Why I Stopped Backpacking In Fleece
Backpacking requires finding a balance between comfort and adventure while in the elements. There’s no one size fits all solution to anything out there and there’s certainly no way to be perfectly comfortable in all situations. If comfort is what you want, then staying home is likely your best bet however, if adventure is what you want then you need to work on finding what makes you feel as comfortable as you can be when not in ideal conditions.
I’ve been fortunate enough to spend a lot of time working out the details of how I stay comfortable in the backcountry and when I finally ditched all things fleece, everything changed for the better.
My History (and struggle) with Fleece
Growing up in the PNW, everyone wore fleece literally everywhere. I'm not sure if there was just a big boom in production or what, but brands like Columbia Sportswear just cranked out production on fleece pullovers like it was going out of style. As a result, I just assumed that's what you needed to wear to stay warm outside. So, I wore fleece mid-layers, a fleece hat, fleece gloves, and whatever other kinds of fleece items I could get my hands on.
There was one major problem though, I was never really that comfortable, but I didn't know any better because that's what I had. I just assumed everyone was sweaty all the time and that was how things were. You don’t know what you don’t know, right?
When I started backpacking and hunting more, I naturally wore fleece, sweated a lot, and had trouble regulating my body temperature throughout the day. If you don't know if you're having trouble with regulating your body or not, just think of how often you have to stop to take a layer off or put one on. If you're like me, it was nearly every half-mile.
I would heat up quickly, get sweaty, stop to take my fleece item or items off, and that cold sweat would cool me off way too quick so I'd have to stop again at some point and put the fleece back on. It was terrible and I was uncomfortable anytime I was hiking anywhere even if it was mild conditions. The worst was hiking in for a hunt in the dark, getting sweaty, and sitting there for an hour waiting for the sun to come up freezing my tail off. Misery town, population 1.
Regardless of weather, I’m always impressed with how well Merino wool regulates my body temperature.
I hiked all 500 miles of Washington along the PCT in a Merino wool t-shirt and mid-layer. It was by far the most comfortable I had been since Mexico.
Learning About Merino Wool
I don’t recall how learned of or why I tried wearing Merino as a mid-layer, but I'm glad I finally did. It was probably because I was searching far and wide for how to improve my experience in the backcountry and eventually ran into some information on Merino.
Merino wool comes in a lot of different weights and blends and it's a great alternative to fleece. Basically anything fleece does, merino can do. It’s a version of wool that isn’t so itchy and is much lighter than what a normal wool fabric would be.
Since Merino is wool, it has the properties of wool. That means it has the ability to manage and regulate your body temperature much better than a synthetic material does. If merino gets wet or sweaty, it retains its ability to keep you warm unlike materials like cotton which sucks the heat right out of your soul. Merino wool has a way of keeping my body temperature at a more constant state instead of fluctuating wildly anytime I start or stop moving.
Once I switched everything over to Merino, I noticed I wasn't having to stop as often to layer up or layer down, I wasn't as sweaty, wasn't as cold, and my body wasn't working overtime trying to regulate itself. My overall comfort drastically improved and since merino is naturally antimicrobial, it won't stink even after days of wearing it.
This was a cold and windy moment in November. Merino wool agains my skin with a mid-layer and insulation over that. Nice and toasty!
What I Look For In Merino and How I Wear It
Once I learned how well Merino wool works for me, I started replacing all my fleece items with it. Hats, gloves, base layers, mid-layers, neck warmers, and socks. You name it, I swapped it out. It is now my go-to layering system from bottom to top and I no longer struggle with regulating my body temperature.
Since Merino comes in a variety of weights and blends, you’ll want to take a look at the specs before pulling the trigger. I personally avoid wearing 100% merino because it tends to stretch out pretty badly after a while and won't maintain its shape or structure. Instead of 100%, I look for a blend just to help keep the shape and to retain durability. My favorite Merino mid-layers are between 200 to 250 grams in terms of fabric weight and my base layers (and shirts) are probably around 150 or so. I tend to go lighter weight on base layers unless it’s really cold out.
As you go lighter with the material weight of Merino, you'll for sure want to get a blend or it just won't last. The fabric can’t maintain its durability when spun so thin at 100% and you’ll either quickly get holes or the seams will begin to tear. This is why for lightweight Merino applications, manufacturers will blend in a synthetic material to help improve that durability.
The heavier weights of 200 or above are fine at 100% because the fabric is thick enough to maintain durability, but I personally like a little blend in there for retaining the structure of a garment (I can’t stand something that stretches out).
The only thing you need to look out for in blends is the ratio of synthetic to Merino. The less merino in the blend, the less you're getting the benefits of merino like less stink and heat retention/regulation. It’s not that it won’t work or that it’s all for nothing if you have 25% Merino and 75% Poly, but it’s hard for me to argue you’re getting the full benefit of Merino at that point.
I'm fine going down to 65% merino, but beyond that, you might as well just get a synthetic shirt. I try to stay around 80% merino if it's going to be a base layer or mid-layer. Hats, gloves, socks, or a neck warmer can be whatever you like.
Final Thoughts and Advice
First Lite Kiln Hoody
Episode 128 of my podcast is all about Merino wool. I was joined by the lead designer at Ibex and learned a ton about this amazing fiber.
Merino wool has drastically increased my overall comfort and enjoyment in the backcountry and is now a staple in my pack out anytime I leave my house headed for the trailhead. For me, it works extremely well and it might work for you too, but you’ll have to be the one to decide that. Everyone’s body is different so depending on how your body regulates its temperature and what it needs to stay comfortable, results may vary.
Now, Merino wool is certainly not cheap, but it is a natural fiber, and when compared to a polyester fleece material, it’s more environmentally friendly. If you’re interested in trying a Merino wool layer, I’d suggest shopping clearance sales or watching for sales that occur after a winter or summer season has ended. You can easily save 30-40% by waiting a little longer to pull the trigger on your purchase.
If you’re wanting suggestions on where to start shopping for Merino, keep scrolling down to check out some links!
Emory, By Land
Where To Buy Merino Wool
Here’s a list of some of my go-to Merino options and where I shop when looking to add to my kit. Some of the links in this article are affiliate links meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
