1)Tester Background and Contact Information

Name: Curt Peterson
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight: 270 lb (122 kg)
Email address: curt<at>boopants<dot>com
Location: North Bend, Washington, USA

I live in the Cascade foothills, just 20 mi (32 km) from the Pacific Crest Trail via trails leading right from my backyard. My outdoor time in Washington is spent dayhiking, backpacking, climbing, and skiing everywhere from the Olympic coast to rainforests to Cascade volcanoes to dry steppe. I played football in college and often evaluate products from a big guy perspective. My typical pack load ranges from 11 - 20 lbs (5 - 9 kg) and usually includes plenty of wet weather gear.

2) Warm-n-Cozy Better-than-Fleece Specifications

Convertible Sweater Size: XXL
Sweater Total Weight- Manufacturer Spec: 13.4 oz (380 g) for size Large
Sweater Total Weight - Measured Spec: 14.1 oz (398 g) for size XXL
Sweater Vest Weight - Measured Spec: 9.4 oz (268 g) for size XXL
Sweater Color: Apple Red (also available in Spruce Green)
Manufacturer Website: www.bigskyproducts.com/
MSRP: $139.95 US

Jacket Size: XXL
Jacket Weight- Manufacturer Spec: 12.3 oz (349 g) for size Large
Jacket Weight - Measured Spec: 13.4 oz (380 g)
Jacket Color: Spruce Green (also available in Apple Red)
Manufacturer Website: www.bigskyproducts.com/
MSRP: $129.95 US

3) Warm-n-Cozy Better-than-Fleece Long Term Report

For my comments on synthetic insulation and use in the climate of the Pacific Northwest, a guide to Big Sky's sizing in these products, as well as a breakdown of features, please see my Initial Report and Field Report.

For this and all future reports, the term "Sweater" will refer to the Warm-n-Cozy Better-than-Fleece Convertible Sweater. The term "Jacket" will refer to the Warm-n-Cozy Better-than-Fleece Jacket.

Long Term Report

The snow finally melted from most of the Cascades and the Warm-n-Cozy Better-than-Fleece Convertible Sweater and Better-than-Fleece Jacket have both spent plenty of time in the mountains over the past two months. All of my trips over this period have been in or near the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area between 3000 ft (900 m) and about 6500 ft (2000 m). Temperatures have ranged from the high 30s F (3 C) to mid 80s (30 C). I have also continued to use them on early morning fishing outings, but most of the use has been backpacking in the Cascades.

Jacket and Sweater Shared Comments

Both the Jacket and the Sweater have proven to be excellent summer-weight insulation tops. During July it doesn't dip much below 40 F (4 C) over most of the Cascades, and for temperatures above this, the Big Sky garments are just fine. As noted in my Field Report, however, if it's much cooler than this they are a bit chilly. Adding a warm base layer and a windshirt underneath can push them into lounge duty near freezing, but I wouldn't want to hang out long in anything too much colder than that.

The fabric has withstood trail and camp usage very well. In fact, both tops look almost brand new. I did have a minor encounter with a blackberry bush at one point and little puckers and snags appeared. A week or so later I couldn't find the same spots, so apparently they were temporary. The slippery fabric is excellent for layering and feels great against the skin. As far as the materials used in the construction, I wouldn't change a thing. I do think they could use a bit thicker Primaloft, but the material choice itself is nearly perfect. The combination of the Pertex Microlight and the Primaloft also proved to be a great combination for water resistance. I certainly wouldn't recommend it for rainwear, but I had it in two or three pretty heavy rainfalls and never did get wet inside.

Both the Jacket and the Sweater laundered well. There appears to be no loss of loft whatsoever. All zippers, drawcords, and seams look as though they were new. I have no complaints at all about the durability of either piece.

This sizing continues to be a high point. The looser fit has been welcome - especially in real-world usage. Twice I have used the Jacket inside my sleeping bag to boost the temperature, and the comfortable fit made tossing and turning much less restricting than I'm used to in a more snug-fitting jacket of similar materials. It's very easy to layer underneath with just about anything, and the extra range of motion is much appreciated. The length is also generous, and I never had problems with exposed wrists or belly in either the Jacket or the Sweater.

While I was initially pretty excited about the removable sleeve option on the Sweater, I found that I really didn't take advantage of it much on the trail. I'm not sure if it was just one more thing to hassle with or I never found myself in a situation where a vest would work better than a jacket, but I only used in vest mode a couple times and - to be honest - did it because I was testing the item, not because I felt I wanted a vest at the time. I tend to wear a short sleeved base layer about 95% of the time, so a vest only would leave my arms chilled. Perhaps for folks who prefer long sleeves the vest is a more attractive option, but while I like the idea of it, I just didn't really feel compelled to take off the sleeves much. For the small weight penalty this option offers, I do think it's worth it. I can definitely see it getting more use in the fall or winter as an on-the-move insulating vest.

4) Warm-n-Cozy Better-than-Fleece Final Thoughts

Both the Jacket and the Sweater are some of the best fitting outdoor garments I've ever used. They definitely are the best-fitting insulation pieces I've used. A superb option for big-guys out there, it's hard to imagine a better option for summer backpacking insulation.

Big Likes:

Absolutely fantastic fit: Great for girth. Great for length. Great for range of motion.
Top-notch materials: The combination of Pertex Microlight and Primaloft are excellent together, offering nice drape and easy layering.
Minimalist design: No unnecessary pockets, silly shoulder patches, or overkill fabrics. Solid, lightweight, and functional.

Striving for Perfection:

Same cut and fit in a thicker insulation model for colder temperatures.
Same design but with an insulated hood for cold winds or lower temperatures.
Possibly go with an even lighter exterior fabric for faster drying and a couple ounces less overall weight.

Thanks to BackpackGearTest.org and Big Sky International for the opportunity to test the Warm-n-Cozy Better-than-Fleece products!

Read more reviews of Big Sky International gear
Read more gear reviews by Curt Peterson

Long Term Report

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