Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, etc

Posted by: babybunny

Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, etc - 01/26/08 01:13 AM

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/
Posted by: mmendell

Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, e - 01/27/08 09:31 AM

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.
Posted by: babybunny

Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, e - 01/27/08 10:58 AM

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.
Posted by: ShadeDog

Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, e - 01/28/08 06:56 AM

I have an EMS store brand fleece that is is very slim fitting with extra long arms. No pit-zips however. www.ems.com
Posted by: 300winmag

Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, etc - 01/28/08 11:40 PM

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
Posted by: midnightsun03

Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, etc - 01/29/08 08:45 AM

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
Posted by: 300winmag

Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, etc - 01/29/08 01:52 PM

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
Posted by: sabre11004

Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, e - 01/29/08 04:32 PM



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....
Posted by: billk

Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, e - 01/29/08 10:48 PM

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="" />
Posted by: babybunny

Re: Warm Jacket Recommendation - pit zips, slim, e - 01/30/08 02:53 PM

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.