Packable Fleece

[Jim McMurtrie]

Is there such a thing? I've decided that my April 10 start requires a fleece or something like that. I haven't bee able to find one that compressed adequately. Suggestions?

 

[caminomatt90068]

You might want to consider a fleece sweater and a wind breaker which could make things more manageable as you'll be wearing the sweater more than it'll be in the pack. But, if you're considering a jacket, I'm happy with my Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer. Folds into a ziplock bag and is light.

 

[Turga]

Hmm.. I’d say any fleece is packable. You should think in layers: Base layer, merino or tech fabric. Middle layer, (micro) fleece or ski-pull. Outer layer, windbreaker/water tight jacket.

 

[SabsP]

Hmm.. I’d say any fleece is packable. You should think in layers: Base layer, merino or tech fabric. Middle layer, (micro) fleece or ski-pull. Outer layer, windbreaker/water tight jacket.

Indeed just packed my hoodyfleece in a ziplock back ...next to my credencial.Not that bigger.

 

[Turga]

That is small!

 

[SabsP]

That is small!

Everything is possible even with my huge posture
No seriously it is a very compact fleece.
http://www.haglofs.com/fi/en-fi/womens-mid-layers-fleece/heron-jacket-women/p/603601.html

 

[FRL]

LLBean ( awesome company with a flagship store in Freeport, ME and great mail order service) sells a wonderful jacket they call "850 Down Sweater". Check it out. It weighs 10 ounces and folds into its pocket. I wore it a lot on my Camino last spring.

Francine

 

[Turga]

Everything is possible even with my huge posture

Size matters!

 

[Kitsambler]

The digital kitchen scale is your friend here. Generally speaking, down-filled will be lighter weight than fleece. Unless you're trying a Camino with a tiny (<25L) pack, compressibility isn't really a distinguishing factor.

 

[domigee]

Mine also folds back into its pocket. I have the older model and it's lighter, 270 g
https://www.rohan.co.uk/womens-trav...-Microrib-Stowaway-Jacket-aw15?ocode=03978J07
Doesn't have a hood though.

 

[Tia Valeria]

Mine also folds back into its pocket. I have the older model and it's lighter, 270 g
https://www.rohan.co.uk/womens-trav...-Microrib-Stowaway-Jacket-aw15?ocode=03978J07
Doesn't have a hood though.

Mine is also the older style. I always check out the Souk section of Rohan, or the sales for a bargain. Older colours are often available, but not the older lighter style sadly.

The ladies' version has an internal pocket the men's has an external. We both wear the ladies one just buying Terry a larger size because basically otherwise they are unisex.

 

[J F Gregory]

I do carry a marmot fleece that is very light weight. We walk the Winter time on the Camino and I never did carry a jacket. I had my fleece and a long sleeve merino shirt Plus my rain jacket that kept me sufficiently warm when the temperatures were down in the mid twentys until it warmed up to the high thirties in the day Usually by the end of the day I had shed my fleece and just was wearing my long sleeve merino under my rain jacket

 

[Jim McMurtrie]

Once again, sound information from the members. It certainly helped me in my planning.
Thanks to all!

 

[Kari204]

I backpack/section hike a lot in the Appalachian and Blue Ridge mountains so already have a lot of packable (stuffs into own pocket) type clothing. Im going in April as well and taking my Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer. It’s a 800 down filled puffy jacket that packs (stuffs) into one of the side hand pockets. It weighs 7.2 oz (203 grams), has a hood (they also make a hoodless version), and stuffed dimensions are about 7 inches by 4 inches. The men’s version might pack out a little bigger but not much. It’s very deceiving, it looks and feels paper thin, but is extremely warm while hiking never been cold while wearing it. They are pricey but if u do a lot of hiking or overnight backpacking it’s worth the weight/warmth/price/comression ratio to me anyway. It’s water resistant but not water proof. If raining I’ll wear my wind/rain jacket (MH Ghost Lite) over top which also packs (stuffs) into its own pocket about 3 inches by 3 inches and weighs 3 ounces (85grams) again men’s version might pack out a little bigger.

 

[jmcarp]

Down can't be beat for warmth/weight/packability, but it is expensive and unless it's one of the newer treated types, it loses its insulation value when wet--so always have a waterproof shell handy if you're wearing down. I found a really super down sweater with hood at an overstock store for less than US$30 that's become my favorite layering item. As an alternative, a lightweight microfleece shirt can do double duty as a warm shirt for evening wear on the Camino and as a layering garment with a rain shell on those cool, damp mornings in Galicia.

 

[Waka]

I use a full zip marino fleece, nice and lightweight packs down small and is a good layer, expensive but in my view worth it.

 

[alaskadiver]

I don't hike with fleece. It's too heavy. I carried an REI synthetic jacket similar to the Patagonia Nano Puff. They are insulating and wind resistant. Pack down very small and weigh less than heavy fleece jackets. I wear mine with just a light wool long sleeve sweater in temps down to 35 degrees and I'm comfortable standing around. Layering is the key.
As others have said, Down is expensive and once wet you are screwed.

 

[Sixwheeler]

The Rohan is very good, I have several. In fact I find all Rohan is very good.
Ultreïa.

 

[HedaP]

I backpack/section hike a lot in the Appalachian and Blue Ridge mountains so already have a lot of packable (stuffs into own pocket) type clothing. Im going in April as well and taking my Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer. It’s a 800 down filled puffy jacket that packs (stuffs) into one of the side hand pockets. It weighs 7.2 oz (203 grams), has a hood (they also make a hoodless version), and stuffed dimensions are about 7 inches by 4 inches. The men’s version might pack out a little bigger but not much. It’s very deceiving, it looks and feels paper thin, but is extremely warm while hiking never been cold while wearing it. They are pricey but if u do a lot of hiking or overnight backpacking it’s worth the weight/warmth/price/comression ratio to me anyway. It’s water resistant but not water proof. If raining I’ll wear my wind/rain jacket (MH Ghost Lite) over top which also packs (stuffs) into its own pocket about 3 inches by 3 inches and weighs 3 ounces (85grams) again men’s version might pack out a little bigger.

Hi Kari, I was interested in the Ghost Lite because it is sooo light but when I looked it up it is labeled ‘weather resistant’. Is it waterproof in the sometimes all day torrential rain that can happen in Spain?
Thanks
H

 

[Kari204]

Hi Kari, I was interested in the Ghost Lite because it is sooo light but when I looked it up it is labeled ‘weather resistant’. Is it waterproof in the sometimes all day torrential rain that can happen in Spain?
Thanks
H

Hi Heda, I’ve had no problems with the Ghost Lite in hard rains along the AT. But for comparison the AT is very well covered (national forest) except above tree line on ridges where I’ve encountered some pretty nasty storms and it held up great and kept me and my down puffy dry maybe 2 hours before I was back under tree line.
With that in mind the Camino is very wide open (not a lot of tree cover) so hours on end in a severe downpour it will prob leak thru eventually but in those conditions I think any rain gear would including gortex.
To be on safe side and to ensure my puffy stays dry I might pair it with either a marmot rain jacket (gortex) or Outdoor Research Helium II. I don’t own the helium so can’t comment to their effectiveness but their advertised as 100% waterproof, packable and 5.5oz.

 

[Kanga]

My system is 1. long sleeve silk/merino mix (both in winter and summer) 2. merino sweater or cardigan 3. Patagonia Houdini jacket (light and windproof) 4. Altus poncho.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

Is there such a thing? I've decided that my April 10 start requires a fleece or something like that. I haven't bee able to find one that compressed adequately. Suggestions?

Check out either or both Craghoppers and / or Regatta Great Outdoors. I swear by both and own several 1/4 zipper pullovers and a Regatta Great Outdoors rain jacket which I purchased in SJPdP Summer 2016.

Both together have been tested to 5 deg C and work fine to keep me warm as lonhg as I continue moving. Any warmer clothing would cause sweating but at least the pullover would wick moisture away from your skin and keep you warmer, even if wet, though it effectiveness diminishes. Any sweater or jacket / coat will do that.

 

[David Tallan]

We walk the Winter time on the Camino and I never did carry a jacket. ...the temperatures were down in the mid twentys until it warmed up to the high thirties in the day

We had the same temperatures in July and August on the CF and never wore our fleeces.

 

[JillGat]

If you have a raincoat, which presumably you will, then down has no disadvantages. I don't stuff it in its pocket; I load my pack and then shove the jacket down to fill up any empty spaces on the sides. I do the same with my rain jacket and they are easy to pull out when needed. Down is comfortable in a wider temperature range than fleece or other synthetics.

 

[katie@camino]

My system is 1. long sleeve silk/merino mix (both in winter and summer) 2. merino sweater or cardigan 3. Patagonia Houdini jacket (light and windproof) 4. Altus poncho.

kanga, is this what you wear when walking in winter? where do you buy items 1 and 2? i.e. what brand? luckily i already have 3 and 4.

 

[gerardcarey]

kanga, is this what you wear when walking in winter? where do you buy items 1 and 2? i.e. what brand? luckily i already have 3 and 4.

Not from ALDI.
That stuff is too flash for the likes of us plebs.

 

[Kanga]

@katie@camino I buy the silk/merino mix from a mob in NZ called Silk Body. Expensive, but justified if you are going to do a few caminos. The merino cardigan is an old DJ's own brand one. It now has a few darn patches. But any merino will do. Including Aldi @gerardcarey !

 

[trecile]

I have an inexpensive merino cardigan I bought from Uniqlo.