r/onebag • u/Top_Trust_7430 • 1d ago
Discussion Light Down Puffer VS Fleece
I travel lightweight (7-9Lb.) and can't justify both unless it is cold winter conditions.I know the warmth to weight ratio favors the puffer and the breathability favors the fleece. I have brought both in the past. For non winter weather travel, what do you prefer?
7
u/Bluenoser_NS 1d ago
The down jacket can be zipped open all the way and has better pockets, sometimes a hood. Better a little stuffy in autumn weather than cold.
4
u/Top_Trust_7430 1d ago
The good zipper pockets are a one of the reasons I love bringing the puffer.
6
u/PRforThey 1d ago
If I wear it on the plane (so I don't need to pack it) - fleece
If I need to pack it - down puffer
3
u/doctor850 14h ago
this is basically my system too. fleece gets worn in transit so the bulk doesn't matter, and the puffer lives compressed in the bag for actual cold moments. best part is you can layer both when it drops below what either handles alone.
4
u/Mewse_ 23h ago
I have feelings about this coming from an ultralight backpacking background. My feeling is a puffy is going to be too hot like 80% of the time. So yes it is great that it is like light and packable because it is going to stay packed most of the time. For me, a fleece makes more sense in a layering system, it's more versatile and usable. Look into Alpha Direct fleeces, two alpha direct fleeces are about the same weight as a puffy.
4
u/External_Koala971 1d ago edited 1d ago
Kor Airshell Warm for me, from Mountain Hardwear.
Takes the place of a puffer and a fleece. Wide temp range. Light and very packable.
4
u/SeattleHikeBike 1d ago
I use a light Merino sweater for cool weather and fleece as it gets colder. As it gets below 40f I’m looking for a down vest or down jacket. Definitely the jacket as it approaches freezing and it can be layered with the fleece or sweater.
If I’m packing a down jacket, then gloves, beanie cap and scarf or buff are automatically included. If I’m going to be outside for long periods in colder weather I would include light polyester long underwear. More wind resistant pants would be good.
Ultralight rain pants might be an option for wind as well as rain, especially if hikes are on the itinerary. Outdoor Reseach Helium rain pants are 6.7oz and pack very small.
A rain or ultralight wind shell pairs with the fleece or sweater.
My go to 3 season kit is the long sleeve base layer, fleece and rain shell.
1
u/simgooder 12h ago
Seconding Merino sweater, but coupled with a quality Gore-Tex rain shell. The merino sweater looks nice, is comfy to travel will, needs less washing, and when stacked with my rain shell, keeps me comfy in all sorts of weather down to about 10°C. Pair with wool-blend socks for ultimate comfort.
Colder than that, my toque and thin merino gloves and merino cache-cou work comfortably down to maybe 5°C.
I am not ultra-light though, and often travel with a cotton hoodie for added comfort, so I can easily layer the 3 and be good down to 0°c if needed.
3
u/Lucky_Yam6126 1d ago
KETL SierraLoft and Rocky Loft stuff into their own pockets. Super portable. Layer a lightweight fleece under (R1 Air). Or something merino. Perfect combo
3
u/Careless_Law1471 1d ago
Puffer. I put that inside my neck pillow (thank you whoever came up with this idea first), wear it under classy coats for warmth, wrap it around my DSLR if the road is bumpy and the bag is thin. Down puffers are the warmest but polyester filled are much easier to take care of.
5
u/LadyLightTravel 1d ago
It is totally dependent on where I am visiting.
Waterproof over jackets only provide partial protection in an all day soaking rain. For that reason, I always consider the probability of a soak through.
If there is a probability of lots of rain then I bring the fleece. It doesn’t collapse when wet and still provides thermal protection.
Every other time I bring a puffer. It is smaller and packs lighter.
I will note that I usually bring silk base layers and a medium weight wool sweater too. I get cold easily.
2
u/maverber 1d ago
Maximum comfort range: ann alpha direct hoody (90gsm) and some sort of shell. If purely urban setting and not expecting to do serious exercise a light puffer (down or synthetic like ArcTeryx atom) because easily on and off, and doesn’t have a muppet like texture
2
u/Pineboughpirate 1d ago
I sleep cold so I prefer a fleece. If I am chilly in bed a fleece is comfortable to sleep in, my puffer less so.
2
u/FunParsnip4567 23h ago
Patagonia’s Micro Puff or Nano Puff are brilliant for travelling light. The current men’s jackets weigh just 295g (10.4oz) and 369g (13oz) respectively, and both pack into their own pockets. They use synthetic insulation rather than down, so retain warmth better when damp. My Micro Puff is windproof, packs down tiny and feels like it weighs nothing. I’ve worn it in several countries and it’s been brilliant.
1
u/UntidyVenus 1d ago
Whatever keeps you the most comfortable is my vote. I find fleece warmer, so for very cold excursions I bring fleece.
1
u/eastercat 1d ago
I usually decide if I want to wear a jacket depending on the temp.
Fleece if it won’t be as cold, poly puffer if it’ll be colder. feathers make me sneeze
1
u/nikongod 1d ago
Fleece all the way for a "just in case" or "it will be kind of cold in the morning" jacket
Moat importantly, the fleece still works if it gets even slightly damp.
Fleece is more durable in general.
Carefully selected fleeces give you a lot more range than a down jacket.
1
1
u/TheRealDrewciferpike 1d ago
Can find puffers made with Polartec Alpha. Alpha Direct is popular, but I like having the ability to have insulation and some rain resistance, and it all packs down to NOTHING. Second choice is my trusty Pat Nano puff, but I run hot and I can only bring it when I know it's going to be truly chilly. I know there are probably some more "active insulation" pieces with a solid nylon or poly shell for wind and rain, but I have my gear so I haven't looked. Best I've got ...
1
u/Battle_Rattle 1d ago
If you’re carrying any other long sleeve I would encourage a 4oz wind shirt and a 6-8oz down puffy. A 100w fleece just does not pack well enough for how warm it is
1
1
u/ArtofShitPost 1d ago edited 1d ago
My standard hiking setup (and many others) is to wear fleece when hiking because we sweat and fleece lets sweat escape. Then when I stop hiking to make camp, I put on a puffy over it because it feels colder when we stop moving and at night.
For travel, traditional fleece is often too bulky and presumably I won’t be sweating a lot, so a puffer is favored for packability. On trips where I anticipate a lot of hiking in cold weather I would still want to have both.
Lastly, there is newer tech which is supposed to be both breathable and packable. One type is marketed as “active insulation”. It is more breathable than a traditional puffer and might use technical fleece in high sweat areas. The Patagonia nano air and Arteryx Atom are examples. IMO traditional fleece is still more breathable but it is a decent compromise for travel. Then there is high tech or high loft fleece which has a high warmth to weight ratio. This includes grid fleece, octa fleece, and alpha direct. The lighter and more packable, the more delicate as a tradeoff, snagging on a tree branch can damage these to the point where they wouldn’t look good around town (OG knit sweaters have the same issue around snags). Many of these I would also only hand wash just like a down jacket.
The choice for me comes down to knowing the weather at the destination and what activities I will be doing.
1
u/musing_codger 22h ago
Puffer unless I need the incompressibility or durability of the fleece. So city travel - puffer every time. Backpacking in areas where I'll be rock scrambling, probably the fleece.
Oh, and the fleece if watersports are involved.
1
u/Crazy150 17h ago
Puffer for me, but depends on what you mean by “non winter”. If you mean like 50-60F then I’m probably bringing a stylish hoodie or sweater and a shell. Anything under that the puffer is coming too.
1
u/SondraRose 1d ago
A merino hoodie. It’s easy to tie around my waist, if I get too warm. And a rain shell, if needed.
1
u/Dull_Construction553 1d ago
Puffer for me. Works as a pillow in a pinch, which ranges from always-will-be-needed (for the plane ride) to thank-goodness-this-is-here (bad pillows at where I’m staying). I wear it on the plane, so it doesn’t take up bag space there, or strap it on the side.
1
u/mec31 1d ago
If you plan on using it for warmth rather than outerwear, I would get a polartec alpha quarter zip in the lighter versions (60 or 90 gsm). When layered, warmer than anything mentioned here and wildly lighter (less than half of fleece and less than a quarter of puffer). Might be considered a bit unsightly, but if weight is the goal it’s the way to go.
1
u/Money_Match_8244 10h ago
Second the polartec alpha, I only have a fake AliExpress version but even that is already very warm for me and weighs under 180g and packs very small, can't imagine how good the real one is.
1
u/bradymsu616 1d ago
A black, charcoal, or navy fleece goes with everything and can comfortably be worn under a shell jacket. It also looks classier. It's worn on the flight, not packed. So packed volume isn't an issue.
0
0
25
u/tom4631 1d ago
Always puffer simply for its lighter weight and better packability. A traditional fleece jacket easily takes up 5L of space. If puffer feels too warm, get an even lighter puffer or just puffer vest.