Another useful item I'm adding to preps/ kits; an oversized fleece jacket for everyone.

Useful, cheap warmth. Can be layered and is light (though bulky)

I have been scrounging polyester fleece hoodies from my local charity stores, sterilizing them, and stuffing them under the car seats. Handy (and disposable) when changing a tire; and without hesitation I can hand them to anyone who needs one, including a complete stranger who's in a bind.

The nice thing about polyester fleece is that you can soak it in a bleach solution strong enough to dissolve metal (i.e., kills everything) and the fleece won't mind a bit.

Wonder if the standard fleece throw, available for a couple of bucks, would work as a blanket coat? Don't know if the dimensions are right.

I'm a big fan of fleece! I bet I have a dozen fleece jackets, at the very least. It has to be under 20 F or so before I ditch my fleecie in favor of a proper winter coat.

I wear one of several Eddie Bauer fleece pull overs almost every day from October to June in the PNW. I lost a 7 year old fleece (my green one, sob) on a flight back from Turkey and felt like I'd lost an old friend.

Work surplussed some heavy duty fleece zip ups, I snagged 4 and keep them in the trunk of my car for folks who come out of a fire with nothing to keep them warm. I think I still have 2.

Recommend windproof fleece for preparedness kits, its a darn sight warmer if the cold wind doesn't cut through, but anything is better than nothing.

I've got a fleece North Face jacket that's been with me for about 11 years (that an ex-gf gave me, don't tell wifey!) Starting to wear thin, but doing well.

One thing I hate about fleece is that wind cuts right through it. When I finally get around to replacing it, I'll get a windproof one.

I've also got 2 fleece vests (great for camping/layering) and a few uniform fleeces that can work in a pinch. It's ridiculously cheap (what, like $10 at Old Navy?) and does pretty well, especially in damp weather. Not the greatest material on the planet, but a good cheap/warm solution.

They're pricey, but I really like my Under Armour Storm gear. Super comfy, super warm, waterproof and cuts the wind better than any fleece I've owned.

My go-to jacket for the cold months in SOCAL (it can reach into the 20's before the sun rises) is a wind-proof fleece jacket I got from Cabela's (their logo). It's a nice jacket and has held up well.

Fleece is a staple in my outdoor gear and has been for decades. Tough, durable, warm even when wet, relatively lightweight (albeit bulky), what is there not to like about it. I almost always slip a windproof shell over the fleece when it gets breezy. I prefer that approach to the "windproof" varieties.

Be aware that fleece comes in a variety of weights and grades, and not all of it is sewn all that well. Like a lot of other things, bargains are available if you shop carefully - something you won;t have to do all that often. I have one jacket that is more than thirty years old, and several that are going beyond their second decade.

All in all, fleece is a very fine example of the many benefits of civilization.....

Agree with all, fleece is great, light, dries quickly, and I always have a layer or two around.

The only thing that's been a gotcha for me is when I'm hanging around the campfire. I have a few fleece hoodies that have extra... ah... ventilation holes in them that the manufacturer never intended.

True, that one of the drawbacks of fleece. But then, campfires are so uncivilized - I really don't do them much any more, except in emergencies.