Looking for recommendations on fleece jackets. 

I recall many years ago buying my first from REI on closeout.  What I had heard about fleece was how it was warm, light, not bulky and dried very quickly, with the only drawback being no campfire spark resistance.

Although claiming to do everything better than my old wool gear, my first fleece did none of those very well except the no spark resistance function.

I have had a couple of others that proved marginally better. Recently I went looking for technical information, weight vs. insulating ability, bulk vs. insulating ability, drying times, etc.
 
Found squat.

I poked around on one well known dealer’s site, who typically sells a lot of military surplus along with normal commercially made goods.  I found a dizzying collection of non-descriptive terms.  Malmute fleece, Polartec Gen3, grid fleece, micro fleece, Belgian fleece, Italian Fleece, tactical fleece (the word tactical adding 50% more to the price of anything whether better or not), and even a Nomex flame resistant fleece, which at least would offer some spark induced meltdown protection.  Prices ranging from $12 to just over $100

So I am interested in what members have had good and bad luck with.

I searched the archives and found many references to fleece, but not too much detail, other than SoloTripper with some specifics in October of 2016.

As always, thanks again for anything you can offer.

Regards,

MossBack

MB,

The problem with fleece is as you've found out there is so many choices and not much real info about what is the best?

I have a lot of fleece, most is the 300wt stuff and is MILITARY SURPLUS stuff, most UNUSED.

The benefit of buying REAL military surplus is that the products are made to DEMANDING military specs.

You're getting the best for a discount price.

I don't bring any fleece jackets on the canoe trips anymore because of some of the reasons you referenced but mainly because fleece DOESN'T pack down like the MILITARY spec THERMOLOFT jackets do.
 
I bring light fleece vest to wear on chilly mornings under my windshirt. I have a similar weight fleece pullover and sweat type pants I sleep in.

Unless your set on fleece, if its warmth/compatibility
and weight you want, fleece isn't the way to go in a jacket for paddling IMHO.

I'd look at something like this in Thermoloft and if you have to have fleece buy the military ones.

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Not a fan of fleece (prefer merino wool) in nearly all applications. One thing for certain; "not bulky" does not apply to fleece. I find it less warm, bulkier, more prone to dirt and stench, and less breathable than wool. I will occasionally bring a very thin stretchy top as a semi-permeable wind barrier.

It does seem to last longer (unless exposed to flame) than wool.

Magic,  Good find on the link.  I had been looking for comparisons of just the fleece characteristics.  It never dawned on me to look for comparisons to the wool I had worn for years and still wear in some forms.

So if the heat loss numbers are roughly the same and we accept the thought of fleece not actually absorbing/retaining the water as badly as wool, then maybe it becomes a question of how easily you can physically wring the water out of the fleece?

I know aggressively wringing fibered fabrics is not good for the lifespan of it, but if you have just taken an unplanned soaking on a windy 45 degree day, cranking the water out of it sounds like a small price to pay.

ST, any thoughts on how quickly your ThermoLoft dries or can be wrung out and dried?  I am guessing if you have been wearing if for a while now instead of fleece or wool which you probable also have experience with, you might offer a S.W.A.G.comparison in dry time?

Thanks to everyone who replied.

MossBack

I've liked Patagonia products since the 1980's.  Not the cheapest but you get what you pay for and I've never been disappointed.  Here's a new "Micro Fleece" jacket you might look into. For tripping I make sure to buy one size up so I can layer under it.

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If you want something a little more high end and stylish check this out.  I really like this brand as well.  My 25 year old Army son literally outfits himself in this brand.
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Here's a video showing the features of this one.  Looks like a fine tripping jacket to me.
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