SkyGOAT CAMP Jacket Review

I am partial to SkyGOAT for no other reason than the company’s most excellent name. You can never go wrong with the word “goat.”

That aside, choosing mid-layer protection is one of the most important decisions I make when long-distance hiking and running. When a puffy is a bit too much, but a shell isn’t enough, I really rely on a comfy, lightweight jacket or pullover to split the difference.

Microfleece has gotten justly famous for its mid-layer chops, with limited-supply manufacturers tending to dominate the market — Senchi Designs, Melanzana, New Zealand’s MacPac. Now we can add Summit County, Colorado’s SkyGOAT to that pantheon, with its CAMP jackets and hoodies.

skygoat camp jacket hood clay bonnyman evans

Reviewer wearing the SkyGOAT CAMP microfleece jacket with hood, mile 626.8 (NOBO), Appalachian Trail. Clay Bonnyman Evans photo.

SkyGOAT CAMP Jacket (Hooded) At-a-Glance

Weight: 10.6 ounces (men’s medium)
MSRP: $119
Outer fabric: Custom GOATgrid microfleece
Wind resistant: Yes
Water resistant: No
Zip: Center-front
Pockets: Two outer hand pockets; two deep interior pockets
Women’s CAMP Jacket here.

Men’s SkyGOAT CAMP jacket, with hood. Courtesy SkyGOAT.

Circumstances of Use

I wore the hooded SkyGOAT CAMP jacket 40 – 50 times in temperatures ranging from 28 – 60 degrees F, including hiking and running on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia and the beaches of South Carolina in rain, wind, sleet, and sun. I have also worn it extensively in the house and around town during cool/cold temperatures.

READ NEXT – The Best Fleece Midlayers for Thru-Hiking

SkyGOAT CAMP Jacket Features

  • Lightweight: Just 10.1 ounces (men’s small)
  • Pockets: Two hand pockets and two open-topped interior pockets
  • Hood and neck cuff: Cuff protects and insulates when hood is down
  • Comfort: Warm, light, functional, stylish; my go-to cool/chilly weather jacket

Lightweight: 10.1 ounces for my men’s small feels like a very reasonable weight investment for what the CAMP jacket provides in terms of comfort and warmth, especially given that it’s got both a hood and a neck cuff to protect goosebump-prone skin when the hood is down. It definitely feels light when you scoop it up to put it on, and that’s important, too.

Pockets: I like pockets, even at the investment of an ounce or two. Nothing is more frustrating to me than when the weather goes south and I don’t have pockets as a last-ditch refuge for my hands, even gloved hands.

The two exterior pockets are zip-free (e.g., open), but they are deep, and I’ve found them perfectly reliable for holding AirPods, a bandana, lip balm, and shed gear like a hat or gloves. I’ve even run a bit with the phone in the pocket; it stays put, no problem, but bounces around more than I like.

Two deep interior pockets made from very lightweight material offer additional storage at practically no weight cost; I don’t find myself using them at all, but they’re nice to have.

skygoat camp jacket clay bonnyman evans

The SkyGOAT CAMP jacket has two secure exterior pockets, and two deeper interior pockets. Clay Bonnyman Evans photo.

Zipper: Though reasonably lightweight, the zip is sturdy and easy to use. Honestly, I’m willing to take a shred of extra weight for a zipper that’s going to hold up under frequent use.

Fabric: SkyGOAT’s microgrid fleece is, to my eye and skin, markedly similar to the material used by Melanzana one county over. Which is to say, it feels good, it’s durable, and it offers plenty of warmth. But this is SkyGOAT’s own, proprietary microfleece, created after the company became dissatisfied with the offerings from the major microfleece manufacturer.

Packability: Microfleece is not especially scrunchable, if you know what I mean—not like a down puffy. Still, mine rolls easily to the size of a Nerf football and can be easily stowed in a quart-sized Ziploc bag.

skygoat camp jacket clay bonnyman evans

SkyGOAT’s CAMP microfleece jacket packs up to about the size of a Nerf football and is easily stowed in a quart-sized Ziploc bag. Clay Bonnyman Evans photo.

Insulation: For the weight, the jacket offers great warmth in chilly conditions. While caretaking a famous hostel farm on the AT in Virginia, I wore it while feeding livestock, doing other chores, hiking, and running in temperatures ranging from the upper 20s to the low 50s, and the jacket felt like the right choice, with plenty of flexibility (hood, neck cuff, zipped/unzipped).

Breathability: One good thing about microfleece is its undeniable breathability, and SkyGOAT’s version is no exception.

Water Resistance: This fleece stood up surprisingly well each time I (intentionally) wore it in rain ranging from light to verging on heavy, including steady rain for an hour or more. But of course, it’s not designed to be waterproof, and if you wear it in a downpour, it’s going to get wet. The good thing is that it can still provide some insulation, even then.

Hood and neck cuff system: When the piece first arrived, I thought it looked a bit odd: the microfleece neck cuff almost looked like an extraneous feature. But in using the jacket, I’ve come to appreciate this kinda-sorta redundancy. When it’s too warm to have the hood raised, I still appreciate having three inches of collar to zip against the wind or biting winter air if I need it.

skygoat camp jacket clay bonnyman

SkyGOAT’s CAMP jacket with hood also features a 3-inch neck cuff for use when hood is down. Clay Bonnyman Evans photo.

Durability: It’s impossible to know how the SkyGOAT CAMP jacket will hold up over heavy or extended use, as I’ve only been wearing it for about two and a half months. But the material feels tough, and I expect it will do as well as the Melanzana shirt I was giving as a wedding gift more than 22 years ago (and which I still wear).

Color: SkyGOAT did have two colors in stock for both men and women, but it appears from the website that the company is down to one color per sex. In my case, I like the tri-color pattern of “coal-ash-lava,” which, translated, is mid-gray, light-gray, and deep red. Women get dark gray, light gray, and “galaxy,” a very appealing blue that edges just a smidge toward aqua. 

Courtesy SkyGOAT.

SkyGOAT CAMP Jacket Pros

  • Warmth: Very good
  • Comfort: Excellent
  • Pockets: Roomy and useful
  • Appearance: Snappy tri-color design
  • Packability: Relatively compact
  • Options: Comes in pullover and no-hood versions
  • Price: $119 is very competitive

SkyGOAT CAMP Jacket Cons

  • Neck cuff: Adds a bit of weight
  • Interior pockets: Might be overkill
  • Light color fabric: Picks up dirt
  • Hood not adjustable

Overall

The microfleece SkyGOAT CAMP jacket has a lot going for it, including the fact that it’s made by an up-and-coming small company. While hard-core gram maniacs might balk at 10 ounces, I do not. And while the price is a tad higher than some comparable pieces, it may be worth it to avoid limited supply or purchasing barriers (i.e., you can order online; you don’t have to show up in person).

Honestly, I’ve been wearing the heck out of mine for both casual use and running, and it proved to be absolutely perfect for my stint as a farmer/hostel operator up on the AT.

Shop the Men’s SkyGOAT CAMP Jacket

Shop the Women’s SkyGOAT CAMP Jacket

Comparable Mid-layers

Senchi Designs Merlin Hoodie

MSRP: $115
Weight: 7.2 ounces (medium)
Zipper: ½ zip
Note: Supplies limited

Melanzana Micro Grid Hoodie V2

MSRP: $78
Weight: 12.3 ounces (men’s large)
Zipper: No zip
Note: Purchase by in-person appointment only in Leadville, Colo.

Outdoor Afro and REI Co-op Fleece Pullover Hoodie

MSRP: $89.95
Weight: 16.7 ounces (men’s medium)
Zipper: ½ zip

Featured image courtesy SkyGOAT.

The SkyGOAT CAMP Jacket was donated for purpose of review.

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Comments 2

  • Bart : Mar 24th

    It looks like a solid mid layer. The only thing I don’t like is that the hood has no way to draw it across my mouth.
    With the Melanzana, and and similar knock offs, you can cinch up the hood to just leave you nose and eyes exposed.
    With the SkyGoat, you STILL have to carry a neck gaiter to shield your chin/mouth from the cold, so the collar just ends up being redundant.

    Reply

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