Columbia Jammin’ Journey Fleece
February 6, 2010
Could the name for this fleece be any dorkier? Here we go on a jammin’ journey! Good thing I love this top so much or I might not be able to get past the name. Ironically I wore this fleece every day on my own jammin’ journey to Canada – it was my trip staple because of its comfort, warmth, and, yes, cute looks. Wrinkle free and comfy, it didn’t even get too stinky on the five day trip, which I’m so sure is more due to the miracle nonstink fabric than the fact that I was basically just sitting still in a car for hours upon end. Plus, I don’t stink. Right?
Every few years I come across a half-zip fleece that sparks a sort of obsession. When I find a fleece that I like, I have been known to buy several of varying colors just to make sure that I’m never without. I still have a stockpile of past favorites in the closet that I just can’t let go of. What’s more versatile than a good fleece? The “Jammin’ Journey” (yeesh, do I have to keep typing that over and over?) is more versatile than most, with a superlong zipper that fits over a helmet or opens to allow airflow in those in-between temperatures. Best of all, this fleece has a really great cut. It’s longish but not ridiculously so and trim without being supertight. To my endless delight, it also has perfectly cut sleeves that accommodate actual muscles, and are long enough to actually cover my wrists and stay put when my arms are bent. Best of all, NO THUMBHOLES. I used to love thumbholes, but recently it seems that every single top out there has thumbholes and the accompanying superlong sleeves. Agh! Enough! I feel an editorial coming on.
So, no thumbholes on the JJ. Excellent! How many colors does it come in?
Buy ‘em all up before I clean them out.
The North Face TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip Fleece
January 27, 2008
Another winner from The North Face. Perfectly proportioned, with the blessed extra room in the arms. This is a great fleece that makes an easy transition from the backcountry to a casual night out. I don’t know what this thing is made of but it’s some sort of miracle fleece that never lets the wearer get too hot or too cold (within reason, people, don’t wear a light fleece when it’s 10 below and expect to stay warm). This fleece was catapulted to the top of my “favorite shirt” list.
My one complaint – because there has to be at least one, sometimes – is the recent color selection. Blech, what happened to “normal” colors like green, blue, red, brown, yellow? I’m glad I got in on the light blue color before it disappeared into oblivion at the whim of fashion, or the whim of whoever decides what colors to release.
Don’t get this one confused with the “other” TKA fleece top by North Face, that one doesn’t fit as well. This one is the winner.
