Fleece Jackets

A Cold Morning on the Highline Trail - Remember Your Fleece???

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I'm very thankful that sheep are part of this world. See, without sheep, there would be no shearling wool. And without shearling wool, there would be no fleece jackets. And that would be ashame, because fleece jackets (or at least good ones), are one of the greatest inventions for a hiker since the invention of uphill trail elevators.

People visiting Montana during the summer often times forget one rather crucial piece of equipment - warm clothing. Montana can get rather cold during the summer - particularly at night and in the early morning hours. This is especially true in higher valley locations, such as Yellowstone National Park, or up in the mountains. While your standard cotton jackets work well enough if you'll be primarily hanging around hotels or car camping, these jackets fail miserably the minute you step out into the backcountry. Read below to find out why.

Fleece Jackets for Men - Some Recommendations

Fleece Jackets for Women - Some Suggested Products

Cotton - Just Say "No"

Well, I'll have no friends in "cotton country" for saying this, but too bad, so sad. Cotton, to put it simply, stinks for virtually any backcountry use - both literally and figuratively. Cotton jackets are a big no-no for backcountry travel in Montana - period. Cotton jackets absorb moisture; both from perspiration and from external sources such as rain. And when cotton jackets get wet, the jackets become completely useless. A wet cotton jacket will only not keep you warm but can even make you colder, greatly increasing the probability of hypothermia - even during the summer.

Because cotton is such a useless garment for serious backcountry trips, and cotton jackets are no exception to this, a quality fleece jacket is highly recommended. Unlike cotton, fleece allows you to retain body heat, even when the jacket is wet. Fleece jackets also dry out very quickly when they are wet, much the opposite of cotton jackets which seemingly take forever to dry. Fleece jackets are also much warmer and, I think, more comfortable than cotton jackets.

Fleece jackets and other fleece clothing are perfect for day hikes, river float trips and extended backpacks. Fleece jackets are easy to clean, dry fast and also make wonderful pillows.

Overall, if you are serious about outdoor adventures, get a good quality fleece jacket - not a fly by night Wal-Mart special which uses very low quality fleece (after getting one, you'll understand what I mean).

When shopping around for a fleece jacket, the main thing is to make sure that the jacket fits, obviously. Also look for fleece jackets that are meant for hiking, as these types of jackets pack down into smaller packages.

Choosing the style of fleece jackets is really up to the user. Both pullover fleece jackets and zip-up fleece jackets are available. Both work equally well for hiking and backpacking purposes, so choose a style that works best for you.

Fleece Jackets for Men - Some Recommendations

Fleece Jackets for Women - Some Suggested Products

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