Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Which fleece works best? Cabela's Superloft, Polartec 300...

I will be using Under Armour Cold Gear as a base layer. Are there any particular makes of fleece that are recommended for the next few layers?
I've gone through Cabela's a thousand times comparing the SuperLoft Performance Fleece w/o Windshear, Polartec 300, Thermastat Polar Weight, Polartec ECWCS and the Thermax Polar Weight trying to figure out which is better.
I want maximum breathability, warmth, silence and moisture wicking properties used mostly for stationary to light (will shed layers as needed) activity in 15F to 40F-ish degree temps.
I'm thinking of using the Berber Fleece with WindStopper as my outer protective layer. I tried Cabela's Revolution Fleece parka 2 years ago, but find the "quiet as fleece" marketing a load of bull####. Berber Fleece appears to be virtually silent and that 1/2" of fabric sounds really warm too.
Thanks IA

I've tried the Camo polartec 200 ECWCS jacket and the level 4 ECWS fleece jacket from Cabela's. I have the level 4 Jacket in Black and probably am going to buy it also in Loden when funds permit.
I like the lighter Camo 200 jacket as a take along extra since it doesn't weigh very much and compresses well. As an outer jacket I would prefer the level 4 jacket since it has the reinforced shoulders, pit zips etc. The Level 4 is probably the warmest of the normal fleece jackets.
Any of the fleeces with windstopper or whatever in them are probably warmer yet but I don't really care for the rustling between the layers that you get. If I left out today I'd wear the level 4 jacket and then have a outer shell for really windy or raining conditions.
Other Options you might look at are the Browning Genesis Fleece or their new Gator Fleece. The Genesis Fleece is a thinner but tighter fleece that is supposed to be more windproof. The Gator Fleece is probably the next hunting clothing I'm going to buy if not the Loden level 4 jacket. The Gator Fleece uses Polartecs "Hardface" technology. It feels like Cotton Duck on the outside but has a standard fleece feel on the skin side. I don't know if it will be warmer but it should be more windproof and definately won't pick up ever burr and pet hair it comes within a mile of like some fleeces can. I think Bass Pro carries both. I saw some of the Genesis Fleece cheap at Sierra Trading Post, but I can't remember if they had any good sizes.
I'd like to hear more about what you didn't like about the Revolution Fleece. I was kinda considering trying it someday too. What didn't you like about it? Also what do you think of the underarmor? I tried some Loose Gear but it's for hotter weather and was wondering if the Cold Gear was worth checking out............DJ

The Revolution fleece parka is nice, but I need quiet too. It's nowhere near as quiet as regular fleece. If a material doesn't pass my fingernail scratch test, I keep looking for something better.
I've been wearing the Under Armour pants and shirt for a few weeks now and the biggest benefit is the extra energy I feel due to the tight fit. Same idea as support panty hose. The compression fit aids in blood circulation.
The rustling between the layers you mentioned is common with all the Windstopper materials? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Thanks---Scott

Scottyman,
I use the Outfitters fleece jacket and vest, and this past elk season it saw every kind of weather!! Rain, sleet, snow, wind etc.. The only thing I didn't deal with were arctic temps. I LOVE this combo! And this is from a guy that ONLY uses wool! I was able to use my vest when things got warm, or, under my raingear and didn't overheat. The jacket kept me warm and dry ( I have a bad habit of putting my rain gear on a little late!). The outfitter camo pattern worked very well as well. My elk hunt culminated with a literal 600 yard crawl in a relatively open field that was as soggy as England! I was literally soaked to the bone by the time I got my elk, and as soon as washed, the fleece looked brand new again. I thought for sure the elbows would look as trashed as the knees on the pants I was wearing that day!!
OOPS, forgot to ad that it dries VERY quickly and the jacket makes a great pillow! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Love the stuff!

Huntr

Hey All,

I was looking to pick up some fleece myself. Have any of you had any experience with the military fleece from the old ECWCS system? I was thinking of buying some.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...MainCatcat21082

elelbean
I have no experience with that gear at all but it sure looks promising. For the price you cant beat it. Heck, even if you get it and dont like it for hunting your only out 60bucks. With some other gear that same 60bucks will get you a nice 'high performance' ballcap. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

elelbean,

They have used Bear suits over at Sportsmans Guide starting at $9.97. I've never used them but the price is right!

Here is the URL:
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=179379

Scottyman,
Have you worn the underarmor while packing? I picked some up for running in nasty weather and was wondering if it will get to hot/wet under a pack. I agree completely with the compression feeling great, actually shave some time off of my runs when Im using it.

And as far as fleece goes I got to handle some of the Gator fleece and it will no doubt be my next investment.

Berber Fleece...

I bought the Berber Fleece and I really like it...I opted for the windstopper jacket but the pants are not windstopper..

The Berber fleece is as quiet as you will find... and with proper layering I was able to use it on relatively warm days ( 50 degrees.. )as well as on the colder windy days..( single digits ) ..

The jacket was a pleasure to use during archery season as I could draw my bow freely ... it's soft and flexible.

In fact I'm a bit surprised that more major brands don't offer Berber Fleece.. I found the jacket at Gander Mtn, and the pants at Cabela's...

Just my opinion.. best of luck with whichever you choose..

Al

Take a look at Raven wear, http://www.ravenwear.ca/
I bought a jacket from them last fall and this WILL be the last jacket I buy!!! This stuff is GREAT! Its warm, quiet and blocks the wind. I love it!!!!!!!!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

MUSTO ...in a league if its own...

Journeyman,
Interesting stuff, but, they don't sell the shooting stuff in the US!

Huntr

Alruner---

What kind of an inside lining does that Berber fleece vest have.
Is that fleece really plush and warm?

Varmintsinc--

I've done some light packing (25lbs) in single digit (F) temps trudging through the snow and ended up sweating a bit. I had a few too many layers on and didn't feel like stopping to shed a few. I was "in the zone" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I did order the Cabela's Superloft Performance fleece pant liners just to get an idea of what the Superloft fabric is like.

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

Scotty,

The "windproof" Berber fleece jacket I have from Gander Mtn. has a nylon type liner..The non-windproof jacket does not have that liner.. The same is true for the vests they sell... I expect the liner is what makes them "windproof."

I do not know if the "windproof" Berber fleece sold by Cabela's has some other distinguishing feature ( besides a liner ) to enhance it being windproof. I have the Cabela's Berber fleece pants, but I opted for the non-windproof version. Their windproof pants are considerably more $$$, and I can't recall anytime during all my years of hunting that my legs got too cold.. .. If anything, cold feet would be the first thing to head me back to the coffee pot . <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I do find the Berber Fleece to be "plush and warm". It fact it is the best for me here in upstate NY where it worked well for me from archery season thru most of gun season....Your mileage may vary..

Al..

Alruner,
I have the NON windproof Berber jacket and vest, and as I stated earlier in my post, it exceeded my expectations for warmth, yet breathes well enough for tough western hunting in all conditions!

Huntr

Are the fleece products rainproof? I know they try to advertise such, but do you guys still wear rain gear over it?

Fleece ain't waterproof. It can be made water resistant by a DWR finish, by washing with something like NIK-WAX's polar-wash or by a outside surface treatment like Polar-Tec's Hardface. To be waterproof Fleece's need to have a drop liner of Gore-tex, Sympatec etc.
Fleece's are also sometimes Windproofed by adding drop liners but some of the newer fleeces have a different weave that is almost as windproof as a drop-liner and don't rustle as much.
You might check out Brownings "Gator Fleece", it's got the Polartec Hardface fleece and should be water resistant and windproof. It's the next Camo I plan to buy.....DJ

Thanks. I was talking about the berber fleece you see in cabelas and revolution fleece, those type products that they advertise being waterproof. Even with those products do you guys wear raingear with those? I would think if the outer layers would get heavy. I've always had to have separate rainsuits with my gear but would prefer not to.

I'll check out the gator fleece

Fleece is not rain gear. Even the best "WP" fleece is up to turning a sustained light mist at best. Seperate layers are the most versatile way to go. Make sure your GTex layer is well vented.

A very good product however is "Wind-Pro" (a Malden product). This is a normal fleece with a different weave that is about 80% (ish) on the windproof scale and still breathes well. Normal polartec is probably 10% and "Windbloc" is near 95%. Windbloc however, does not breathe well at all while of course polartec breathes extremely well.

A wind pro in 100 wt sized to fit over another normal 100 wt (or a mid wt like an R-.5 for example) would make an excellent (quiet) combo. Add a light, well vented shell for real wet, and a down or synthetic vest as a backup and you'd have a good system down to 10-15 deg or so and most wind/precip. conditions while still being able to work hard and vent the sweat.

JimF

I checked my local browning dealer last night, they don't have the gator fleece in stock yet (only a set of gloves).

It's good to know I wouldn't bank on the fleece for rain protection, but I have to find something much more quiet than my current rain gear.