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August 28, 2008
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Which fleece weight—100 or 200—is best for late-summer hiking?
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Down Sweater (courtesy, Patagonia)
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What weight of fleece (for a jacket) would you recommend for late-summer backpacking
in the Pacific Northwest? I’m hiking the Wonderland Trail in early September and
don’t know if 100 will be warm enough or if 200 will be overkill.
— Steve
Puyallup, Washington
Do you have a question of your own?
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 I’m half inclined to answer, “neither.” By far, my preferred
lightweight-but-warm piece these days is a down sweater. It packs up to the size
of a softball, weighs next to nothing, and is comfy down to freezing—perfect
for early autumn on the Wonderland Trail. And if it rains, well, just throw a
shell over it. Patagonia
makes a wonderful down sweater called, not surprisingly, the Patagonia Down
Sweater for $200. MontBell’s Light Down Jacket ($150) is very similar.
So I’d take that, a shell, and probably a mid-weight long-sleeve T-shirt (Marmot Midweight Crew, $40), and a
light short-sleeve tee. That would give you several combinations to wear when
hiking or loafing around camp.
If you’re set on fleece, get something 200-weight, as that offers the most
versatility. Mountain
Hardwear’s Monkey Man Jacket ($140) is an excellent piece—comfortable,
warm, and stretchy. On the bargain side, L.L. Bean’s Super
Fleece 200 ($60) is plenty of mid-weight jacket.
I hope the hike goes well for you. I know the park lost a lot of trails last
winter, but I think the route is in pretty good shape now. Early September is the
ideal time of year to do it.
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