Arc'Teryx Caliber Cardigan - Men's Review

Likes
This fleece was a favorite for hammering in the big ring—it breathed well enough for major exertion without having to strip down. For such a thin fleece, it's surprisingly warm, and breathes very well, making the lack of pit zips a non-issue. It has 5 pockets for stashing everything (including an ipod pocket on the sleeve), which might even be overkill. Few seams mean less stuff to blow out, and a refreshing lack of bogus 'features' give the jacket clean lines.

Dislikes
Another Made in China special from Arcteryx, who also supply the military with gear—peaceniks take note. The material used is not recycled, even though the technology is widely available. Blandish styling offsets the nice colors, but won't be an issue for functionality first types. No zipper guard means either a cold chin or snagged goatee when things are just wrong. The construction looks a little flimsy, especially when compared with thicker offerings.

Best Application
Bouldering, mountain biking, layer under a drysuit, day hiking

Stories
Bike church meets every Sunday. It's three guys who are fanatical trail builders and in insane shape, one guy who's pretty strong, and your humble reviewer, who hurts quite badly at the end of every Sunday ride. A few weeks back we piled our bikes onto one car and headed out to a new spot that boasts amazing views along with pioneer-era wagon ruts carved into rock. It's also got a brutal climb composed almost entirely of loose rock that requires trials biking skills (only four of us had them…). Ten minutes into the climb, it was time to strip off the fleece, and it rode the Camelback all the way up. Once we topped out, though, it was cool and windy, and we had to stop for a few safety meetings while riding the ridge line. Over a super thin bike jersey, the Arcteryx offered the perfect balance of breathability, warmth, and a tiny bit of cushion while body-surfing after missing a turn. At viewpoints when everyone else was shivering and wanting to get moving, I was happy to kick back and enjoy the view.

Value
Arc'teryx, in general, offers good gear for top dollar. It's money well spent if you need a crossover fleece that straddles the line between base layer and standalone jacket

Other Versions
Arc'Teryx Caliber Crew - Men's
Arc'Teryx Caliber Zip Neck - Men's