>>1022811Pile is just another form of fleece, before what we would now call "fleece" came about there was plenty of pile tops available. Pile has issues though obviously, it looks shit and tends to flatten over time. The opposite side tends to shed and look worn very quickly. The new type of polar fleeced replaced this quickly, as it looked much better, was more durable, didn't flatten as quickly and was just as warm and dried just as quickly.
"Proper fleeces" are dear because of a brand name. You can get excellent fleece for cheap, plenty of generic brand out there turning out good kit.
>Its winter kitYou could layer a baselayer, midweight fleece and a outer shell to use in winter, the whole system would be no more bulky then a buffalo, would weight less if soaked there and could be adjusted easily. Every bit of it can be used separately in other months also. You wouldn't use a down jacket in the summer because it is designed for one specific purpose, sitting still in cold weather, buffalo seems to be designed for moving about in cold weather. It works to an extent but its an all of nothing bit of kit, if it warms up or you feel a bit too cold you cant adjust, if you wear it next to skin as intended.
Fleece dries easily as quickly as a buffalo top, if not faster. There are types of fleece now that wick FAR better than the thick buffalo pile, such as a rab vapour rise top, which will wick faster and dry quicker.
