Owner Review Beyond Fleece Windblock Fleece Jacket

 

Manufacturer: Beyond Fleece

Year: 2003

Website: http://www.beyondfleece.com/

Listed Weight: 22 oz (0.62 kg)

Delivered Weight: 22 oz

Purchased:  Fall 2003

Description:  Custom made hooded Windblock fleece jacket

                     I can't recall exactly what I paid but it was around

                     $160 including shipping.

MSRP:  Custom jacket so price varies greatly

Reviewer Profile: 

Name:  Mike Little

Age:  58

Gender: Male

Height:  5’9” (1.75 m)

Weight: 160 lb (72.5 kg)

Email: Mentalfloss1(at)yahoo(dot)com

City/State: West Linn, Oregon

Country: USA

Date: 2/12/2005

 

            Beyond Fleece has an easy-to-use website that allowed me to custom build outdoor clothing.  I selected materials, colors, and accessories such as left/right, inner/outer zip pockets, pit zips, attached or detachable hood, and so on.  I included a set of tailor's measurements of my body.  I had help for that part as it’s difficult to take some measurements by myself.  I sent this all off to the Beyond Fleece website and they whipped up a well built custom made article of clothing in short order.  They do allow for a mistake in measuring but I had no trouble getting mine right.  Measure twice however.

 

            The jacket is very warm, not meant to be worn in barely cool weather.  It's most comfortable below 40 F (4.5 C) or in somewhat warmer temperatures with a stiff wind.  I've worn it in the late fall, winter, and early spring while on snowshoe trips in the northern Oregon Cascades and in the North Cascades in Washington.  I also wore it on a September backpack in the Wind River Range in Wyoming but it may have been overkill much of the time.  However, on some 18 F (-7 C) mornings and in the passes above 11,000 feet (3350 m) it was very windy (Wind River Range) and the jacket felt great.  I've worn it when it was drizzling and it kept me dry but I suspect that after a while the wind blocking membrane would leak.  It's not designed to be raingear.   If the jacket does get wet it dries quickly.  As I live in the Pacific Northwest this is important.

 

            Beyond Fleece has options for material other than what I ordered.  Mine is medium-weight fleece with a 98% Windblock.  They have options in both the weight of the fleece and with or without Windblock and they offer 100% Windblock  I got the reduced Windblock so it would breathe more and I like the choice.

 

                The workmanship on my jacket is excellent.  I've had no problems with any part of it.  The fit is superb, especially the articulated attached hood.   I can turn and tilt my head all day and the hood doesn't slip over my face or off my ears.  I got mine with a left exterior chest pocket and a left interior chest pocket.  They easily hold a medium-size digital camera, sunglasses, or other odds and ends.  There are two zipped, slit hand warmer pockets and long pit zips.  The zipper pulls are perhaps a bit small to use with heavy gloves but I added a small metal loop to one and that took care of my camera pocket.  I especially like the chest pockets.  They keep my camera dry and the battery warm and it's always handy and not buried under my pack’s shoulder straps.  The pit zips are long and allow great ventilation.

 

            Tailor's measurements include height, weight, torso length, sleeve length, waist, chest, shoulder, neck and hips.  It’s easy to instruct them to make the jacket fit over layers or request that it be cut longer or whatever.

 

            My daughter also purchased a similar, but warmer jacket from Beyond Fleece.  The first one she received was too small and it was probably due to an error on her part.  Beyond Fleece did make her a new jacket at no charge when she returned her first one.  She loves the one she has.  She gets cold easier than I do but she doesn't get cold in this jacket.

 

            Beyond Fleece recommends using Nikwax cleaning and treatment products and I’ve done that.  The jacket still looks good, isn’t pilled, and has no bad odors.  The Beyond Fleece warranty is quite simple: “Any defects in materials or workmanship are covered for the lifetime of the product. Product damaged through neglect or misuse will be repaired at a nominal charge.”

 

            I'd say that although the jacket was more expensive than an off-the-shelf model I'll buy another jacket from Beyond Fleece when this one needs replacing.  The custom features and fit and the quality make it worth it I believe.  They also make pants, shells and pullovers.  Check out their site: http://www.beyondfleece.com