Tag Archives: Patagonia

Is Fleece Obsolete?

Backpacking Gear, ,

Fleece insulation has been a staple for backpacking and other outdoor pursuits since Patagonia introduced synthetic pile and then Synchilla fleece decades ago.

Over the past few years I have seen more and more articles comparing fleece to synthetic polyester batting material such as Polarguard, Climashield and similar materials as a better option to fleece.

These batten materials are lighter than fleece with an equal insulation rating, are more compact when packed, and the manufacturers state the material insulates when wet.

Sounds like a winner to me!

Or is it just hype?

Continue reading Is Fleece Obsolete? →

Understanding Layers Using Patagonia Clothing as a Guide

Backpacking Gear, , , , , , , ,

A lot of people struggle with the concept of layering clothes for backpacking. Hopefully, I can simplify it, with some real world examples. Backpacking is a good example (vs. snowshoeing or mountain climbing). The backpacker spends most of the day walking with an occasional rest break. He also spends time in camp doing chores and often a little bit of time just sitting in camp. So we can “define ” these activities as sitting, light work, and heavy work. Impact-Site-Verification: 329d9066-0a94-4b4e-8ff9-65d7ee7893a5

For backpackers the following layers are almost universally accepted as the best way to dress for the backcountry:

  1. Baselayer
  2. Active insulation
  3. Shell (wind and or rain)
  4. Insulated outer garment

Most of the time these are not all used at the same time. Weather, temperature, wind, level of activity, and the individual’s metabolism determined what layers should be worn under what conditions. Continue reading Understanding Layers Using Patagonia Clothing as a Guide →