Well, base layers are the beginning of any good system. You start with what is against your skin and work out. For sake of time and because there are a lot of options and theories on what the base layers should be, we will leave that for another day. However, Kenny Koehler is a big fan of Milwaukee's new WorkSkin if you are looking for a two‑thumbs‑up product to try. What we are focusing on is each layer of the Dickies Pro 3‑in‑1 Integrated Outerwear System. We have two options to go over your base layer. The first is a fleece and the other is a puffy Thinsulate‑filled jacket. Either can be used as independent jackets or as the liner for a more extreme outer jacket which we will look at a little later. I will start with my favorite between the two—the Dickies Pro Frost Extreme Fleece.
The Dickies Pro Frost Extreme Fleece Jacket: Polar Fleece, DWR‑Treated, Flatlock‑Seamed, and Loaded With Attachment Points
The Frost Extreme Fleece, model BJW02, is built from a 100 percent polyester polar fleece shell with 100 percent polyester fabric reinforcements in stress areas. It carries a DWR—Durable Water Repellent—treatment that causes water to bead and roll off the surface rather than soaking into the fabric. Flatlock seams reduce chafing against the skin and against whatever base layer is worn underneath. An adjustable bungee hem and elastic cuff binding allow the wearer to seal the jacket around the waist and wrists, trapping warm air inside and preventing cold drafts from entering. An interior storm flap behind the main front zipper adds another layer of wind protection. The jacket includes interior pockets with a media port for routing a headphone cord, an exterior locker loop, and a chest pocket and lower pockets with zipper closures. The attachment points—loops at the cuffs and at the back of the collar—correspond with attachment points inside the Jasper Extreme Coat, allowing the fleece to be physically linked to the outer shell so that the two garments move together as a single unit. This is one of the defining features of a genuinely integrated system, as opposed to simply wearing two jackets that happen to fit inside one another.
I have always been a fan of fleece jackets. They are soft, breathable, and lightweight. I am not big on bulky clothing and like when fabric technology maximizes materials. This member of the Dickies Pro 3‑in‑1 Integrated Outerwear System is made of polar fleece which is a warm, lightweight, soft fabric that retains much of its insulating power even when wet. With similar properties to real wool—minus the weight and allergy triggers—fleece is an excellent start as an inner layer or standalone piece for not‑so‑extreme temperatures. The Dickies Pro Frost Extreme Fleece Jacket is built full of features that make it one of my favorite pieces out of the system. I like the reinforcement around the zippered slash side pockets and that the main front zipper has an interior storm flap to help minimize wind and water entry. The collar is comfortable, even when zipped all the way up to the top. Looking closer, you will find there are loops on the end of the sleeves and the back of the collar that correspond with the attachment points of the outer jacket. Making the jacket even more versatile is a DWR treatment solution to help it repel water. As far as fit, I ordered a medium and found that it was of similar cut to other jackets that I own, so it was true to size, fitting closer like you would expect from an inner layer. The Frost Extreme Fleece retails for $66.99 to $72.99.
The Dickies Pro Glacier Extreme Puffer Jacket: Nylon Taffeta, Four‑Ounce Thinsulate, and a Fleece‑Lined Collar That Makes You Want to Keep It On Indoors
If fleece is not your thing, perhaps the puffer member of the Dickies Pro 3‑in‑1 Integrated Outerwear System will be more up your alley. To keep the chill out and the warm in, the Dickies Pro Glacier Extreme Puffer Jacket, model BJJ03, is built with a Durable Water Repellent treated nylon outer shell with Thinsulate insulation inside. Thinsulate has been around for a while and can stay dry and warm without excess bulk. The jacket is quite comfortable. One of my favorite features is the fleece lining in the zippered front pockets. The interior of the collar is also fleece‑lined, and I like the adjustable bungee hem at the bottom that allows me to cinch the jacket up around my waist. While this jacket could be a standalone piece, I think that the nylon outer shell will be more prone to damage in tough environments. There are attachment points near the cuffs and the back of the neck like its fleece counterpart. The Dickies Pro Glacier Extreme Puffer Jacket is my first pick as a liner for use when combined with the Dickies Pro Jasper Extreme Coat since the outer jacket will slide easily over the material. The Glacier Extreme Puffer retails for $66.99 to $72.99.
The Dickies Pro Jasper Extreme Coat: The Outer Fortress That Ties It All Together
The Dickies Pro Jasper Extreme Coat, model BJC01, can be viewed in two ways. For one, it can be worn solo without any liners and will serve as a decent rain jacket and a windbreaker. For more heat retention, you can combine it with either the Frost Extreme Fleece Jacket or the Glacier Extreme Puffer Jacket that we already looked at. Since the three coats are designed to work as a system from the start, there are attachment points and interior zippers to make it wear like one piece. What you gain is the ability to layer up as needed to have the specific level of thermal regulation with performance, comfort, and ease of movement in mind. The Jasper Extreme Coat is packed with features that make it an excellent piece on its own. For example, I like that it has a removable, adjustable hood, has chafe‑resistant neck guards that are fleece‑lined, and a storm flap behind the front main zipper. I love the waterproof zippers in the armpit areas that can be opened to facilitate ventilation when needed.
As far as construction goes, the whole jacket is triple‑stitched and all the major exterior seams are seam‑taped on the back—inside. The jacket is both waterproof and breathable with a 10k/10k lamination rating. The #k/#k rating is an industry test that measures how much water under pressure can enter the fabric—waterproofness—and how much water vapor is allowed to exit—breathability—the fabric. As a quick guide, a 10k/10k rating is rainproof and waterproof except under high pressure. Think moderate rain to average snow. The outer shell is a five‑ounce 100 percent nylon with 100 percent polyester reinforcements, lined with a 70‑grams‑per‑square‑meter 100 percent polyester mesh. The Jasper Extreme Coat retails for $110.99 to $121.99.
The Dickies Pro Banff Extreme Work Pant: Matching Technology for Below the Waist
If you are going to go with the Dickies Pro 3‑in‑1 Integrated Outerwear System, you might as well have pants to match. The Banff Extreme Work Pant, model BJP04, is constructed the exact same way as the Dickies Pro Jasper Extreme Coat. Same fabric, same reinforcements, and the same waterproof and breathable ratings. What is nice about these pants is that they have an adjustable fit that allows them to be worn alone or over another base layer—sorry, you are on your own for base layers, no fleece or puffer pants. Some of the durable features of these pants include reinforced knees, belt loops, and some extra material around the edge of the front pockets that keep your knife clip from digging in and damaging the material. I found the pants to be comfortable and a logical piece that is a must‑have if you are going to be spending some time in inclement weather. The Banff Extreme Work Pant retails for $66.99 to $72.99.
Final Thoughts on the Dickies Pro 3‑in‑1 System
The bottom line is to not let the weather ruin your day, and with the Dickies Pro 3‑in‑1 Integrated Outerwear System stashed in your truck, you can add or take off what you need to keep comfortable and ahead of the elements. It is easy enough to keep tucked in a backpack. I am five‑foot‑ten, 185 pounds, and I took a gamble on what size to order. I decided to go with the Medium for all four parts, and I am glad I did, as all the jackets and the pants fit as intended. The two optional liner jackets fit a little closer like I expected. The outer jacket did seem a little big on me as a solo piece, but once I had it over one of the inner jackets, it was perfect. The same can be said for the pants as I wore them solo where they seemed a little on the large size, but when I had them over other clothing they were perfect. The system offers plenty of adjustment to make them fit right without making them bulky or uncomfortable. The construction of the clothing all seems solid for this price point and there are many little features like extra pockets, flaps, loops, and such that I did not have the time to point out that just adds more value to the clothes. One of my only gripes would be that some of the zippers on the pocket closures seemed a little on the small side. In particular, the side pockets of the Jasper Extreme Coat and the puffer jacket are quite small and make me question their long‑term durability. Worth noting, the chest pocket zipper on the fleece was smaller yet and the pull so small that it makes it challenging to work with, especially if you are wearing gloves. But there is quality in all the zippers as they are from YKK and hopefully will hold up for a long time against the elements the system is designed to work in. The Dickies Pro 3‑in‑1 Integrated Outerwear System truly did keep me dry, warm, and comfortable. I spent most of my time in the fleece and added the outer jacket when needed. All in all, I am very satisfied with the quality and performance of the Dickies Pro 3‑in‑1 Integrated Outerwear System and would recommend it to other Pros.
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