[pct-l] R

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

Sounds good to me. I've never seen a Compressor jacket. So if it's  
better than fleece, I'd go with that.

I've never been very into fleece. I never understood what all the  
fuss was about. I've kept warm in down jackets, even in rain.  
Recently I got a fleece and was pretty happy with the performance  
when wet. I had it strapped to my fanny pack in the rain. It got wet  
but still felt warm when I put it on. But you are right they offer no  
warmth in the wind.

Anyway, one or the other but I agree both is really overkill, unless  
you need a drool pillow. :)

On Mar 22, 2011, at 6:07 PM, Timothy Nye wrote:

> I've got a different take on the Compressor than Diane.  I used  
> that jacket
> in 2009.  Since then I've obtained the Montbell down sweater to  
> which, in my
> opinion, the compressor is most comparable.  I really like the  
> Compressor
> and I continue to use it around town a lot.  It's pretty much my go to
> jacket.  In fact, I got a comment  from my wife because she thinks  
> it's
> beginning to look a little ratty.  I just like the jacket.
>
> I know that you asked Diane.  You can tell me to mind my own  
> business if you
> want, but I'd keep the Compressor rather than the fleece.  Here's why:
>
> 1. Fleece is bulky, the Compressor does just that; it compresses.   
> Not as
> much as down, but still.
>
> 2. Fleece doesn't offer much in the way of wind protection; you  
> have to use
> your shell in order to have warmth when it's windy.  That makes a  
> poncho
> less of an acceptable option, at least to me.
>
> 3.  Even compared to a Montbell down sweater ( at 7 oz for L ), I  
> believe
> that the Compressor is warmer.  True, it weighs about 5 oz. more  
> ( and I'm a
> real gram weenie - so if you saw my gear list you'd know for me  
> this is
> saying something ) but the cuffs cinch tight as does the waist and  
> even the
> collar ( with that little cord pull in the back of the collar),  It  
> has two
> handwarmer pockets as well as an inside pocket.  I think that these  
> extra
> features go a long way to explain the weight disparity between  
> these two
> items.
>
> 4.  If money is no object, you could explore a hooded Flash from  
> Western
> Mountaineering; it comes in between the two in terms of weight, has  
> that
> great hood, and two hand warmer pockets, which I think the compressor
> actually surpasses.  But then again, you might spend time worrying  
> about
> your gear getting wet and until you feel comfortable independently  
> assessing
> your gear, I'd go with what makes you feel safe.
>
> 5.  You can always take both and mail one or the other home when at  
> Mt.
> Laguna, Warner Springs or even Kick Off for that matter