FarPointe Super Cruiser Fleece

For shoulder seasons when it’s cold and probably wet too, I need a heavier fleece than I carry in the warmer summer season (go-to then is Sky Goat waffle fleece). I looked at several different versions from popular brands including Patagonia and Smartwool, but from Garage Grown Gear (product list), a new local brand from Newport, OR – FarPointe.

Located on the Oregon Coast, FarPointe Outdoor Gear creates handmade, small batch, outdoor clothing from natural and synthetic fabrics including Alpha™ Direct fleece and Octa fabric. With in-house production and an ultralight approach, FarPointe designs and tests all their products to match the season or environment you will be exploring.

Read FarPointe Outdoor Gear’s full story here.

Garage Grown Gear

I have now worn my Super Cruiser for well over 250 miles and love it! Very light at <7oz, packable and keeps me both warm and wind protected. I do, however, wear as a third layer over a tech base-layer, and a Patagonia mid-weight base-layer. I also started practice of wearing a very light vest over my fleece to protect from pack rubbing and keeping my camera tight up front. I have yet to hike in heavy outer shell this shoulder season and last year I did several times.

I’ve hiked in temperatures below 30 but mostly in the 30-40 range and find the Super Cruiser too warm above 35. FarPointe fleece is now part of standard gear kit for shoulder season and will be watched carefully when new fleece is needed.

So far, love it! Highly recommended. Only caveat is the fabric seems as if it would snag easily, but none so far … colors are odd, but who cares?