UKC

The Caldus XT hooded fleece provides warmth comparable to lightweight down or synthetic jackets, while maintaining excellent breathability, says John McKenna - and this makes it an ideal choice for active winter days in the hills.

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I often see garments like this with the pile on the outside ? Why are they made like that ? I can't think what the advantages might be. My old HH pile jackets have the pile on the inside, don't block the wind, and give the same comfort as this new Montane product. Their exterior started out smooth, but are now a sea of bobbles.

The review didn't have photos of the inside of the garment - pile there too ?

Anyway, just curious as to why there's pile on the outside. (Unless, I suppose, it's to create a micro-climate, much like the fur edging on winter parkas.)

Fashion

Yes, it is piled on the inside and outside of the fleece, exactly as the close up shows but internally.

From what I know there are a few reasons why piling is often on the outside (contrary to Ennerdaleblonde's comment):

• better wicking of moisture from skin
• allows piling to loft easier
• if worn as a external layer it generally will wear less compared to rubbing against a base layer

Although for the case of the Caldus XT piling both internally and externally I'm assuming it will be primarily to increase it's warmth.

Thanks John. Pondering on it further, I suppose that when a windproof layer is added, with this jacket, one would have two layers of pile - the inside, and now the outside which is now not losing heat cos wind kept at bay.

Thanks for the additional info.

Apart from better wicking, the intention might have been to protect or increase the insulating boundary layer of air next to it, like in fur. Whether that actually happens with most designs or is just wishful thinking I have no idea.

One downside for me is that furry fleece is a magnet for ice, freezing sleet and snow. Not a fan of wearing 2 kg of frozen "fur" myself

I suspect that there probably is some small merit to that boundary layer, like MisterPiggy said re creating a small micro-climate. 

Yes, that downside is one for sure, although in those conditions I would always tend to have a more protective layer over any sort of fleece - but I take your point. It is something that I actually ran into this weekend on Curved Ridge where it was that funny in-between sort of conditions where a shell wasn't quite warranted at times but my wrist/forearm areas in the fleece were taking on a bit more snow/ice than a regular fleece would do as they were brushing against snow. Any more than this though and it's time for a shell over top as I'd not want to get to the point where I'm 2kg heavier, and much colder ha.

I've added this in retrospectively as it is worth pointing out comparatively to other fleeces. Thanks Frank

You can still get tops like this such as Patagonia R2 techface, mountain equipment and others ?Those are much more windproof and water resistant so better for stand alone use but take longer to dry and less breathable when used under a shell. Although if it's cold enough for a fleece such as this you'd generally tend to have some form of windproof over the top

Pile fleece plus a windshirt is a near perfect combo for me in dry cold conditions. Great balance of warmth and wicking. (Mountain Equipment Moreno and Paramo Fuera smock are my current combo).

Snap ! Same here, can't beat that type of combo, for me it's an old (discontinued I think) Patagonia R2 or grid fleece plus usually Montane featherlite windproof over the top. I think the 'active insulation' tops (that have an inner face fabric) tend to not move moisture quick enough and/or not windproof enough.

The new pile fleece and a windproof seems to be polartec alpha. And depending on the circumstances, it just works for me better than the old one...

If you look at modern lightweight active insulation tech like Alpha Direct. It’s  often mounted on a mesh, which enables it to be lighter and far more breathable than anything with an outer shell etc.  It means you can wear them over a much wider temperature range and exertion levels without overheating or getting excessive moisture build up inside.

I’ve  worn my Rab Flash jacket at 15C in the rain with nothing over the top, and at -6C in the sun with a windproof over the top.  I’d imagine, if this jacket has a similar construct and breathability, it too will allow it to be worn over a wide if lower temperature range.

I am  a big fan of vaporise and my 2003 smock is still going. But sometimes I want the wind proofing and insulation separated.

I have one of these I use in conjunction with an ME Frontier softshell. Warm, highly breathable, windproof, water resistant, tough outer, what's not to like. On its own its far more robust than a down or pertex shelled synthetic insulation, and is permeable you you're cool enough on an approach.

Ah, but there was a posher version of the Helly pile jacket that had fleece on both sides