| Pros: |
Deep chest zip, Looong sleeves, Moderate insulation, Nice high collar, Outer face sheds snow, Stretchy
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| Cons: |
Collar cuffs grab snow
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I have 2 of these, one about 4 yrs old, the other bought last year. I wear them for ice climbing, backpacking, snowshoeing or skiing, and for travel. This is a good mid layer for cold weather activities. Fabric stretches for movement, sheds snow better than other fleece, and is at least a little wind-resistant. The design is also cut for movement, with long sleeves that don't ride up, a shoulder cut that keeps the bottom from pulling up when you reach, a deep chest zip that allows venting. The collar is a high cut that keeps the cold air off my neck. The single chest pocket is easy to access and holds quite a lot of stuff. The blue of my newest one is nice enough that I wear the top as a sweater as well as for adventure stuff. The only negative I can think of is that on the new version (bought 2008), the fabric is rolled at the top of the collar and ends of the sleeves so that the fuzzy side faces out. This gathers snow in a way the smooth outer face does not. Don't know why they did this (my older one doesn't have it), but they should stop. It makes for a wet collar and/or wet sleeves. Despite that one negative, I love these tops and wear them all through the cold season. Best Uses: Backpacking, Ice alpine climbing, Travel