Great Fleece
The Patagonia fleece is extremely comfortable, yets feels durable and warm. Its amazingly light. The price fr. Altrec was significantly below any other retailer. It arrived w/in a few days of purchase.

Amazing Fleece!!
I was super stoked to receive this jacket in the mail because I was unsure about the sizing, and hoping I didn't have to exchange it for a different size. I have two fleece jackets from the north face, a khumbu and denali both in large and they fit alright just a little baggy, I wanted something more form fitting. I wasn't sure how patagonia size's ran so I spoke to a couple of customer service reps at altrec who were awesome. I ended up getting a large in the patagonia jacket. I am 5'6", 161 lbs., and built, this jacket fits like a glove. Definitely worth the money, super soft fleece, form fitting, sleeves are perfect length, quality construction, cinch cord at the waist I am very pleased with patagonia. Never again will I purchase something from the north face, their products are just a bunch of hype. The denali and khumbu look like old navy fleeces with The North Face embroidered on the chest. If you're looking for a layering piece and you're similar to my height and weight I would get a medium. If you're looking to use this as an outerlayer like me I recommend the large. Thanks!

Great Buy
I own the R2 & the R4 and I love them, so I decided to get the R3 to fill the gap. I love it already. It is super soft and even in the dead of summer, I had to try it on and it was very warm. It fit true to size like my other patagonias. Weight wise, the fleece felt lighter then my R2 & R4, but just as warm. It is also so much softer. Definite must buy!!!! Cant wait to wear it this winter while carving up the slopes!!!! :)

warm and cozy...
This jacket is wonderful! It's so warm and fuzzy when you put it on. I love this jacket, and it's definitely worth the extra money! The jacket is very warm, if worn under a shell. However, this jacket does not have any windproof abilities, except maybe in the mildest of winds. If any wind is present, and you want to remain warm, you cannot wear this as a stand-alone. The benefit of this is that the jacket is extremely breatheable. I can attest to how quick drying this jacket is. A stream crossing was involved in a backpacking trip I was on, and the stream ended up having a spot which was deeper than expected.

all other fleece obsolete!
This is what I wrote about the R2: "This is an amazing jacket. When you first pick it up, you will be surprised how light it is and doubt that it will do much, as in work as an insulator. But then, you put it on, and it is as if it is a heated garment. Oh my! I had given my wife a fuzzy hoody made out of similar feeling material and wondered why Patagonia did not make anything so sensuous feeling for men, then this! It not only feels great but it works really well. It is almost too efficient to wear around the house as a sweater and almost too efficient to wear under a soft shell out on a morning bike ride with freezing temperatures. The other wonderful part is the fit! I am 172 lbs. and 6'2" and most Patagonia jackets have been too short in the arms and too short in the torso, as well as too much material in the body. Well, this slim fit got it right, sleeves long enough, torso tight enough and long enough in a Large. I have ordered a second one, because they will probably stop making it, or sell out. As a disclaimer, I have never seen or touched the previous R2 jacket that this one replaces, but this new one makes me glad I waited. Finally, Patagonia recognizes that there are tall people in the market. I had a thermal pro high loft in a large tall from another company, and it was great except the cut was for someone with an eighteen inch neck and a bottom heavy torso. Thanks Patagonia! Well, the R3 is the same except a denser and therefore a bit heavier, but that equates to more warmth and still light weight. I personally did not like the asymmetry of a pocket on one side, so I carefully cut the pocket off and now it looks Great! Hey Patagonia: Why not a pocket on both sides? and why not one with a hood (like you offer the Ladies?). Patagonia lists the R2 as a Slim fit and the R3 Hi Loft as a Regular fit, but I can not feel a difference and the tape measure tells me they are cut just alike in size. I have been wearing the R3 Hi Loft over a merino wool sweater down to twenty degrees F, and it does just fine! This new R2 and R3 Hi Loft is so senuous and works so well, it makes all other fleece obsolete."