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Post by downriver on Jun 23, 2021 18:14:37 GMT -8
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FamilySherpa
Trail Wise!
Tangled up in Rhododendron
Posts: 1,791
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Post by FamilySherpa on Jun 24, 2021 5:19:34 GMT -8
A family friend worked for malden mills from 1980-something up until they started having financial trouble 15 or so years ago. I remember he said the family who originally owned and operated it were some of the best people to work for he'd ever seen.
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Post by bradmacmt on Jun 24, 2021 5:53:13 GMT -8
Like many on the forum, I've been wearing Polartec since the early 80's, and I honestly can't think of a single backpack I've been on in that time I didn't have something from Malden Mills.
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tigger
Trail Wise!
Posts: 2,547
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Post by tigger on Jun 24, 2021 10:26:19 GMT -8
I have quite a few Polartec items in my arsenal. I jumped on that bandwagon when it came out and found their articles warmer/better in general than my other stuff. Since then, I've mainly switched to a more basic setup, but still have plenty of fond memories.
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rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,666
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Post by rebeccad on Jun 25, 2021 7:58:21 GMT -8
I don’t take them backpacking because of the weight/bulk issue, but I have a couple of wonderful polartec “aircore” hoodies from LandsEnd that I like for car camping or around home. Warmer and lighter than the usual stuff, I think it was special for LandsEnd, back when LE sold good stuff.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2021 10:13:19 GMT -8
I still have and use two pair of polartec windblock gloves on all my trips. Mountain Hardwear I think.
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Post by bradmacmt on Jun 28, 2021 12:32:01 GMT -8
I never backpack or even dayhike without a 100wt Polartec 1/4 zip pullover.
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BigLoad
Trail Wise!
Pancakes!
Posts: 12,911
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Post by BigLoad on Jun 28, 2021 12:54:48 GMT -8
I finally ditched my original Polartec fleece from 1995 because it had been used to death. I have another made of Polartech WindPro from ~2002 that doesn't go backpacking anymore but gets a lot of winter use.
The closest thing to that I still backpack with is my notorious orange Patagonia R0 hoodie.
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gabby
Trail Wise!
Posts: 4,537
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Post by gabby on Jun 28, 2021 13:28:12 GMT -8
I wasn't going to post here - the answers seem obvious: my first fleece was a Columbia pullover, then a couple of jackets, then the progression R1, R3 (bright red -- all bought "closeout" in a much simpler time) - then a couple of cheap (closeout) REI specialty jackets.
Believe it or not, I still have a Windbloc REI Rock jacket which has a pocket, sized appropriately for a Discman (Dude, wassat?), and a channel for the headphone cord (Dude, wassat? Cord? Wassat?) into the hood. I have only occasionally used any of these for camping, and only on overnights. For backpacking, they got replaced long ago with Montbell inner down jackets. But I still have 'em! Why? 8^O
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Jun 28, 2021 15:58:18 GMT -8
Patagonia used to assist technically and get first dibs for a few year like Regulator fleece.
Now though, I’m trying a Polartec fabric called PowerDry for a very ultralight microform experience from Arcteryx… really ultralight stuff but it has a windproof panel on the shoulders where much wear would occur. Hope it lasts as fleece can be bad for the environment (Patagonia and now Columbia recycles theirs but not sure about arcteryx), but I’m willing to patch it up sweater style .. or cut off the arms to make it a vest. They say for all these polyester clothes, reselling slightly used beats recycling them fwiw.
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Post by downriver on Oct 24, 2023 13:56:27 GMT -8
A family friend worked for malden mills from 1980-something up until they started having financial trouble 15 or so years ago. I remember he said the family who originally owned and operated it were some of the best people to work for he'd ever seen. Yes, the original owner was known as a great guy and outstanding employer. I remember when the had a big fire at the plant and the owner paid his employees throughout the rebuild. Very rare person and employer. Regards, DR
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