Breathe Magazine

Fall is a season that requires brisk hikes through brightly colored aspen groves on a Saturday morning…and giant crock pots full of chili when you return.  This is football season, after all, so proper attire is as much a priority as the necessary vittles.  I am not saying you should go jump into a Snuggie and forget about personal hygiene.  My point here is that you need comfort food as well as comfort clothing, and I firmly believe team jerseys are not acceptable.

I recently picked up the Micro-Chill fleece from Mountain Hardwear …and no, I did not NEED it.  This was love at first touch.  Babies are not this soft.  This moderately fitting fleece is not my typical style of gear.   Unlike typical gear purchases, this piece does not serve an extreme place in the wilderness. However, this jacket makes me smile.  If you are looking for a gift for someone who has everything; get them this fleece – they do not own anything this soft and comfy.  Plus, the happy medium of form fitting but not too tight lets me enjoy a plate of nachos without having to suck in my stomach and pretend that Budweiser is a low-cal beverage.  Who knows, perhaps I overslept for my 7am yoga class (for the last 8 months) and decided that raking leaves counts as a work-out?  So be it.  All I can tell you is that this fleece is a solid fall wardrobe addition.  When you put it on you can almost hear the Commodores’’ lyrics to Easy like Sunday Morning. I relish the soft collar and ability to look stylish while screaming at the television for Notre Dame to locate their defense.

So, after a slight addiction to the jacket I actually had to research what made this fleece so far superior to other 20 fleeces in my closet.  Turns out the tag on half your gear that reads Polartec actually means something.  Similar to buying a pair of boots with a tag that says Gore-Tex; you know there is an extra special touch in the design process.  Someone skipped lunch and worked till 5:15 to make sure they got their holiday bonus.  Polartec is a durable, water-wicking, breathable miracle that makes me jump higher and run faster.   Turns out this incredibly plush jacket DOES have a place in the wilderness, and has since accompanied me on a couple hikes and camping trips in and around the valley.

However,  I will not sugarcoat how much I thought this jacket belonged to the owner of a minivan.  A soft, white fleece jacket equaled soccer mom in my previously naïve mind…but no more will I seclude my weekends from such delight.

Next week I will aim to review something slightly rougher and tougher so you can get your gear fill, but I can promise you sheer delight upon purchasing this fleece.