Fuzzy mesh clothes

[tomba]

I have recently started using clothes made from fuzzy mesh fabrics that appeared several years ago. Alpha Direct and Teijin Octa (called AirMesh at Mountain Hardwear). They have significantly reduced my pack weight without reducing comfort or safety.

Since these fabrics don’t block much airflow they work best under layers that block wind. For example, a wind jacket or wind pants. A rain jacket or rain pants work too, of course. These fabrics insulate well even under regular hiking shirts and hiking pants.

The 60 grams per square meter (gsm) variant of Alpha Direct is a popular choice. Heavier weights have more tufts in the mesh, but are somewhat less efficient in terms of insulation per unit weight.

I have stopped bringing traditional fleece and base layers on my trips.

[Schleppy]

Concur! Expensive stuff though.

[freestone]

Why not down? I believe it has the lightest warmth to weight ratio.

[paul]

I like my AD stuff a lot. The 60 stuff is lighter than any base layer I have had (2.75 oz for the pants, 3.6 oz for the hoodie), and as warm as 100 weight fleece which is double or triple the weight.
As to why not down, I would say different animals. Not going to replace a down jacket but you cannot get a down garment this light, nor one that fills the same niche. It is more of a fleece replacement, much lighter and more compressible thsn fleece of equal warmth.

[freestone]

I did a search and AD is indeed very popular, sold out everywhere. Seems like it is a cottage industry item for now. My interest in warmth is strictly static, sitting around in camp after sunset. 8 ounces of down vs 8 ounces of AD or maybe AD under a down sweater then forgo the big down puffy jacket altogether.

[sbennett3705]

Just performed a first time test with AD lowers and a hoodie on a cloudy, mildly windy day, 24 degrees F. I dressed as I might for alpine 3 season hiking: X Ultra GTX shoes, silk liner + Darn Tough socks, AD lowers with Kuhl synthetic pants, AD hoodie under a sun shirt, Mont-Bel Anorak, fleece cap and gloves. Went for an eight mile hike with 2 gallons of water in a day pack to simulate some weight. I have to say that the AD base layers performed way better than my standard Smartwool base layers. I was quite warm, sometimes too warm, but venting is very quick with the AD material since it has little insulation capability if exposed to the air. The Alpha Direct material does save weight and seems to work well as long as a shell layer is added on top. Finding items in stock was a challenge - I settled on a Yamatomichi and Senchi combination in some odd colors, but was able to get them quickly.