Baerskin Fleece Review

32 degrees and a chance to wear the hoody.

​If you have been on Facebook, Roku, or other forms of social media you have probably seen ads for the Baerskin  fleece hoodie – you know the one with all the pockets and a nice heavy, easy to fit to your form fit. Like a lot of internet skeptical people, you probably thought oh it’s a scam or probably just another fly-by night company. Well neither is the case. I contacted Baerskin and picked up a jacket and a vest and I can say at this time they are a good sturdy product that is super handy and very warm. For those of you living here in New Hampshire you know it hasn’t been that cold yet this year and since I am warm blooded, I haven’t had to wear more than a tee shirt to date. That changed this past weekend when I attended an outdoor fair and the weather was 59 degrees with a 15mph wind and overcast. Not wanting to be overly hot I threw my new Baerskin vest over a light long sleeve T and for the 5 hours we were out in the elements I was able to regulate my temp perfectly. Never too hot, never too cold, the fleece kept the wind from chilling my lower back which is my weak spot plus I had plenty of pockets for a water bottle, keys, and the usual other things I would usually carry a small backpack for.
 BÆRSkin was established in 2019 to make the world's best outdoor gear. They describe the reason for opening as "Bad fitting, bulky, boring and weak" - this is how we felt about 1000's of regular fleece hoodies we tested. That's why we use 330gsm of Original BÆRSkin Fleece for the ultimate weight-for-comfort ratio. Every inch is double-napped and brushed for a robust finish that never "pills" or wears away. I can say this is the heaviest, best-looking, most comfortable fleece I have now, and I will continue to update this story for longevity and wearability. Reinforced, covered zippers are a nice touch as are the elastic tabs to help snug up the fit. The hood is big enough to fit over a ball cap or beanie and can be rolled up on the neck for extra warmth.
Pockets, did I mention pockets? I love pockets (just ask my wife who hates all my cargo pants) I always have stuff to put in pockets. I am a firm believer in the old axiom “it is better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it” so from a small first aid kit to my phone, knives, lighters, water bottle etc. I have it plus when I am out shooting photo’s I no longer need to carry a huge backpack for extra lenses etc. just put it in a pocket. Here is a breakdown of the pockets:
So much pocket space - your backpack is out of business.
2 front zipper pockets: Ideal for stashing essentials like keys, wallet, or energy bars.
1 left-sleeve pocket with flag patch panel: Personalize your BÆRSkin with badges or patches while also storing small utilities.
1 right-sleeve pocket: Strategically placed for swift access to vital gear.
1 left chest pocket: With a soft interior, it's perfect for safeguarding sunglasses or cellphones from scratches, while keeping them readily accessible.
2-zip back hunter's pocket: Perfect for essentials like gloves, an insulated beanie, or a lightweight rain jacket. The dual-zip design ensures secure storage during activities.
3 hidden interior zip pockets: Discreetly keep valuable items like a passport, spare cash, or credit cards secure.
3 soft interior drop pockets for quick, easy, and secure storage.
In other words, enough pockets for just about anything!
So, since it is mid-October and cold weather is finally setting in check back shortly as I have a feeling I will be using the coat very soon.

Update

Several more times of wearing the vest over a long sleeve tee and light sweaters and I can still say this will be a long time favorite. Keeps the lower back warm as can be while allowing the rest of the body the ability to regulate the heat.

Well fall has finally settled in full force and I have now had a chance, since I work outside most of the day, to wear the jacket on those lovely 27-degree mornings. Granted I don't wear a jacket if it is over 35 (then I am in a light sweater or fleece) but we also had a morning of ice and snow, this is where I gave the jacket a good test. First off - this thing is WARM. I own at least 4 other fleece jackets from Bauer, Bean and a couple of other brands. In the case of snow, I usually go with a vest and a Bauer windproof jacket but that day I decided to give the Baerskin a go and I am not sorry I did. First off - did I mention the thing is warm, it was 19 degrees with a 25mph wind, and I was perfectly fine with a long sleeve Tee and this jacket, I even shed it later that day when the temp went up to 37. The double lined zippers kept the wind out and the Velcro adjustable sleeves kept the arms from having those obnoxious updrafts. By pulling the hood up and snugging it around my neck there were times I was adjusting the bottom zipper to allow some heat to escape as it helps regulate temperature. As an added bonus the snow brushed off easily and the small amount that melted on it didn't penetrate the thick fleece. The other cool mornings it kept me toasty till the temp went up enough for me to just wear my flannel shirt or sweater. 

So, to wrap this up for now if this thing wears as well as it seems it will I will be much warmer this winter plus I will have the added advantage of not having to lug a backpack on my trips out. Great job Baerskin!

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