 Any thoughts experience on whether a 200 weight fleece Gilet is going to be cooler or warmer than a full sleeved 100 weight micro fleece. I boil in a 200 weight full sleeved fleece, but could do with something warmer than just a base layer.
Thanks
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 Warmer, in my experience.
I often wear a midweight base layer as a midlayer.
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I'd say it depends on your circulation. For most people should be warmer, as your body core is the most important bit to keep warm.
However, if you have poor circulation you might get cold arms and a hot body (no pun intended!). If I stand around in the cold it is my arms that get particularly cold-I almost need arm warmers rather than extra fleeces which can make you boil if you move a metre!
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 It also depends on your personal preferences; some people are happy with cool arms. I prefer to keep them warm, noting that my manual dexterity drops if my arms get cold.
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 In the last year I've been wearing a pertex/primaloft gilet to great effect over a base layer and sometimes a 100 weight mid layer.
Works well if you end up with a waterproof over the whole lot too.
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Richard
How about trying a Mountain Equipment Micro therm top.
I have one with a full length zip.
This is a light fleece lined shell (costs about £75 but I got mine in a sale at F&T for £45).
It provides good levels of warmth without being too hot + you can zip the arms off as well.
It is windproof and keeps moderate rain at bay for quite a while as well. Plus it is v.light and stashes very small. Plus I wear it under my waterproof when required.
Amazing piece of kit.
Has rendered all my fleeces redundant for hill use as.
Cheers
Nick
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 Marmot driclimes also worth a look. Light and pretty windproof.
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 driclimes don't have a hood, which I think makes them practically useless, but you may not. buffalo teclites have the best venting, and the best lining of the shelled polyesther garments.
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 Hoods are a terrible lumpy nuisance when worn inside a jacket though and make you look like Quasimodo as well as being uncomfortable.
Terribly overrated IMO
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Depends whether you like hoods, I can't stand them. The Driclime lives permanently in my rucksack. When it's windy and I'm getting chilled it's priceless. Most winter days I can get by with baselayer, driclime and a waterproof shell if its damp. Buffaloes too bulky for me but then I like to keep the weight down.
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Thanks for the thoughts. It's mainly for wearing under a waterproof shell if it gets really cold, so a hood isn't really necessary. I suppose I could go the gilet route and wear the old lycra arm warmers I've still got from cycling days if I really need them even if it does lower my already endangered street-cred...
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 It'll be slightly less warm than a full-armed 200-weight fleece when worn under a shell. You lose a lot of heat through your arms because blood flows close to the surface, but with a windproof arm layer that won't be as much of an issue. Warmer than a sleeved microfleece top, I'd have said.
If only the Paramo Third Element still existed, you'd be sorted ;-)
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 I'm with Kat! I have reynauds disease (affects circulation) and have permenantly cold hands, feet, ears and nose but my core temp skyrockets with walking - someone should design a top with higher weight fleece from the elbows downwards... PLEASE!!!!
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 What about cyclists arm warmers? Would they help?
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I also 'run hot' but I get a cold nose, hideous earache and eyes that stream when it's cold / windy.
Bob suggested that I wear a balaclava back-to-front.
He regretted it soon after....
;o)
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It's a very strange garment. I really liked it for winter mountain biking - ride in the gilet then add the sleeves and hoods for stops. Strangely it worked very well although it looked ridiculous, or close to ridiculous if we're being diplomatic about it.
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Would 'dodgy' be more diplomatic than 'close to ridiculous'?
Maybe not.
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 At £99 it seemed like a real bargain and the innovative design sounded like it would work in theory. I guess it didn't take off then:)
Actually I thought it looked OK as a jacket when put together. The gilet on its own was a bit baggy around the arms. But I would have worn it mostly as a jacket and didn't like the extra bulk over the shoulders. Very happy with the Alta 2 I ended up with.
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If I could have found one in my size in olive at that price I'd have taken a gamble with the hope it wouldn't be too warm when assembled, but bright blue or bright green aren't a lot of good when your trying to blend into the background. Maybe if I bought one and just wore the arms I'd be able to get good views of birds paralyzed with laughter...
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