Cold weather = FLEECE!

BBK357 · Post by **BBK357** » Mon Oct 17, 2022 8:23 pm

Hey guys.
Living in Ohio and getting all season, I’ve always hated fall and winter. But lately I’ve been enjoying things like picking fresh apples at the orchard, pumpkin pie, splitting wood for the cold nights… and fleece sweatshirts.
I’ve had a fleece North Face Denali jacket for over 10 years, but it’s big and thick and for outdoors. But lately I’ve been super gay for fleece.
I picked up an LL Bean high pile and absolutely love it. Also have a North Face Campshire pullover and it’s fantastic. I grabbed a few Columbia when they had a sale last month and really wasn’t super impressed.

Any recommendations? I’m really liking the high pile fluffy stuff?
What’s your favorites?

Here’s a few that I bought recently:

amckiwi · Post by **amckiwi** » Mon Oct 17, 2022 8:36 pm

What’s the first one I like

amckiwi · Post by **amckiwi** » Mon Oct 17, 2022 8:37 pm

What’s the first one I like

BBK357 · Post by **BBK357** » Mon Oct 17, 2022 9:10 pm

amckiwi wrote:What’s the first one I like

Heaven.
The LL Bean high pile is super fluffy, warm… not heavy. Not as light as the North Face, but certainly not heavy or bulky.

DoctorC · Post by **DoctorC** » Mon Oct 17, 2022 9:29 pm

What would be a good choice from north face? I Jace an opportunity to pick up something at a good discount but have never bought any of their stuff.

Chocodove · Post by **Chocodove** » Mon Oct 17, 2022 9:37 pm

Lol. Patagonia Synchilla is the gold standard for high pile.

Also check the Mountain Hardwear HiPile stuff. Sadly, I don’t think their monkey man fleece is made any longer.

BBK357 · Post by **BBK357** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 7:43 am

DoctorC wrote:What would be a good choice from north face? I Jace an opportunity to pick up something at a good discount but have never bought any of their stuff.

I’ve never been disappointed with NF quality. Like I said- I’ve had my fleece Denali jacket for over 10 years and the new stuff seems just as nice.
I bought a NF Gordon Lyons hoodie last year. Love it. Thick and keeps you warm. My mom bought me another for Christmas, more of a green than the pic below but pretty close.

BBK357 · Post by **BBK357** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 7:46 am

Chocodove wrote:Lol. Patagonia Synchilla is the gold standard for high pile.

Also check the Mountain Hardwear HiPile stuff. Sadly, I don’t think their monkey man fleece is made any longer.

I looked up the Synchillla and if it wasn’t for the pocket I’d pick one up. Such odd placement and the different color bothers me.

I’ve looked into mountain hardware in the past and really wanted to try the monkey man. They still make what looks to be close to the same thing.
Maybe I’ll search eBay for a nice used one.

Erratic101 · Post by **Erratic101** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 10:13 am

I have the campshire full zip, love it. Also have the similar tnf fleece you showed with the chest pocket in a full zip. Never disappointed with them. But my go to and favorite jacket…. HH daybreaker

dnslater · Post by **dnslater** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 10:21 am

I have a old Arcteryx fleece jacket that is my go to. Their "Fleece" line is almost halfway between a sweater weave and traditional fleece.... very nice but pricey.

Chocodove · Post by **Chocodove** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 10:26 am

BBK357 wrote:
Chocodove wrote:Lol. Patagonia Synchilla is the gold standard for high pile.

Also check the Mountain Hardwear HiPile stuff. Sadly, I don’t think their monkey man fleece is made any longer.
I looked up the Synchillla and if it wasn’t for the pocket I’d pick one up. Such odd placement and the different color bothers me.

I’ve looked into mountain hardware in the past and really wanted to try the monkey man. They still make what looks to be close to the same thing.
Maybe I’ll search eBay for a nice used one.

I haven’t looked at Pata stuff in a long time, but their R3 fleece used to be very close the monkey man. Super fuzzy and plush.

If you do end up finding an older Monkey Man, be advised they used to run very small. At least one size up. Not sure if that is still the case, though.

Post by **toxicavenger** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 10:59 am

NF is the Fossil (watches) of fleece.

BBK357 · Post by **BBK357** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:03 am

Erratic101 wrote:I have the campshire full zip, love it. Also have the similar tnf fleece you showed with the chest pocket in a full zip. Never disappointed with them. But my go to and favorite jacket…. HH daybreaker

Nice. Yes TNF had that incredible healthcare worker discount a few years ago and I got outdoor gear for the whole family. Quality stuff.

The Campshire hoodie is incredibly soft. Love it.

BBK357 · Post by **BBK357** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:04 am

dnslater wrote:I have a old Arcteryx fleece jacket that is my go to. Their "Fleece" line is almost halfway between a sweater weave and traditional fleece.... very nice but pricey.

Nice. I don’t mind pricey if it last a long time. I have nothing from Arcteryx, I’ll check out their fleece offerings.

BBK357 · Post by **BBK357** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:06 am

Chocodove wrote:
BBK357 wrote:
Chocodove wrote:Lol. Patagonia Synchilla is the gold standard for high pile.

Also check the Mountain Hardwear HiPile stuff. Sadly, I don’t think their monkey man fleece is made any longer.
I looked up the Synchillla and if it wasn’t for the pocket I’d pick one up. Such odd placement and the different color bothers me.

I’ve looked into mountain hardware in the past and really wanted to try the monkey man. They still make what looks to be close to the same thing.
Maybe I’ll search eBay for a nice used one.
I haven’t looked at Pata stuff in a long time, but their R3 fleece used to be very close the monkey man. Super fuzzy and plush.

If you do end up finding an older Monkey Man, be advised they used to run very small. At least one size up. Not sure if that is still the case, though.

I was researching “best fleece” and the R3 kept popping up. That may be on my Christmas list.

Thanks for the heads-up on the monkey man fleece. The Campshire from TNF is a little snug on my arms and shoulders. So I’ll go up a size if I find one.

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BBK357 · Post by **BBK357** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:07 am

toxicavenger wrote:NF is the Fossil (watches) of fleece.

I get it…. But try one of these. It’ll change your mind:

https://www.moosejaw.com/product/the-no ... e_10497320

hidden by leaves · Post by **hidden by leaves** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 2:25 pm

Shagmaster ftw!!!

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aikiman44 · Post by **aikiman44** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 3:04 pm

I was just saying to the wife that I prefer my Uniqlo ultra light down to my fleece. Lighter and warmer.

83F9681D-D92A-4D1C-8955-146520D38722.jpeg

justsellbrgs · Post by **justsellbrgs** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 3:38 pm

Dri Duck....
also --- ARBORWEAR from Ohio

BBK357 · Post by **BBK357** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 4:41 pm

aikiman44 wrote:I was just saying to the wife that I prefer my Uniqlo ultra light down to my fleece. Lighter and warmer.
83F9681D-D92A-4D1C-8955-146520D38722.jpeg

Looks good- but I’m looking for stuff I can wear indoors as well.
Our house is pretty roomy. It’s primarily heated by propane, so it never gets that warm in the winter, especially the 2nd floor. We are using the fireplace insert for the first time this year as well. So nothing like a cozy fleece when it’s below freezing outside and barely 65 inside.

BBK357 · Post by **BBK357** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 4:44 pm

justsellbrgs wrote:Dri Duck....
also --- ARBORWEAR from Ohio

Nice, thanks for sending me on a google hunt.

How about some links or pics?? Geeze… browns fans…

These?

BBK357 · Post by **BBK357** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 4:45 pm

hidden by leaves wrote:Shagmaster ftw!!!

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That looks incredible…
Wasn’t there an issue with these over the past few years, something about the used to be USA made and now they aren’t ?

hidden by leaves · Post by **hidden by leaves** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 7:55 pm

BBK357 wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 18, 2022 4:45 pm

hidden by leaves wrote:Shagmaster ftw!!!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That looks incredible…
Wasn’t there an issue with these over the past few years, something about the used to be USA made and now they aren’t ?

Not sure. I bought mine in 2019 and it says "made in USA" right on the label... In any case mine is extremely well made, it still looks new. From what I've seen TAD likes to do what they can in the US, which comes at a cost (along with the quality).

DoctorC · Post by **DoctorC** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 8:53 pm

hidden by leaves wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 18, 2022 7:55 pm

BBK357 wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 18, 2022 4:45 pm

hidden by leaves wrote:Shagmaster ftw!!!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That looks incredible…
Wasn’t there an issue with these over the past few years, something about the used to be USA made and now they aren’t ?
Not sure. I bought mine in 2019 and it says "made in USA" right on the label... In any case mine is extremely well made, it still looks new. From what I've seen TAD likes to do what they can in the US, which comes at a cost (along with the quality).

Mine says made in USA as well.
The only issue I've had (and I've worn it a lot) is the palm pad is made of fleece and is wearing a hole through it.
Also, the side pockets (though the am sure it is for some ultra cool tactical reason) sit a little high, you can't really hold your hands in the pockets. It is the only thing I have worn that has the irresistible power of making others come up and pet me.

I picked mine up here new a few years back splitting a pack of two with our resident Canadian bagpiper!

Erratic101 · Post by **Erratic101** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 9:01 pm

toxicavenger wrote:NF is the Fossil (watches) of fleece.

I think it depends on what you get. It’s hit and miss. The campshire line is really good. While my basic zip up fleece is more meh. But as Ben said they had a 50% off for healthcare workers and I stocked up. Lol. I have a fleece beanie from them too and that thing is very warm.

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