Lightweight Fleese/Midlayer

I have misplaced my Berghaus fleese that i bought for £39 i think last winter. I am now after something that has a smaller pack weight and size so that i can take it on summer trips when the nights get a bit chilly. My budget is anything upto £100 i guess as its something that will get alot of wear so i dont mind paying the premium if i find the right product.

Thanks in advance,
Keith

There are a bewildering number of choices as a midlayer, personally i like Powerstretch tops - a good compromise of lightweight, wind resistance, warmth and breathability. They tend to be figure-hugging, however.

I have the Millet Powerstretch Jacket and Mountain Hardwear Powerstretch zip-T. Both are excellent imo.

Are you after a pull on or a jacket? Pull on I'd go for Lowe Alpine Micro-Grid zip neck, jacket a Haglofs Dual.

I'd go for a windproof fleece thats comfy on you, its best to buy a midlayer thats versitle in my opinion, one that can be used as warm layer in winter, windprrof layer all year round and if windproof also usually showerproof layer for most year round. Its one of the layers I use most as its so versitile if you spend a little bit more and make sure its windproof aswell you'll find you use your outr layer a lot less and can use the mid layer a lot more often, making the extra expenditure balance itself out in the end.

> I'd go for a windproof fleece

I wouldn't, as they're not versatile enough, and don't breathe well.

Go for a 100 weight fleece and a windproof shell; more versatile, more breathable, and probably available for the same price as a windproof fleece.

I've stood on top of too many freezing cold mountains in wind in my Haglofs lightweight fleece and regretted not getting a windproof fleece, which made me go out and buy one and I've never regretted it. Lets face it your base layer should be good enough to wear most of the time on its own if its warm, if it gets cold you want to be staying warm, resisting wind and possible small showers.

How on earth is a mid layer that doesn't keep you warm but allows breathability versitlie. I understand a waterproof needing to be breathable as you have no choice in order to stay dry than to wear that layer. But with a fleece surely if it gets too hot, you just take it off! So why be verisitile in that direction when the answer is to just take it off?

But what if its too cold for only a baselayer but too warm for a windproof fleece?
A simple windproof over your 100weight fleece does the trick. 2 bits of kit for less than the price/weight of one.
Thats versatile!

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I think you have to take advice from others but also go in the shops and try things on to see whats best for yourself and then test oudoors and decide which type of layering or otherwise you want to do.

Something like a Paramo Fuera over a lightweight fleece gives you wind resistance, shower resistance - having said that I also occasionally wear a Macpac Windstopper fleece (see picture!) if it's cold, dry and windy...

I always use a 100 weight fleece summer/winter. In the summer i carry a Montane windshirt and in colder weather a Paramo Fuera. I've tried all the heavier windstoppers,windblocs, windpro etc and find them too heavy and bulky.

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Jamie, I think the original poster was asking for advice for a midlayer, ie something to wear under a waterproof or windproof shell.
I certainly wouldn't advise wearing a windproof fleece under a waterproof jacket.

This time of year i'm using a M/Hardwear micro fleece(212g) and a Montane windsmock(90g). You could get both for well under £100 if you shop around. I got my Montane for £16.99 from TKMAXX!

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"I certainly wouldn't advise wearing a windproof fleece under a waterproof jacket"

Why, I do so all the time ( sorry not all the time but when required ), I use a Goretex Paclite jacket, only on the odd occasion when its chucking it down or persistant and have my Mountain Equipment windproof underneath if its required. Especially for 3 season use, lets face what is 3 season in this country, this country has one season or the other not 4 of them when it comes to the weather.

So Mike do you seriously believe if you went to the Lakes this weekend and you wanted to climb Scafell or Helvellyn and Sundays prediction is rain and cold that you'd be okay with a 100 fleece and a wind smock that weighs 90g?

A 100 fleece and a wind smock will be no more unsuitable in wet cold conditions than a windproof fleece. In wet cold (but not freezing conditions I'd wear a 100 weight fleece under a waterproof shell). The big problem with using a windproof fleece as a mid-layer under a waterproof for me is that it exacerbates the lack of breathability and I end up drowned in sweat. If you run cold and don't sweat much you're probably okay with that combination - for me a mid-layer should be highly breathable. I've nothing against windproof fleeces and do you use them in certain conditions.

> How on earth is a mid layer that doesn't keep you warm but allows breathability versitlie.

A mid layer should be just that; a mid layer, to go between a base layer and an outer layer. Its purpose is to trap a layer of warm air close to the body, to provide insulation, whilst allowing mositure to escape freely.

Adding a windproof outer shell to a layering system is, IMHO, the best, and cheapest way of improving your comfort on the hill.

If it's warm and still, you wear a base layer

If it's warm and windy, you wear a base layer and windproof shell on top

If it's cool and still, you wear a base layer and a suitably warm midlayer.

If it's cool and windy, you wear a base layer and a suitably warm midlayer, and a windproof shell to stop the warm air being blown from the midlayer.

If it's raining, you decide whether your windproof will provide adequate water resistance, and, if not, replace it with your waterproof.

You can choose the weight of midlayer to suit the weather conditions; lightweight for warmish weather, heavier weight for cooler weather.

You can pick the windproof to suit the activity; lightweight for walking, more robust for scrambling and climbing.

You can replace each of the items as they wear out.

You can wash and proof each layer as appropriate.


A windproof fleece with a fixed membrane has little versatility:
you can't change the level of insulation;
the insulation is used inefficiently, as half of it is outside the windproof layer (generally);
the membrane doesn't allow moisture to escape easily;
you can't use only the windproof layer;
you can't remove the windproof membrane for use under a waterproof;
you can't replace each layer separately;
you can't care for each layer separately;
they're relatively bulky and heavy;
they take a long time to dry.


> I certainly wouldn't advise wearing a windproof fleece under a waterproof jacket

No, neither would I; two layers of poor breathability would result in a rather sweaty captain.

> So Mike do you seriously believe if you went to the Lakes this weekend and you wanted to climb Scafell or Helvellyn and Sundays prediction is rain and cold that you'd be okay with a 100 fleece and a wind smock that weighs 90g?

That would be the 'action core' of my usual 4-layer system, yes:

1 - base layer
2 - 100 weight fleece
3a - nikwaxed, hooded pertex windproof
3b - lightweight waterproof in case of heavy rain
4 - lightweight Primaloft (60g) duvet in case of sub-zero temperatures or prolonged stops

I left the waterproof behind on a trip up Pen-y-Fan a couple of weeks ago; heavy rain and cold unlikely, and the Litespeed windproof easily held off the light rain we encountered.

You answered for me Captain.
And no Jamie i woudn't be happy climbing in the lakes with just a 100 weight fleece and a wind top. I would wear underpants as well:)

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I agree with most of these answers but just thought I'd chime in to suggest polartec windpro-more windproof than normal fleece but not sweaty membrane.

Not the most lightweight of fleece fabrics but I find it durable and more comfortable than pertex although I do like my Montane litespeed which is surprisingly robust.

The point i was trying to make was that if Keith had a shop around he could probably get a merino baselayer,a 100 weight fleece and a windproof for his £100. I haven't carried a heavy fleece for years as that's what i usually end up doing. Carrying it.

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all seems quite logical now i know ,will look for 100 weight fleece.are they all same quality.thanks carol

> are they all same quality

No, they're not all the same quality.

Reliable fabrics are made by Polartec and Pontetorto (and Terksaen, but you're unlikey to find that).  There are many other, unbranded fabrics around, used by different companies, but their quality isn't so reliable, so it's harder to give a recommendation.

You might have a look in TK Maxx, as they often have 100 weight fleece pullovers from many different manufacturers.  I saw some Sprayways the other day at £8 each.  They also usually have a lot of Craghoppers stuff, and their lightweight fleece isn't bad.