$21.99 Hiking Jacket?

I live and hike on the Central Coast of California which has very mild winters. In the winter I typically hike in a long-sleeved nylon turtleneck, a long sleeved hiking shirt (like an Ex-Officio) and if it's really cold a fleece pullover or vest.

I'm typically sweating while I hike and the only time I get chilled is while stopping for a break if there is some wind. Rather than pull own another fleece and a windbreaker of some sort I was thinking about a jacket like this perhaps?

Dickies Quilted Jacket

It's lightweight (shipping weight is a pound), cheap (I have seen them for $21.99), easy to move around in, wind resistant and it doesn't suffer from "Arc'teryx®/Patagonia Style Obsession." It's 100% nylon except for some cotton in the lining which is my only concern.

Seems like an extremely low cost and low maintenance jacket that could be used for the sort of hiking I do. Any thoughts? Thanks...

I had one of those that I wore as a liner under a Carharrt jacket to work in. Worn alone, it eventually ripped to shreds getting caught on nails, lumber, wires etc... There's no reason you couldn't use it in the conditions you describe. I live and hike in a far colder climate, so for me, I'd rather have something a little warmer and versatile to backpack with. I have a Patagonia fleece I bought in the 70's that I still am using. I also picked up a Patagucci fleece vest for 5 bucks in a thrift store that I've had for 6-7 years. As they say, paint don't make the car run faster, but i don't mind quality (expensive?) gear when I'm in demanding situations.

If you're sweating while you hike, you should be wearing less while you're in motion. One layer may be enough. Other options to reduce sweating include opening the shirt, pushing your sleeves up, wearing less insulation on your head.

I assume that you carry a rain jacket and an extra insulating layer or two (as we do up here in the PNW). That will keep you from getting chilled when you're stopped. The jacket you mention won't keep you dry if it's raining!

I don't understand why you'd want a separate jacket from what you already should be carrying.

I don't think there's any way I could keep from sweating given the pace we hike. I suppose I could just wear a t-shirt but that wouldn't be comfortable when it gets windy. I don't wear an insulated hat -- I wear a ventilated Tilley year round.

No, I don't carry a rain jacket. If rain is in the forecast (rare), I don't hike. I also don't carry an additional insulating layer unless we were planning to stop at the summit for lunch or something like that.

That's precisely what I'm asking about though. Rather than carry a separate windbreaker and an additional fleece layer I figured this jacket would be a lot easier to deal with -- both on the trail and in the laundry room -- GIVEN the conditions in which I hike.