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.
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.
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!
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 ‼️⚠️⛔️
Enjoyed the look at your history of fleece jackets, things have changed a lot over the years! In relation to some other comments, I find the hype for Alpha Direct quite… interesting. It reminds me of when DCF was overhyped and was the solution to everything that everyone had to have, even in inappropriate applications like packs. For Alpha Direct, if you’re on a well-maintained track, sure, it’s light and warm. But it is terrible if there’s anything that can snag it. Consequently really not the best for Tasmania (especially off track) if you’re using it as an active layer. I find that the lightest weight 66gsm Polartech Power Grid fabric (e.g. Macpac Prothermal range shown with the orange fleece in the video, Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight) is a similar weight, takes up a similar volume when packed, is a similar warmth, is also suitable as an active layer and won’t snag and pull like Alpha Direct. It’s intended as a heavy base layer but I just use it as a midlayer over a light base layer and it’s perfect.
Great take and echoes my thoughts after I have a think about it! I do love the Patagonia capilene thermal weights for wearing while i'm walking. I've had mine for around 7 years and they have taken a beating and still going strong. And they have seen some crazy scrub! As has my Patagonia Fleece hoody. Still holding up strong too!
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!
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?
