Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#88078 - 01/26/08 01:13 AM Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, etc
babybunny Offline
member

Registered: 07/20/04
Posts: 172
Can anyone recommend me a fleece or insulated jacket to replace the one that I recently lost?

Things I want in it:

1. Slim fit, including slim collar

2. Longish torso because I bike and leaning over the handlebars means my lower back is exposed with jackets with short torsos.

3. Pit zips: I use these all the time.

4. Hand warmer pockets.

5. Chest pocket(s)

6. Internal pocket(s), hopefully deep enough to fit a standard sheet of paper

7. Midweight or Heavyweight

The closest I've been able to find is the Mountain Hardwear Offwidth: http://www.backcountry.com/store/MHW0482/Mountain-Hardwear-Offwidth-Primaloft-Jacket-Mens.html

Kinda expensive to me though.

This was the jacket I lost:

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/...Ray%20Estrella/

Top
#88079 - 01/27/08 09:31 AM Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, e [Re: babybunny]
mmendell Offline
member

Registered: 03/21/06
Posts: 76
Loc: Western Iowa
Check out www.beyondfleece.com

I had one built a couple of years ago, and I love it. It's made to your own specs, so you can tailor it however you want. It may be a bit pricey, but the quality and fit are outstanding.

Although I no longer use it for backpacking because of its weight, this is my favorite jacket for biking, winter workouts, etc.

Top
#88080 - 01/27/08 10:58 AM Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, e [Re: mmendell]
babybunny Offline
member

Registered: 07/20/04
Posts: 172
Quote:
Check out www.beyondfleece.com

I had one built a couple of years ago, and I love it. It's made to your own specs, so you can tailor it however you want. It may be a bit pricey, but the quality and fit are outstanding.

Although I no longer use it for backpacking because of its weight, this is my favorite jacket for biking, winter workouts, etc.


OMG I configured a jacket and in the end the cost of all the POCKETS I wanted was $90 alone. Overall the jacket was $300. I definitely don't have that kind of dough on me.

Top
#88081 - 01/28/08 06:56 AM Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, e [Re: mmendell]
ShadeDog Offline
member

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 40
Loc: Minnesota
I have an EMS store brand fleece that is is very slim fitting with extra long arms. No pit-zips however. www.ems.com

Top
#88082 - 01/28/08 11:40 PM Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, etc [Re: babybunny]
300winmag Offline
member

Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 1342
Loc: Nevada, USA
My dear fellow. Common wisdom says "slim" is not good for best warmth. Loose fitting clothing gives the best warmth, except for the base layer longies - fashion police notwithstanding.



Eric
_________________________
"There are no comfortable backpacks. Some are just less uncomfortable than others."

Top
#88083 - 01/29/08 08:45 AM Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, etc [Re: 300winmag]
midnightsun03 Offline
member

Registered: 08/06/03
Posts: 2936
Loc: Alaska
Winmag...

When he says 'slim' I believe he is referring to the cut, not the thickness. The problem with 'smal' or 'x-small' sized clothing is that it might be slim through the shoulders, but is also usually shorter in the arms and torso.

MNS
_________________________
YMMV. Viewer discretion is advised.

Top
#88084 - 01/29/08 01:52 PM Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, etc [Re: midnightsun03]
300winmag Offline
member

Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 1342
Loc: Nevada, USA
MNS,

I know he's referring to the cut, not the thickness. That's what I'm talking about too. Slim cuts don't cut it (hee,hee) in cold weather.

I've seen the new, slim cut "softshell" and even hardshell clothing. Not impressed at all with non-functional design. That stuff is for wearing on campus or city streets but not in wilderness settings.

Grumpy old codger, Eric
_________________________
"There are no comfortable backpacks. Some are just less uncomfortable than others."

Top
#88085 - 01/29/08 04:32 PM Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, e [Re: mmendell]
sabre11004 Offline
member

Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 513
Loc: Tennessee


That stuff is so over priced that it is not even funny. You can buy Polar Tec for much less than you are seeing here. Campmor probably had he best prices on PolarTec (at least that I have seen). I use this stuff for every thing. Light weight shirts, jackets base layers. mid-layers, and heavier jackets..It is a little on the heavy side and doesn't pack very well as far as space is concerned (and I know that we all are) but the value you get from PolarTec compared to other fleeces, it's just good stuff. I only do one thing and that's when I purchase fleece. I make sure that it is "PolarTec". Hope this helps....Happy Trekking...sabre11004... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The first step that you take will one of those that get you there....
_________________________
The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there 1!!!!!

Top
#88086 - 01/29/08 10:48 PM Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, e [Re: 300winmag]
billk Offline
member

Registered: 08/20/03
Posts: 1196
Loc: Portland, Oregon
Quote:
My dear fellow. Common wisdom says "slim" is not good for best warmth. Loose fitting clothing gives the best warmth, except for the base layer longies - fashion police notwithstanding.


Once again, the common wisdom may be wrong. I guess it depends on how loose is "loose." As a card-carrying skinny guy, I find that closer-fitting jackets are warmer, as long as they have enough room for a few layers underneath. Looser clothing allows too much air movement between the layers...kind of a bellows effect. And, of course, if it's true for me, then it must be true for everybody else <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Top
#88087 - 01/30/08 02:53 PM Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, e [Re: billk]
babybunny Offline
member

Registered: 07/20/04
Posts: 172
Quote:
Quote:
My dear fellow. Common wisdom says "slim" is not good for best warmth. Loose fitting clothing gives the best warmth, except for the base layer longies - fashion police notwithstanding.


Once again, the common wisdom may be wrong. I guess it depends on how loose is "loose." As a card-carrying skinny guy, I find that closer-fitting jackets are warmer, as long as they have enough room for a few layers underneath. Looser clothing allows too much air movement between the layers...kind of a bellows effect. And, of course, if it's true for me, then it must be true for everybody else <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


I agree. I've worn a lot of jackets and stuff, and I FAR prefer the slim fit to the standard fit for warmth.

There's definitely the billows effect which I hate. There's the fact that there's more dead air space to heat up. Slim cuts also tend to seal better at the waist and the neck and the sleeves. The latter is a biggie for me. If the neck is not sealed, cold drafts make my neck cold, and since my neck has a lot of blood circulating through it... it tends to carry the cold through the rest of my body. And exacerbates the billows effect.

Plus this jacket will be used for school and stuff too, and I think slim cuts for slim people just look and move better.

I'm looking for something with long torso, slim cut, regular arms, slim neck. I'm actually short (5' 5") but I want the longish torso for leaning over a bike.

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 209 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum