Fleece VS Synthetic Fill Jackets: What to choose?

Over the last couple of years, the popularity of fleece jackets has decreased, and many hikers have replaced their fleece apparel with jackets insulated with synthetic fill. While synthetic fill jackets are indeed warmer for the weight and pack smaller, fleece does have certain advantages over synthetic fill. I own a fleece jacket (Mountain Hardwear…

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Fleece VS Synthetic Fill Jackets

The Best Polartec NeoShell Jackets of 2023

For aerobic activities such as mountaineering and alpine climbing you need highly breathable rainwear so you don’t soak in your own sweat during exhausting ascents. Polartec NeoShell is by all accounts the most breathable waterproof fabric currently available. Polartec launched the NeoShell fabric in 2011 and soon it became clear that it offers better air…

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Strafe Jacket - One of the best NeoShell jackets

Rainwear: Hydrostatic Head and Breathability (MVTR)

If you are buying a new rain jacket or any other waterproof garment, you may have come across terms like hydrostatic head and MVTR (Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate). While clothing brands and online shops are usually great at listing the values of these two parameters for their products, they rarely explain what MVTR and hydrostatic…

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Rainwear - Hydrostatic Head and Breathability

Best Fleece Jackets for Women in 2023

A high-quality fleece jacket can both be used as a snug mid-layer in cold weather and as an outer layer when hiking in dry weather at moderate temperatures. It can also be used as casual wear in everyday life and is thus one of the more versatile pieces of hiking clothing. In comparison to other…

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Mountain Hardwear MicroChill

Comparison of Shell Materials

A shell is the last (outer) layer of a layered clothing system and is thus worn over a base layer and a mid-layer. In warm weather the shell can also be worn directly over a base layer because insulation, which is normally provided by a mid-layer, is not required. The term “shell” is sometimes confusing…

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Pertex Shield+

The Best Hiking Fleece Jackets of 2023

When you are hiking, mountaineering or trekking you are often exposed to challenging weather conditions and thus it’s good to have high-performance clothing. A fleece jacket is a very useful garment because it provides insulation and can be worn either as an outer layer in dry weather or as a mid-layer in wet or windy…

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Best fleece jackets for men