I am looking for a new fleece jacket. I’ve been wearing one for the last year a cheap gander mountain one. I’ve been looking to upgrade. I am really looking at some of the Colombia jackets, but wanted some extra input. The only stipulation is I want it to have a zip up chest pocket. Thanks for any info.
I wear Columbia. Holds up well enough. Not made stateside, though.
Looking for windproof/resistant? Or just a good mid layer?
Exactly.
What properties are you looking for, and what type of use do you anticipate it getting? I.e., what’s the mission or type of use that you’re targeting? This will all help in recommending some good candidates for you.
Pat
+1 for the Columbia. I wear one everyday at work. In cool weather I wear it as an outer and mid layer in winter. I’m rough as hell on them and this one I’m wearing now is on its third year. For the price you can’t beat it. The one I have only has the two zippered side pockets though.
It will be pretty much an edc type jacket I wear it even when it’s really cold unless I’m going to be out in the cold for awhile. Then I would layer with it so wind resistant would be great. Just not too thick or bulky. Maybe around $120.00 or less.
Mine is their plan Jane model. $50
Right now my go to fleece (100% windproof) is a Patagonia (the exact model escapes me at the moment). It’s fabric is Polartec and has one vertical zip pocket on the left breast. Picked up on one of their 50% off sales for a song. Layers great under my shells.
Carhart
Check out Polartec Windpro…I have a couple year old Eddie Bauer fleece made of it, pretty wind resistant while staying breathable. Just wish it had cinch cuffs.
Back in the day fleece was fleece. Polartec now offers different types so you can a select a jacket that’s made from the variety that best suits your application. Check out their site here:
As far as brands go I have several and the one from LL Bean is made from Polartec 200, has a small chest pocket and is only about $50.00.
Hth
Found an old TAD Gear Ranger (made in USA) on eBay for $100 or so. Best jacket I’ve ever had. Pretty water resistant, doesn’t snag on thorns and stuff, and is great at blocking the wind. The elbow/forearm pads are great too.
Took it on a hunt/hike last winter and had 2 layers of pants on and 2 pairs of socks. All I needed waist up was a thermal shirt and the jacket.
It’s not a fleece, but have you considered the Arc’teryx Atom LT? It has seriously become my go-to/edc jacket (during the few cold months we get here in TX) and has pretty much made any fleece I own obsolete.
Extremely lightweight, very good warmth (on par with a midweight fleece) yet somehow doesn’t let you overheat, water and wind resistant (unlike most fleece), easy to layer over, and pretty affordable.
You can’t go wrong with it.
I have a smartwool hooded fleece that I have been wearing a lot lately. It has the thumbholes (which people may not care for), it has a zip left chest pocket and 2 zip waist pockets. The hood is kind of form fitting and the front zip is off to one side when the jacket is zipped all the way up. I got it a Backcountry.com
Might be on sale, check the sizes though. Good luck.
Oh, and anything that says “Arc’teryx” on it has been very nice (although a little on the pricey side).
THIS!!!
I love my Atom LT for the same reasons Ironman8 mentioned. When I don’t use the Atom LT as a EDC midlayer, I wear my Arc’teryx Gamma AR I found on Backcountry.com. You’ll definitely pay more for the Arc’teryx gear, but all of their pieces I own are worth every penny.
Pat
Lots of great answers thanks guys keep em comin.
U.S. Army ECWCS fleece jackets are pretty nice for the price and made in the USA.
Does the ECWCS have the tightening cuffs? Where did you get yours?
I have two of these. Well made. Super warm. A+
iPhone/Tapatalk
I’ve been weighing getting this fleece…love me some WindPro, and for a TAD Gear product, it’s not “too” pricey:
http://www.tripleaughtdesign.com/Apparel/Jackets/Ranger-Jacket