac, so have been researching them like crazy which led me to your videos. But the tech ones definitely jump up in price from your average $20 amazon one.
Fleece, polyester, merino damn I can't keep up lol 😆 I just changed from a cheap anaconda jumper from cyberg now I have a merino icebreaker....if they get to hot or there too heavy I'll just wear them out in public I suppose lol damn that Patagonia R1 looks comfy and light?
R1 is great and yes it's pretty light. Do love my merino too though. Have had some Icebreaker stuff for over 20 years and still going strong!
@@mowsertas yeah awesome I just got the icebreaker merino hoodie quantum 3 it's legit comfy,
That Macpac one would be good but I'm not sure if I should buy it to swap for a cheap synthetic down jacket I got from anaconda ? As my base layer with thermals on at base camp ?
I'm not really sure the difference between your fleece and my softshells. The north face softshella are thin hard face fleece.
I think the fleece just breathe a bit more. The soft shells would be more wind resistant.
@@mowsertas yes that right. I'm not sure if I need something lke r1 and I can layer r1 and softshell together.
The other day I tried on The North Face Homesafe hoodie which has polar fleece but wearing it on top of a t-shirt I felt shivery in it on a cloudy summer day. Garment feels very weird too, thin and like some of those cloth-like hiking towels. I have been physically active in it and felt too hot so either too cold or too warm, rings a bell, lead me to doubt its breathability. I'd rather want to trust a grid fleece Like The North Face BOLT POLARTEC PULL ON out on the trail. Maybe that's just me?
Edit: Watched your video till the end and see you got the Patagonia R1 and it appears to be a grid fleece too. Seems we got to the same conclusion aye?
@@hooptroopers yep totally understand where you’re coming from! Have been recently trying some thinner ones on the trail but am always wearing my R1 type fleeces at home. Love them!
Hello. Is the Paddy Pallin Inferno still being sold? If so, do you have the link?
No unfortunately it looks like they stopped making this a long time ago!
So you wear the r1 and r2 together?
No, not generally. I Would take the R2 on a trip where I think I might need a bit more warmth.
I thought the opening sounded very generic ChatGPT text and then you showed ChatGPT in action and it confirmed my suspicion. Look, ChatGPT can be really helpful for making a draft, but just like copying someone’s homework, just change it. Be yourself!
Thanks for the tips. Opinion noted.
Uh I've got three north face soft shells 9ne of them is really thick.
I like the North Face summit series stuff. Their Octayarn fleece is great!
@@mowsertas I dont have the summit series soft shells I have some other ones but I have a zephros summit series midweight that I use but I 9nly use it for really cold weather. Also I am usually wearing the snow bibs by that time. And parka
@@mowsertas also it's hard to find summit series here theyve discontinued. I did find a second hand gear shop I have bought some pieces from them but they carry loads of track gear brands and not much outdoor stuff. I got some Adidas track suits from them.
I did get a marmot single layer gortex shell for $30 from them.
hey i just got my first fleece and i wanted to ask is it normal for it to leave lint on my shirts beneath it? Im worried i'm wearing the wrong material and it is worsening my fleece.
Some lint shedding may occur but I have not seen that with any of my fleeces. What brand is it? I would contact the manufacturer and ask their opinion as this is not something I would expect to occur especially with high quality brands. Other garments you where should not affect the fleece.
I'm gonna comment without watching first, but I'll watch later at home.
Fleece is so 1990s.
Alpha direct is now.
Will do some more research and see what I can find that suits my needs!
@@mowsertasalright, watched it in full after dinner. As usual, you speak common sense and from experience, and that's so valuable these days. I reckon we need a solid campaign to get your subs count up.
I stand by the alpha direct. There's a place for one of those garments within a layering system.
@@praktika1082 I like it. I’ll give one a try and come back with a review at some stage. Gimme some time. I love reviewing and trying out stuff!
Biggest criticism I've heard of alpha direct is its durability. The little fibres just pull out everywhere so maybe not an issue in some parts of the world but in QLD scrub and Scaparia ridden Tassie I'd be worried I'd only get a couple uses out of it. Would hope to be wrong though! It looks like an amazing material
alpha direct to so 2020. Octayard is now. :)
Why do you need a fleece in Australia when it never gets cold?
You're kidding me right? Have you ever been hiking in Australia?
@@aussiehiker2 No but their winters are 70 degrees warmer than ours. 🤦🏻
@@ryanb3908 You know we get snowstorms here, especially down in Tassie and Victorian high country right? And you think we don't need a fleece for that?
@@aussiehiker2 No, can just use a rain jacket when it is 70 degrees warmer.
@@ryanb3908 You would use just a rain jacket in 0 degrees Celcius?
This is a great video. I do not know why but for some reasons I can stand more reviews made by British guys rather than Americans. They are pretentious and😅 fakes like Dan Becker something
Thanks for watching!
I think he’s Australian