Polartec Power-Dry 2 or 3?

[Moondog55]

I will need a new base layer under my Powerstretch top
The Patagonia silk weight did not work as well as expected, I have no working experience of either of the new PowerDry fabrics as my old ones are the older Medium weight stuff and just on halfway between the two new Patagonia weights
Intuition and experience say I should get the lighter weight top but before I do is there any feedback from members on the two?


http://www.patagonia.com.au/mens/perfor ... -crew.html

http://www.patagonia.com.au/mens/perfor ... -crew.html

Main reason for the base layer under the PowerStretch is moisture control
I sweat like a horse even in winter, even when wearing minimum clothing

[Chezza]

Cap 2 wicks better than just about anything else, and isn't too warm. Comparable to 150 wt merino for insulation, I'd guess. Maybe a touch warmer.

Cap 3 is significantly heavier and warmer. I've only seen it on the shelves though, so can't say much about performance.

[Moondog55]

Mainpeak have Cap 2 T-shirts on clearance; that may be the way way to go under my Powerstretch.
After all we don't sweat much on our forearms usually

[slparker]

if you're sweating so much do you have too much clothing on already? Why not just wear the base layer and add the powerstretch when you get cold or if it gets windy? Or just wear the powerstretch with no base layer if it is very cold? What advantage will the base layer confer? it won't stay dry whilst wicking sweat to your mid layer - it just adds another wet layer that will need to dry when you stop.

[Moondog55]

It's just me
Having spent all my life in very hot workplaces [ commercial kitchens] I have become very well heat adapted and break into a sweat even when naked chested in 0C but if there is even slight breeze I get chilled I have found that the LW under layer helps with that "after exercise chill" and as my current PowerDry tops are over 30 YO I thought it was time to buy some new ones
The Powerstretch top is for cooler conditions obviously and gets removed if the day or I warm up

[stry]

Have I have just learned that Caplilene is simply Patagonia speak for Polartec Power Dry ??

I have always bought my Power Dry from Cabela's as part of the ECWS, but looking at it now, Cabela's prices seem to have gone up severely since my last purchase. The Patagonia appears currently to be way better priced.

I am wearing silk weight at the moment and will wear a silk weight long sleeve top on an almost daily basis from now until Spring. I wear it to combat the exact cooling down chill that MD describes (as well as for general warmth).

I also have the mid weight and a heavy weight, but find the silk weight works for me most of the time, in or out of the bush.

I wore Damart T shirts in the bush as a base layer in winter for many years, and found them more thermally comfortable for me during heavy exertion than the same thing with long sleeves. I went out of my way to get the short sleeves, but they were nearly always under a long sleeved top, and a long sleeved base was simply too hot. If the Ts are priced right MD, I would certainly give them a try.

Nowadays, I am quite happy with the long sleeves, albeit in the slightly lighter power dry silk weight, and simply take everything else up top off if I get too warm.

[Moondog55]

Have I have just learned that Caplilene is simply Patagonia speak for Polartec Power Dry ??

If you didn't know that already you do now
Patagonia haven't ever hidden the fact; tho it is in the fine print
I think that in the past there was a lot of collaboration between Y. Chouinard and Malden Mills and Patagonia may have gotten new fabric technology first

[slparker]

It's just me
Having spent all my life in very hot workplaces [ commercial kitchens] I have become very well heat adapted and break into a sweat even when naked chested in 0C but if there is even slight breeze I get chilled I have found that the LW under layer helps with that "after exercise chill" and as my current PowerDry tops are over 30 YO I thought it was time to buy some new ones
The Powerstretch top is for cooler conditions obviously and gets removed if the day or I warm up

I hear you... I sweat profusely when exercising even in cold weather. Staying warm when i stop for a break is always a constant battle for me. I'm always after strategies to reduce wet layers..

[wayno]

whats your outer layer? if you're sweating that much you need to make sure you have high breathability on your outer layer to stop buildup. so i wonder if thats an issue too.

[Moondog55]

My usual is my old track suit top, mesh lined microfibre. Full zip

[wayno]

try something that breathes better... if the outer layer can't remove sweat as fast as its being wicked then it doesnt matter how good your wicking layer is, you get a backlog of sweat building up...

[Moondog55]

Wayno it actually breathes quite well and when treated with Nikwax it's an OK layer.
It breathes much better than my Montane windshirt
It's just me, but heeding your advice I did buy Polartec fleece for my dedicated warm layer under the insulated parka

[wayno]

teh insulated parka may be the problem, on the move you may need something more breathable..

[Moondog55]

I never wear the insulated parka while moving; that's for wearing while static. I just sweat a lot when active.
Even in the Adirondacks at -25C I was sweating and all I had on was my underwear and the Goretex shell
The fleece I bought is the new Thermal Pro BTW; and that is a very open and very breathable fabric
I have some EPIC here which will be used for my new winter clothing layer but renovations to the house mean that project is on hold.
The Puma top is simply a shell

[Joomy]

Have I have just learned that Caplilene is simply Patagonia speak for Polartec Power Dry ??

This fact doesn't mean much since there are about a million fabrics that Polartec label power dry. Same with all Polartec product lines. The Power Dry in Cap 2 is totally different from the Power Dry in Cap 4, and not just in weight (in fact Cap 3 is heavier but not as warm as Cap 4).

Moondog, I have used all Capilene types and my absolute favourite is Cap 4. It is exe but it is warm, super comfy, breathable and quick drying. A slightly cheaper variant would be the Rab AL top which I believe is the same fabric.

[Moondog55]

Cap 4 is what my Powerstretch top is equal to so I want and need a layer under that. Looks like Cap 2 is what I need as per my first thoughts and if Mainpeak still have clearance stock in my size on payday that is what I'll get

[Joomy]

I wouldn't say Cap 4 is anything like Power Stretch. Power Stretch is far denser, warmer and not nearly as stretchy. The Cap 4 is very light and airy, but with the micro grids to trap air. TBH it feels just as breathable as a Cap 2, just cosier.

[Moondog55]

New Cap 4 is very different then to the last time I looked at it. Last time I seriously looked it was just lightweight weight microfleece

[Joomy]

Yes I think they changed it last year some time. This is a good picture of the interior of the fabric: Cap 4 on the left, R1 on the right. Also here and here. This picture of the Rab AL makes it look like the AL is somewhere in between the R1 and Cap 4.

[Moondog55]

Cecile bought me a Cap2 T-shirt from Mainpeak. It arrived today and it layers well in size Large

[Moondog55]

Joomy I just pulled my Cap 4 top out and tried it on. It doesn't layer as well under the PowerStretch as the Cap 2 T-Shirt but it is so very much warmer
Truth is I completely forgot I had it there is so much stuff in my winter clothing drawers
I bought it in XL to wear over the Large silk weight, I should see if anybody wants to swap for a Large
Last seasons Cap 3 bootcut longs are for sale too

[slparker]

Joomy I just pulled my Cap 4 top out and tried it on. It doesn't layer as well under the PowerStretch as the Cap 2 T-Shirt but it is so very much warmer
Truth is I completely forgot I had it there is so much stuff in my winter clothing drawers
I bought it in XL to wear over the Large silk weight, I should see if anybody wants to swap for a Large
Last seasons Cap 3 bootcut longs are for sale too

Macpac have powerdry base layers on 'sale' at the moment. $40 for a long sleeve. If i wasn't overburdened with long sleeve base layers I'd get one.

[Moondog55]

Short sleeves too, but I'm happy with the one I have
They actually look like the same cut and fit as the Patagonia.
I just washed some underwear, the Cap 4 and the Cap 2 are very fast drying the silkweight is taking much longer to dry so that does explain some of the issues I had last winter

[Joomy]

New Cap 4 is very different then to the last time I looked at it. Last time I seriously looked it was just lightweight weight microfleece

Yes, I have had both the old and new versions. The old one is for sale on the appropriate forum. The new Cap 4 is undoubtedly the best thermal I have ever had. It is SO fast drying and yet very warm and super comfortable. It's almost like Cap 2 with a grid of micro fleece stuck over it, except that it holds its shape better than Cap 2 does. Unlike Cap 3 it's not wind-resistant at all but that makes it super breathable. Also of course the Patagonia construction quality is second to none.

[Moondog55]

Well the Cap4 top is now my sleeping top and my emergency change
The fact that Powerstretch is slightly wind resistant is a plus for winter snow
Except for it being polyester the new Cap 4 micro grid is remarkably similar to the old LIFA Flotte