At first look Reed Transpire Fleece's appear quite plain. With no fancy body contouring panels or any shiny reflective trim bits. However when you get your hands on it it you can immediately tell the quality of the fleece. It feels thick, soft and stretchy and you know it's going to be comfortable to wear, however there is more to this fabric, and the thermals that are made from it, than at first appears.
To start with the fleece is different on the inside compared too the outside. On the inside it's soft and fluffy and on the outside it's smooth and shiny. In technical talk its a tight brush fleece inside and slip knit outside. This combination brings several benefits.
The first is wicking. When worn next to the skin the soft fluffy part pulls the wet sweat away from the skin and moves it to the smooth shiny outside that is designed to repel water, both from the inside out and the outside in. Reed say it is the fastest moisture-wicking fleece fabric available. As a paddler you experience this by not getting damp and clammy under your waterproof layers, even when working hard in wet environments. When you stop working hard and start to cool down, you don't get cold as your skin has been kept dry and warm.
Another benefit of the two different surface textures is the soft fluffy inside, when combined with the stretchy high lycra content of the fabric, holds it's position agains your skin. This stops it riding up or bunching. While the smooth outside surface lets your outer layers slide over it, reducing the friction that can be caused by wearing stiffer waterproof layers.
The fleece's yarns are also coated with Scotchguard which is both water repellant and anti bacterial. Reed have ensured that the Scotchguard is PFAS free. (See: ‘Forever Chemicals” in Sea Kayaking.)
The top comes with the option of a front vent zip. This lines up nicely with the vent on the Reed Aquatherm Touring Cag, enabling you to cool efficiently. If however you mainly use a drysuit where you can't access this zip you may prefer the no zip option. The fleece top also has a long waist tube that pairs well with the high waist of the fleece trousers to cover any cold spots around the middle and keep your core warm. This gives you both the benifit of a one piece suit and the versatility of a two piece.
Reed sell the Transpire Fleece top, trousers and socks as a set or individually and they also make beanies, hoods and one piece suits. They are Reed's best selling items for good reason and are used around the world both by sea kayakers and other land and water based adventures. They have even been to the top of Everest several times.
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Transpire Fleece Long Sleeve Top
By Philip Clegg
With over two decades of working in the sea kayaking industry, Phil can be found on a daily basis coaching on the sea around Anglesey. That's when he's not researching and writing on all things sea kayaking.