Wrap yourself in comfort with proper jacket

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March 11, 1999

Wrap yourself in comfort with proper jacket

By KRISTIN HOSTETTER
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER

I'm one of those unfortunate people who always seems to be cold. My sleeping bag is never too hot, I always wear a hat to bed, and I'm never caught without an extra layer of puffy warm stuff in my pack.

But the type of insulation I pack depends on the weather forecast and the time of year.

Here's a rundown of the types of jackets available, the situations they're best suited for and what features you should look for in each.

Fleece: Most every outdoor lover has a fleece jacket, and with good reason. Synthetic fleece is warm, lightweight, fairly compact and supremely versatile. Plus, it dries quickly, retains some warmth even when wet, and is relatively inexpensive.

You can opt for either a pullover style, which tends to cost and weigh less, or a zippered jacket, which offers you better ventilation capability. Or, for the milder seasons, a fleece vest may be all you need to keep your torso warm.

Fleece comes in a variety of thicknesses. Choose a thicker "300"weight if you tend toward the chilly side, like me, or a lighter-weight "microfleece" if your internal furnace runs hot.

Windproof fleece: This type of fleece incorporates a membrane inside that cuts the wind. Windproof fleeces don't breathe as well as their non-windproof siblings, but they add an extra bit of warmth for cold-blooded folks. If you go with a windproof fleece, you may want to opt for armpit and full-length front zippers to gain the most ventilation possibilities.

Lined wind shell: This type of jacket is mostly designed for the "multisport" athlete, because it is ideal for everything from mountain biking to running to cross-country skiing -- anything that is highly aerobic.

As the name implies, lined wind shells feature a water-repellent, windproof outer shell with a fuzzy synthetic lining that wicks sweat away from your body.

Armpit zips are a smart feature for this type of jacket, because when you're wearing it you'll be working up a healthy sweat. Also look for roomy hand-warmer pockets and a hood.

Synthetic insulation: Puffy jackets filled with Polarguard 3D, Primaloft or another synthetic insulation are sort of like sleeping bags for your upper body. They pack up nicely, and the extra loft affords more warmth than a fleece jacket.

You'll find trimly cut jackets meant to be layered underneath your shell jacket or roomy, parka-cut jackets (often called "belay jackets") that are designed to be thrown on over everything when your teeth start chattering at chilly rest breaks.

Down jackets: BTU for BTU, down packs the most heat into the smallest, lightest package. For dead-of-the-winter trips, a puffy down jacket will bring you the most comfort.

You'll have to take care not to get your down jacket wet because if you do, you'll have a sodden pile of feathers that provides no insulation. Some down jackets feature water-resistant shells, a great idea if you foresee yourself wearing one without the protection of a rain jacket.

Also, many down jackets come with removable hoods, which let you cuddle up inside like an Eskimo. On nearly every trip I take, you'll find either a down jacket or a down vest in my pack.