Filson’s Ridgeway Fleece Pullover
An Arctic anorak style pullover at home in the uplands.
Posted 01/21/2025
Filson has a knack for integrating history into everything they stitch together. They seem to be able to bring back to life or reinvent pieces of history in the form of garments to handle the tough struggles of outdoorsmen. Filson is synonymous with high quality and durable materials. Their clothing and gear are made to withstand the rigors of the wild outdoors and built to last a lifetime. Some Filson pieces almost possess an heirloom quality and status. Clothing is constructed for long-term use and the company relies on using materials that offers protection from the elements and environment for a wide range of activities. Putting on almost anything Filson, is like transforming oneself into a rugged folkloric Paul Bunyan type figure.
Opening the box, the filler paper was tossed aside quickly. I began to see glimpses of bright orange. Folded neatly was an entire garment in what Filson refers to as the color “Flame”. Although not labeled as “hunter” or “blaze” orange, it would be perfectly suited in identifying its wearer as a bird hunter as they safely traipsed across the uplands. The pullover is categorized under the “Hunting Jackets” and “Warm Hunting Layers” sections, so it is built for hunting. Here are my findings of the Filson pullover:
DESCRIPTION. Filson appears to have modeled the Ridgeway Fleece Pullover after an anorak, which is basically, a pullover with a hood used in polar regions by native inhabitants in cold climates. In the 1930s, the jacket became popular and soon the garment found its way into Western culture.
Filson’s version of the anorak has a beefy half-front YKK zipper perfect for ventilating for when you get overheated chasing prairie grouse across the snow-covered plains or chukar hunting in the mountains. The drawcord-adjustable hood helps with keeping your noggin warm and dry. Zipped up all the way, the pullover discourages heat from escaping during those cold winter months. Elastic binding at the cuffs and hem, allow for easy on/off as well as keeping frigid air from seeping in at those critical points. There are two draw-cinch cords on either side of the hem to adjust how loose you want the pullover to be. Zippered hand pockets go all the way through, similar, to a hoodie pocket, providing ample space for keeping hands warm. The chest pocket is a good place to store small items such as a cellphone, handwarmers, ChapStick, and hunting licenses.
MATERIAL. Filson is known for using materials that offers the most protection for the wearer from the elements. The pullover is made of durable lightweight Polartec® Thermal Pro® Fleece which offers quick drying insulation. Fleece is a man-made wonder product that is fuzzy to the touch. The super soft, warm fabric is breathable and is perfect for outerwear by holding in the warmth during extreme conditions. The only drawback is that fleece does not insulate when wet.
FIELD USE. The Ridgeway Fleece Pullover has performed flawlessly for me throughout four Kansas upland bird hunting seasons, including stints in Colorado and Wyoming chasing birds. I ordered an XL and had plenty of room (pullover runs large so order one size down) to wear layers underneath. Filson doesn’t specify the range of temperatures the Ridgeway Fleece Pullover can be used in, but I wore it during the mid, and late season (October – January). The pullover performed well in a variety of temperatures and weather scenarios, is somewhat wind resistant, and was comfortable to wear. Its ample room did not restrict me from bringing my over-under to my shoulder or swinging the shotgun through on fast-flying birds.
I was curious as to how the pullover would perform during very cold wet days. When the thermometer dipped below forty degrees, I opted to wear temperature appropriate layers and kept warm when combined with the pullover. I hunted in the rain and during wet, heavy snow falls and not once did I feel damp. During light rains and snowy days, the Filson pullover kept me dry and warm. Though long-term exposure to precipitation may affect the effectiveness of keeping the wearer dry.
Cold affects each person differently, however for me, the Ridgeway maintained its warmth even when exposed to the elements. It offered complete protection from the cold allowing me to continue to hunt during extreme conditions. When using the hood, it maintained its overall shape and did not “collapse” down onto my head. This helped with keeping the elements out, along with the pullover’s high neck zip capability. Another vital quality I was somewhat concerned about was the Ridgeway’s ability to hold up to the variety of habitat I would be walking through. The pullover handled itself well as I walked across thick grass and cattails, as it did not suffer any tears, rips, or major snags. I thought I would walk out of a weedy patch with a thousand of tiny “hitchhikers” attached to my sleeves, but it wasn’t too bad. Bustin’ through plum thickets and thick brush proved to be even more nerve racking as thoughts of the pullover becoming a sleeveless style “muscle-shirt” hoodie, but it faired very well and proved its toughness and durability. I wore three different styled bird vests to see how the Ridgeway worked when paired with various styled vests. No adverse effects were noticed when worn with each of them. The extra-large size accommodated the ability to wear layers and allowed me to don each vest over the Ridgeway Pullover without causing any issues while worn. The Ridgeway’s bright orange color was easily seen in the field.
SUMMARY. The Ridgeway Fleece Pullover is very well made, and its toughness was evident as I busted through fields. I’m confident it will continue to last several more seasons. As I mentioned above, the pullover was a bit big on me, but in the end, the roomy garment allowed me to layer comfortably. I suggest ordering a size smaller.
It's simple and comfortable “hoodie” design kept me warm while hunting. The pullover’s versatility allows it to be worn as an outer layer even during colder weather when paired with quality underlayers. The Ridgeline can be worn in temps up to 50 degrees, any warmer and you’re going to get hot. Its ruggedness proved it can handle a variety of situations afield. The pullover could easily replace bulkier worn jackets and coats. Fislon’s version of an enhanced “hoodie” has made a believer out of me, and it has found its place in my upland gear cache for seasons to come. The Ridgeway Fleece Pullover is essentially a cool-weather staple built for the long haul.
FEATURES
• “Flame” Color is very similar to Hunter or Blaze Orange. Easily visible.
• Drawcord-adjustable hood and hem.
• Chest and hand pockets with zipper closures.
• Elastic binding at hem and cuffs, to seal out wind.
• Half-length front zipper to regulate core temperature.
Author’s note: Filson has recently renamed the Ridgeway to the Granite Spire Fleece Pullover. The NEW updated pullover’s changes include adding double-layered reinforced forearms for additional protection and black fabric highlights to the Flame colored version. Additional color options include Olive and Black. Filson also removed the zippered chest pocket. Men's Granite Spire Fleece Pullover | Filson
Opening the box, the filler paper was tossed aside quickly. I began to see glimpses of bright orange. Folded neatly was an entire garment in what Filson refers to as the color “Flame”. Although not labeled as “hunter” or “blaze” orange, it would be perfectly suited in identifying its wearer as a bird hunter as they safely traipsed across the uplands. The pullover is categorized under the “Hunting Jackets” and “Warm Hunting Layers” sections, so it is built for hunting. Here are my findings of the Filson pullover:
DESCRIPTION. Filson appears to have modeled the Ridgeway Fleece Pullover after an anorak, which is basically, a pullover with a hood used in polar regions by native inhabitants in cold climates. In the 1930s, the jacket became popular and soon the garment found its way into Western culture.
Filson’s version of the anorak has a beefy half-front YKK zipper perfect for ventilating for when you get overheated chasing prairie grouse across the snow-covered plains or chukar hunting in the mountains. The drawcord-adjustable hood helps with keeping your noggin warm and dry. Zipped up all the way, the pullover discourages heat from escaping during those cold winter months. Elastic binding at the cuffs and hem, allow for easy on/off as well as keeping frigid air from seeping in at those critical points. There are two draw-cinch cords on either side of the hem to adjust how loose you want the pullover to be. Zippered hand pockets go all the way through, similar, to a hoodie pocket, providing ample space for keeping hands warm. The chest pocket is a good place to store small items such as a cellphone, handwarmers, ChapStick, and hunting licenses.
MATERIAL. Filson is known for using materials that offers the most protection for the wearer from the elements. The pullover is made of durable lightweight Polartec® Thermal Pro® Fleece which offers quick drying insulation. Fleece is a man-made wonder product that is fuzzy to the touch. The super soft, warm fabric is breathable and is perfect for outerwear by holding in the warmth during extreme conditions. The only drawback is that fleece does not insulate when wet.
FIELD USE. The Ridgeway Fleece Pullover has performed flawlessly for me throughout four Kansas upland bird hunting seasons, including stints in Colorado and Wyoming chasing birds. I ordered an XL and had plenty of room (pullover runs large so order one size down) to wear layers underneath. Filson doesn’t specify the range of temperatures the Ridgeway Fleece Pullover can be used in, but I wore it during the mid, and late season (October – January). The pullover performed well in a variety of temperatures and weather scenarios, is somewhat wind resistant, and was comfortable to wear. Its ample room did not restrict me from bringing my over-under to my shoulder or swinging the shotgun through on fast-flying birds.
I was curious as to how the pullover would perform during very cold wet days. When the thermometer dipped below forty degrees, I opted to wear temperature appropriate layers and kept warm when combined with the pullover. I hunted in the rain and during wet, heavy snow falls and not once did I feel damp. During light rains and snowy days, the Filson pullover kept me dry and warm. Though long-term exposure to precipitation may affect the effectiveness of keeping the wearer dry.
Cold affects each person differently, however for me, the Ridgeway maintained its warmth even when exposed to the elements. It offered complete protection from the cold allowing me to continue to hunt during extreme conditions. When using the hood, it maintained its overall shape and did not “collapse” down onto my head. This helped with keeping the elements out, along with the pullover’s high neck zip capability. Another vital quality I was somewhat concerned about was the Ridgeway’s ability to hold up to the variety of habitat I would be walking through. The pullover handled itself well as I walked across thick grass and cattails, as it did not suffer any tears, rips, or major snags. I thought I would walk out of a weedy patch with a thousand of tiny “hitchhikers” attached to my sleeves, but it wasn’t too bad. Bustin’ through plum thickets and thick brush proved to be even more nerve racking as thoughts of the pullover becoming a sleeveless style “muscle-shirt” hoodie, but it faired very well and proved its toughness and durability. I wore three different styled bird vests to see how the Ridgeway worked when paired with various styled vests. No adverse effects were noticed when worn with each of them. The extra-large size accommodated the ability to wear layers and allowed me to don each vest over the Ridgeway Pullover without causing any issues while worn. The Ridgeway’s bright orange color was easily seen in the field.
SUMMARY. The Ridgeway Fleece Pullover is very well made, and its toughness was evident as I busted through fields. I’m confident it will continue to last several more seasons. As I mentioned above, the pullover was a bit big on me, but in the end, the roomy garment allowed me to layer comfortably. I suggest ordering a size smaller. It's simple and comfortable “hoodie” design kept me warm while hunting. The pullover’s versatility allows it to be worn as an outer layer even during colder weather when paired with quality underlayers. The Ridgeline can be worn in temps up to 50 degrees, any warmer and you’re going to get hot. Its ruggedness proved it can handle a variety of situations afield. The pullover could easily replace bulkier worn jackets and coats. Fislon’s version of an enhanced “hoodie” has made a believer out of me, and it has found its place in my upland gear cache for seasons to come. The Ridgeway Fleece Pullover is essentially a cool-weather staple built for the long haul.
FEATURES
• “Flame” Color is very similar to Hunter or Blaze Orange. Easily visible.
• Drawcord-adjustable hood and hem.
• Chest and hand pockets with zipper closures.
• Elastic binding at hem and cuffs, to seal out wind.
• Half-length front zipper to regulate core temperature.
Author’s note: Filson has recently renamed the Ridgeway to the Granite Spire Fleece Pullover. The NEW updated pullover’s changes include adding double-layered reinforced forearms for additional protection and black fabric highlights to the Flame colored version. Additional color options include Olive and Black. Filson also removed the zippered chest pocket. Men's Granite Spire Fleece Pullover | Filson
About the Author : Edgar Castillo
Visit authors website | View more articlesEdgar Castillo is a recently retired law enforcement officer for a large Kansas City metropolitan agency. He also served in the United States Marine Corps.
Born in Guatemala, hunting was a new concept when Edgar came to the U.S. His passion lies in the uplands as he travels across public lands throughout Kansas or wherever the dirt road takes him…to hunt open fields, walk treelines, & bust through plum thickets in search of wild birds in wild places.
This fervid emotion for the uplands has since blossomed into a SIGNIFICANT social media presence. It has allowed Edgar to share his experiences and connect with other bird hunters through writing.
Follow Edgar’s upland escapades on Instagram at @hunt_birdz
