Best Fleece Jackets of 2024
microgrid, polar fleece, sherpa fleece, mid-layers for extra warmth hiking, backpacking, skiing, climbing, camping, or commuting in the city
September 6th, 2023
The author trail running in the Patagonia R1 Air Zip hoody, the overall winner for best fleece.
The best fleece jackets provide warmth and layering versatility in a lightweight package. During cold weather, a good fleece is the ever-important mid-layer in your three-part layering system. Sandwich a high-quality fleece jacket between a base layer and shell jacket, and you’re ready for whatever weather comes your way.
During warmer weather, carrying a fleece with you on mountain adventures is a good idea for the chilly parts of the day, on windy ridges, or at the bottom of deep canyons. We always carry a lightweight fleece for extra warmth on cold mornings while backpacking, bikepacking, and pretty much anything else we do outside all year long.
After narrowing our list from dozens of men’s fleeces, we wore these fleeces for several months during a cold and snowy Colorado winter to find the best fleece jackets for men. Based on our testing, we have recommendations for everything from high-alpine active fleeces to casual fleeces for around town. We recommend the most breathable, least expensive, most comfortable, and best fleeces available in plus-sizes. We tested hooded fleece jackets, full-zip fleece hoodies, the warmest fleeces, and more.
This guide is intended to help you find the best fleece jackets for your next cool-weather outdoor adventure or shoulder season outdoor trips. We have something here for your intended use and needs. We tested tons of different fleeces, so there’s something for everyone here, from hardcore winter runners and backcountry skiers to casual hikers and those who simply want to feel cozy, warm, and comfortable wherever they go.
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Fleece jackets comparison table
MEN’S comparison table
| FLEECE JACKET | TREELINE AWARD | SIZES | FIT | WEIGHT | BEST FOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody | Best overall Read why |
XS-XXL | Slim | 12.9 oz / 365 g | Active lifestyle |
| Patagonia R1 Techface Jacket | Best zip up Read why |
XS-XXXL | Slim | 11.5 oz / 326 g | Snowy activities |
| Mountain Hardwear Kor Airshell Warm | Best hooded Read why |
S-XXL | Slim | 12.3 oz / 348 g | High-output cold weather activities, ultralight backpacking |
| The North Face Summit FUTUREFLEECE Full-Zip | Best lightweight Read why |
S-XXL | Average | 7.34 oz / 208 g | Ultralight backpacking, running, and mountaineering |
| La Sportiva Descender Storm Jacket | Best windproof Read why |
XS-XL | Slim | 15.6oz / 445g | Ski Touring, winter conditions |
WOMEN’S comparison table
| FLEECE JACKET | TREELINE AWARD | SIZES | FIT | WEIGHT | BEST FOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody | Best overall Read why |
XS-XL | Slim | 10.9 oz/ 309 g | Active lifestyle |
| Patagonia R1 Techface Jacket | Best zip up Read why |
XXS-L | Slim | 9.8 oz/ 278 g | Snowy activities |
| Mountain Hardwear Kor Airshell Warm | Best hooded Read why |
S-XL | Slim | 11.3 oz / 320 g | High-output cold weather activities, ultralight backpacking |
| The North Face Summit FUTUREFLEECE Full-Zip | Best lightweight Read why |
S-XXL | Average | 6.21 oz / 176 g | Ultralight backpacking, running, and mountaineering |
| La Sportiva Descender Storm Jacket | Best windproof Read why |
XS-XL | Slim | 13.5 oz / 382 g | Ski Touring, winter conditions |
The winners
Best fleece jacket: Patagonia R1 Air full-zip hoody
Available sizes: XS-XXL
Fit: Slim
Weight: 12.9 oz (men’s), 10.9 oz (women’s)
Best for: Active lifestyle
What we liked: Soft, Warmth, Breathable, Dries quickly, Feels like cotton but performs better
What we didn’t like: Small chest pocket
The Patagonia R1 Air Full-zip Hoody is our overall winner for best fleece jacket. This is our favorite fleece overall because it excels during active pursuits, is incredibly comfortable, and looks good enough to wear all the time. Most fleeces are either stylish, warm, and casual—or, they’re technical garments that keep you warm during intense exercise and make you look like you’re going to a ski mountaineering race. The R1 Air Full-zip walks the line between these two—it’s a high-performing fleece that breathes, keeps you warm, and looks good around town. You’ll never want to take this fleece off, and won’t have to, regardless of the cold weather activity.
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Trail running in the Patagonia R-1 Air Full zip hoody.
The R1 Air Full-zip Hoody is made with Patagonia’s 100% recycled polyester jacquard fleece. This fleece has a zigzag texture with a unique look and feel we love. The material is softer than any other fleece we’ve tried and is more comfortable than our favorite cotton hoody.
Inside vs. outside face of fabric on the R1 Airzip hoody. The soft material in the inside makes it feel as comfortable as our favorite cotton hoody.
We like the R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody so much, we dedicated an entire in-depth review to just this jacket. It wicks moisture well and is one of the most breathable fleeces we tested. We’ve worn this fleece on many long trail runs in Colorado, where temperatures range from 50 to below freezing. Between the full-length zipper, the hood, and the breathable, quick-drying fleece fabric, this jacket has kept us comfortable in a shocking range of temperatures.
Bikepacking in the Patagonia R1 Air hoody.
There’s nothing we don’t like about this fleece zip-up. But if we’re being picky, the chest pocket isn’t big enough for a modern cell phone. We’re okay with storing our phone elsewhere, like in either of the two zippered hand pockets or a running hydration vest.
With hundreds of rave reviews from customers online, an editor’s choice award from OutdoorGearLab, and countless other positive reviews, we know we’re in good company when we say this is the best fleece.
Henley version of the R1 Air Full Zip hoody.
We also tested a new Henley version of the R1 Air, which is an excellent option if you don’t want the zipper closure. A Henley is a more casual scoop neck design with a three-button snap closure opening near the neck. This was a big hit with all three testers who wore this fleece. One tester put it on at the beginning of a camping trip and didn’t take it off until they arrived home four days later. Another tester used it during a week-long bikepacking trip, and loved its cozy comfort at the beginning and end of every day.
Best fleece zip up jacket: Patagonia R1 Techface Jacket
Available sizes: XS-XXXL
Fit: Slim
Weight: 11.5 oz / 326 g (men’s), 9.8 oz/ 278 g (women’s)
Fleece weight: 5.2-oz double weave grid fleece
What we liked: Stretchy, durable, warmth, snow and windproof, very breathable
What we didn’t like: Expensive, doesn’t have a chest pocket
Best for: Snowy activities
The Patagonia R1 Techface Jacket is the best fleece zip up jacket for outdoor pursuits where you need more weather protection. This jacket is heavier-weight than the other R1 jacket we tested–straddling the line between a fleece and a softshell jacket, and we think it does a great job in both categories. We tested a lot of variations of the Patagonia R1, and this one is the most protective from snow, wind, and light rain. It's a full-zip fleece jacket made of dual-sided fleece material.
The outside resembles a traditional jacket, while the inside is a soft-grid fleece. This jacket is also the most durable of the R1 fleeces we tested, and more durable than a traditional fleece as well. It’s also more breathable than a hardshell jacket, so it’s great for snow. It’s slim and very stretchy, so you can fit this under a shell or over multiple base layers.
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This R1 Techface Jacket works great as a shell for ski touring.
We tested the R1 Techface jacket during a cold and snowy January in Colorado and were impressed with its breathability and versatility. It’s warm enough to wear with only a light t-shirt while trail running on milder days. And it works really well as a shell over wool base layers when the temperature drops below freezing. This works great as a shell for ski touring, too. You can fully open it going uphill, then zip it up to your neck for the downhills. This would also make an excellent layer for rock climbing since the face material can withstand abrasions from rock.
Close-up on the handwarmer pocket on the Patagonia R1 Techface jacket.
The R1 Techface has elastic inserts at the cuffs that can stretch over thin gloves. And it has zippered hand pockets. We tested the hoodless version. However, the hooded version (R1 Techface Jacket), is slightly heavier and might better fit your cold-weather needs. If you’re looking for the most durable and weather-resistant Patagonia R1 fleece, this is the one.
We liked the fit and coverage on the Patagonia R1 Tech face.
There isn’t much about this jacket that we would change. But if you like to store your phone against your chest to keep it warm, this fleece doesn’t give you that option. However, there are plenty of fleeces out there with a chest pocket, and we like the minimal approach to pockets taken with this jacket.
Trail running in the snow in the Patagonia R1 Techface.
The R1 Techface has 100s of glowing reviews from customers on Patagonia’s website, and Switchback Travel and OutdoorGearLab have both also given this jacket positive reviews. We think this fleece jacket is pretty great, too. Best yet, you can sometimes find it in Patagonia's Worn Wear store, keeping the price down for you and jackets out of landfills.
Best hooded fleece jacket: Mountain Hardwear Kor Airshell Warm Jacket
Available sizes: S-XXL
Fit: Slim
Weight: 12.3 oz (men’s), 11.3 oz (women’s)
Fleece weight: AirMesh “fleece” lining
What we liked: Very breathable, warmth, tons of pockets, great hood
What we didn’t like: Expensive compared to regular fleece
Best for: High-output cold weather activities, ultralight backpacking
The Mountain Hardwear Kor Airshell Warm Jacket is one of the least fleece-like jackets we tested, but it performs better than traditional fleece in warmth and breathability, so we included it here. It’s another hybrid fleece shell, and like the R1 Techface jacket has a wind and weather-resistant shell material paired with a fleece lining.
The Mountain Hardwear Kor Airshell combines fleece material on the inside with windproof and water-resistant fabric on the outside.
The AirMesh fleece lining is incredibly warm when you aren’t moving; this jacket is almost as warm as a light down jacket. But when your body generates heat, the Kor Airshell jacket breathes better than most fleeces we’ve worn. We’ve been using this jacket for half a year—while alpine climbing in Wyoming, mountain running in Colorado, and on cold weather backpacking trips in the southwest. This jacket is constantly impressing us, whatever we do with it.
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Trail running in the winter in the Mountain Hardwear Air Kor Warm.
This jacket features a combination of soft mesh lining with sections of fuzzy fleece material inside. The shell fabric is an abrasion-resistant Pertex® Quantum Air stretch fabric that blocks wind, light rain, and snow. It has a great hood that fits over a ball cap or beanie and has a shock cord to tighten around the crown of your head.
Close-up on the fleece material on the Mountain Hardwear Air Kor Warm.
It has four zippered pockets, two on the chest and two hand pockets. The chest pockets also double as vents to dump heat if needed. Finally, it has a full-length, two-way zipper, so you can open the bottom of the jacket while keeping the top zipped to your neck.
Mountain Hardwear Air Kor Warm works well with a harness for alpine climbing.
This fleece is one of the more expensive jackets we tested, and the price might scare some away. But one of the advantages of this jacket over others is it can serve as a warm-when-wet synthetic puffy jacket in the summer and a mid-layer in the winter.
Backpacking in the Mountain Hardwear Air Kor Warm.
This jacket has gotten great reviews from Outside Magazine, GearJunkie, and OutdoorGearLab, along with many positive customer reviews. Another Treeline Review writer, Chris Meehan, liked it so much that he recommends it in our Best Gifts for Skiers guide. This jacket can replace several pieces of gear in your closet, which says a lot. So we think it’s worth the price–whether for yourself or as a gift.
Best lightweight fleece jacket: The North Face Summit Series FUTUREFLEECE Full-Zip Hoodie
Available sizes: S-XXL
Fit: Average
Weight: 7.34 oz / 208 g (men’s), 6.21 oz / 176 g (women’s)
Fleece weight: 24 g/m² FUTUREFLEECE™
What we liked: Ultralight, very breathable, great hood, very comfortable
What we didn’t like: Tiny zipper gets stuck easily, not as warm as some fleeces
Best for: Ultralight backpacking, running, and mountaineering
The North Face Summit Series Futurefleece Full-Zip Hoodie is one of the lightest fleeces we tested and the lightest weight full-zip fleece we’ve ever seen. We love the versatility of a full-length zipper in a fleece mid-layer, but a longer zipper does add weight. With this fleece, you can have both. The North Face Summit Series Futurefleece isn’t the warmest, as you might expect of a jacket that weighs around seven ounces. But this lightweight fleece hoody is exceptionally comfortable, breathable, and works well in various conditions. We tested this fleece on winter trail runs, on hiking trips, and as a mid-layer while skiing in Colorado. It works well in chilly temperatures of around 40-50 degrees, and in colder temperatures it serves as a mid-layer between a wind shell and a base layer.
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Skinning up a mountain while skiing in The North Face Summit Series Futurelight Fleece.
This fleece has a smooth outer face material with fluffy, sherpa-fleece-like insulation on the inside. The fleece insulation is arranged in a diamond pattern, so there are gaps to trap warm air, much like with grid fleece. These gaps also let heat out; we never overheated in this jacket. The face material feels like a soft woven shirt.
Close up on the fleece microgrid fabric on The North Face Summit Series Futurelight Fleece
It has no wind or water resistance, making it more breathable. In fact, this fleece is one of the most breathable ones we tested and can be worn as an outer layer. The hood has elastic around the face opening, and we never had it blow off in windy sections. It also has elastic cuffs, thumb loops, and a chest pocket.
We liked the thumb hopes and pockets on The North Face Summit Series Futurelight Fleece
While the full-length zipper generally works well enough, we consistently had difficulty fully unzipping this small, ultralight zipper. It always seemed to get stuck at the bottom, and we always had to wiggle it to open the jacket fully. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it’s hard to fully unzip while you’re moving, and, therefore, it’s worth noting. This also isn’t the warmest fleece, but for the weight, we’re okay with that.
Hood coverage on the The North Face Summit Series Futurelight Fleece
The small zipper on the Futurefleece adds very little weight to this lightweight fleece jacket. Most tiny zippers are finicky, so we’re used to gently wrestling with them. For a smaller zipper, the zipper on the Futurefleece isn’t as sticky as we've seen on many zippers its size. Still, if you have any issues with the zipper, we recommend using zipper lube and reading our zipper care guide. This jacket has tons of positive customer reviews on the North Face website, and we think this ultralight fleece jacket is pretty great, too.
Best windproof fleece jacket: La Sportiva Descender Storm Jacket
Available sizes: XS-XL
Fit: Slim
Weight: 15.6oz / 445g (men’s), 13.5 oz / 382 g (women’s)
Fleece weight: Recycled single-layer grid fleece softshell hybrid
What we liked: Stretchy, wind resistant, keeps you dry in snow and light rain
What we didn’t like: Runs small, expensive for a fleece jacket
Best for: Ski Touring, Winter conditions
The La Sportiva Descender Storm Jacket is our winner for the best windproof fleece jacket. It will protect you on those days when a cold wind is howling, the snow is falling, or both. In January, we tested this jacket on frigid mountain runs on the Colorado Front Range. We also used this as a shell for backcountry skiing in Colorado. It works great for both of these. The material is stretchy enough to let you move how you want during any activity, making it an excellent layer for climbing, too.
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The author on a winter run in the La Sportiva Descender Storm fleece jacket, which is built for rough and adverse conditions.
The La Sportiva Descender Storm fleece jacket features a similar hybrid construction to the R1 Techface Jacket we mentioned above. However, the Descender Storm Jacket feels burlier and more suited for adverse weather and rough conditions while still remaining stretchy and comfortable.
La Sportiva Descender Storm fleece jacket has a thick and durable hood that blocks out wind and water.
The fabric's exterior is thick and durable. It’s wind-blocking, water-resistant, and keeps snow out. The interior is a grid fleece in an alternating square and rectangle pattern. This pattern helps trap more heat by creating more loft in the grid fleece.
Skiing in the La Sportiva Descender Storm fleece jacket
The best feature of this jacket is the hood, though. The stretchy material gently hugs your head while conforming to most head shapes, with or without a hat. We wore this hood over a ball cap, a thin beanie, a thicker beanie, and under a helmet. It works well in all these applications.
Close-up on the fabric of the La Sportiva Descender Storm fleece jacket
In our experience, La Sportiva clothing runs pretty small. We had to get a size larger than usual for testing this. Also, like many of the hybrid fleece jackets we tested here, this is pretty expensive for a fleece.
But this is a technical jacket that’s ready for the mountains. It’s not simply a hooded fleece jacket; this is a fleece-softshell hybrid. We think it’s great for technical applications requiring a durable, comfortably stretchy, and protective active layer.
Best plus size fleece jacket (MEN’S): Kuhl Revel 1/4 Zip Sweater
Available sizes: S-XXXL
Fit: Average
Weight: 9.9 oz / 280 g (men’s only)
Fleece weight: 100-weight Kashmira™ Fleece
What we liked: Wool-like lining that isn’t itchy, looks great, fits great, very comfortable, lightweight, warmth while maintaining breathability
What we didn’t like: Kashmira fleece interior
Best for: Casual outdoor activity
The Kuhl Revel ¼ zip sweater is a fleece pullover that wins our award for Best plus size fleece and we think it's a great fleece no matter what size you choose. It wins our award because it's the best fleece that comes in sizes from small to 3XL. This was one of the coziest fleeces we tested, and we happily wore this for weeks during a cold Colorado winter. It isn’t the most technical fleece, but it looks great, is super comfortable, and can fit many different body sizes. It’s also very light and can hold its own during active pursuits. This fleece is one of our favorite for everything from bike commuting around town to cozy winter nights indoors.
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The author bike commuting in the Kuhl Revel fleece
This fleece features a soft, wool-like interior with a knit exterior. Even though we say “wool-like,” this soft and fuzzy lining is not even remotely itchy. It feels soft against your skin and is incredibly warm for the weight. The exterior of this fleece looks and feels like a classic knit sweater. You don’t always want to look like you’re ready for a mountaineering expedition, and with this fleece, you don’t have to.
The author setting up a camp chair for backyard hangouts in the super comfortable Kuhl Revel fleece.
We love that this fleece looks great and is super comfortable, but there isn’t much more to it. The Revel isn't the best option if you’re looking for a performance-oriented fleece. Also, the care instructions for this fleece are more complicated than some due to the loose-knit micro-threads of polyester. We recommend washing this in a fleece washing bag to keep these tiny polyester threads from becoming microplastics in the waterways.
Close up on the soft interior material on the Kuhl Revel fleece
The Revel has over 500 positive customer reviews on the Kuhl website, and after testing one, we can see why.
Best plus size fleece jacket (WOMEN’S): L.L Bean hi pile fleece
Available sizes: S-XXL (men’s), XS-3X (women’s), plus, tall, and petite
Fit: Slightly fitted
Weight: not stated
Fleece weight: 100% polyester fleece (ultraplush heat trapping highloft)
What we liked: High collar, zippered pockets, warm, soft, fluffy
What we didn’t like: high pile can attract lint, it may shed in the wash
Best for: Casual outdoor activity
Treeline Review writer Gabi Reyes-Acosta writes about the L.L. Bean High Pile Fleece as the best plus size fleece in her article on Best Plus Size Winter Outdoor Clothing. “It’s become one of my favorite clothing items, no matter the season,” she writes. The High Pile Fleece is available in Regular, Petite, and Plus Sizes, making it among the most inclusive fleece options out there.
Gabi finds L.L. Bean’s sizing to be consistent, but recommends sizing up if you want to layer underneath. She describes the fit as “not bulky” or heavy as other fleece.
Favorite features include the high collar for extra warmth and comfort. It also has a kangaroo pocket like a sweatshirt with zippered handwarmer pockets inside.
Although it was not an issue for us, the biggest concern customers have is with shedding. It appears as if a batch around 2020 pilled and lost fuzz in the wash. Customer complaints since 2020 have not mentioned this issue, so it seems to have been fixed. We recommend washing this in a fleece washing bag to keep these tiny polyester threads from becoming microplastics in the waterways.
Gabi isn’t alone in her praise for the High Pile Fleece. It has nearly 1,000 reviews on L.L. Bean’s website and 4.6/5 stars.
Warmest fleece jacket: Patagonia R1 Fleece Pullover Hoody
Available sizes: XXS-XXL
Fit: Slim
Weight: 11 oz / 312 g (men’s), 9.7 oz / 275 g (women’s)
Fleece weight: Polartec® Power Grid® fleece
What we liked: Extreme Warmth, breathable, full-coverage balaclava hood, tons of sizes, ¾ length zipper
What we didn’t like: Hood is sometimes too tight
Best for: Cold weather base/mid-layer
The Patagonia R1 Pullover Hoody is a lightweight, incredibly warm fleece pullover for high-output activities. We wore this jacket during several snowy runs in Colorado. It was often actively snowing as we ran up the mountains, but when we wore this fleece over a baselayer, it was warm. In fact, we usually had the ¾ length zipper open and the hood off. When it got colder, or we stopped moving as quickly, we simply zipped this fleece up, put the hood on, and were much warmer. We also used this as a layer for backcountry skiing; it’s great for skiing for all the same reasons. This fleece is very fitted and is tight enough to use as a base layer in cold weather or a standalone layer when it isn’t as cold.
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Experienced backcountry skiiers tested the Patagonia R1 hoody in Colorado.
Patagonia has many R1 fleeces, and many of them are winners here. We think the R1 Fleece Pullover is best if you want a traditional grid fleece to layer with. It fits tightly enough to layer over, is stretchy enough to fit over a base layer, and is breathable enough to wear as a base layer.
On a winter run with the hood up and collar up in the Patagonia R1 Pullover jacket.
The R1 Pullover Hoody is a slim-fitting grid fleece that can stretch over a long-sleeve base layer. It uses two types of grid fleece: a larger grid pattern that covers your core and a thinner, more breathable grid-patterned material is used in the armpits, hood, and along the bottom of the garment. The thinner grid-patterned material has less fleece to it, so it’s less hot and breathes better where your body generates the most heat.
Close up on the micro grid fleece fabric on the Patagonia R1 Pullover jacket.
You can also wear this hoody as a base layer. Its inner-facing fabric is soft against the skin, and it breathes well enough to wear in this way. It has a balaclava-style hood that zips to cover your nose and mouth. This fleece was often too warm when the hood covered most of our face. But it works great in cold and windy conditions, as you’d find on a ski lift or a mountain summit. It also has thumb holes to complete the cold-weather setup.
Close up on the hood of the Patagonia R1 Pullover jacket.
While we mostly love the hood on this fleece, sometimes it felt too small. When the weather is cold, but not too cold, we’ll often wear a standard billed hat and a shirt with a hood that we can quickly pull over the hat when we’re moving through a colder area or on a windy ridge. With the R1 Pullover Hoody, we can’t easily fit the hood over a ball cap, and definitely not over a ski helmet. While this is a minor flaw, we still think the hood is great for cold weather—but it's not ideal for days when you’re taking the hood on and off because you’ll have to put it under your hat or helmet.
Trail running on a snowy day in the Patagonia R1 Pullover jacket.
However, we still love this fleece for early-morning runs in cold weather, skiing, and anything else that involves a mountain. It has hundreds of positive customer reviews, and this hooded fleece is downright legendary among alpinists and backcountry skiers. We agree that it deserves this legendary status, too.
It's worth noting that while many retailers sell the men's and women's R1 Pullover jacket, not many retailers sell the hoody version. If warmth is what you're looking for, we recommend going with the hoody, which only seems to be consistently available directly from Patagonia.
Most breathable fleece: Ortovox Fleece Grid Hoody
Available sizes: S-XXL
Fit: Slim
Weight: 12.8 oz / 362 g (men’s),
11.6 oz / 330 g (women’s)
Fleece weight: Thin polyester/wool blend grid fleece
What we liked: Very breathable, odor resistant, comfortable, ethically produced
What we didn’t like: Extremely expensive
Best for: Cold weather mid-layer
The Ortovox Fleece Grid Hoody is our winner for Best Breathable Fleece. It's a full-zip fleece jacket that uses a unique blend of wool and polyester to create a highly breathable grid fleece material that’s warm, odor resistant, and extremely breathable. We tested this fleece on many Colorado mountain adventures: trail running, skiing, snowshoeing, and winter peak bagging. During a 15-mile run in a snowstorm with only a base layer underneath, it kept us surprisingly warm even when we started to sweat. The Ortovox Fleece Grid hoody was warm enough on a zero-degree (Fahrenheit) day, with only a base layer underneath. We rarely overheated in this jacket since it's so breathable, and the full-length zipper makes it easy to ventilate when you do get too hot.
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Testing the Ortovox Fleece on a backcountry ski tour.
This fleece hoody is incredibly breathable. Most jackets we tested are 100% synthetic fleece. Grid fleece is always more breathable than standard fleece, but this grid fleece is one-quarter wool. The added wool increases the breathability and helps this jacket not stink as much. Some fleece can get quite smelly when you sweat in it, but so far, this fleece hasn’t stunk at all. It has a great hood that can fit under a helmet or over another hat. And, it has two chest pockets. One of the chest pockets is even large enough for a map, which is super helpful.
Running in the winter in the Ortovox Fleece Grid Hoody.
While many of the fleeces we tested here are pretty expensive, this Ortovox fleece hoody takes the cake. We were shocked when we saw the price of this fleece. But after wearing it for the winter season, we’re more convinced it’s worth the price for the right person.
If you’re a mountain athlete that values a high-quality and breathable mid-layer, this is a great fleece. But this is an extremely expensive fleece. There’s no denying that. If this is too expensive for you, the Patagonia R1 Air Full Zip and the North Face Futurefleece are both extremely breathable and cost less than this fleece.
We appreciated the generous pockets on the Ortovox Fleece Grid Hoody.
However, it’s recommended by the German Mountain and Ski Guides Association, and Ortovox fleece jackets have plenty of positive online reviews. Ortovox is also committed to fair wool practices, being climate neutral, and making their products in Europe using fair working conditions.
While this is still a very expensive fleece, we’re impressed with its performance and Ortovox’s commitment to ethics. We think it’s worth the price if you need a high-performing, comfortable, and breathable fleece for extreme conditions.
Most comfortable fleece: Patagonia Better Sweater
Available sizes: XS-XXXL
Fit: Casual
Weight: 17.8 oz / 505 g (men’s), 13.8 oz / 391 g (women’s)
Fleece weight: 200-weight recycled polyester knitted fleece
What we liked: Very soft, looks great, cozy, and comfortable
What we didn’t like: Too hot for active pursuits
Best for: Casual use
The Patagonia Better Sweater (men’s and women’s) is the most comfortable fleece we tested. The fit is perfect. It’s loose, but not too loose to feel baggy, and the way it’s sewn fits all our testers well. One of our testers described the Patagonia Better Sweater as “like wearing a hug,” and we all agree. It looks like a sweater and can be dressed up or dressed down. We wear ours in office settings, for weekends in the mountains, and around town in Denver. This fleece fits in everywhere, and it’s comfortable enough to take everywhere.
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The author chilling in the desert Southwest in winter wearing the super comfortable Patagonia Better Sweater.
The Patagonia Better sweater isn’t the most technical fleece, but it’s not intended to be. It’s made of thick, cozy, 100% recycled knit fleece material with a fuzzy fleece interior. It has a ¼ zip collar with a jersey-knit material inside the collar, at the sleeve cuffs, and along the bottom hem to reduce wear from abrasion. This fleece sweater is pure comfort; we can’t say this enough.
Close up on the collar and chest pocket on the Patagonia Better Sweater.
Yes, the Better Sweater is not a technical performance fleece, but everyone needs a cozy sweater for when they aren’t getting after it. But even though this fleece shines most in casual settings, it’s still great for cold-weather activities like winter hiking. We still use this fleece on moderate hikes, and love wearing it on camping trips too.
Close up on the interior and external material, cuffs, and zipper of the Patagonia Better Sweater.
The Better Sweater has over 500 positive customer reviews on Patagonia’s website and is ubiquitous as a layer among outdoorsy folks. We wear this fleece most days when it’s cold out and will continue wearing it for years to come.
Best affordable fleece jacket for men: Decathlon M100 Hiking Fleece
Available sizes: XS-4XL
Fit: Slim
Weight: 7.3 oz / 212 g (men’s), 6.7 oz / 190 g (women’s)
Fleece weight: 100-weight
What we liked: Very light, packable, affordable, no special care needed
What we didn’t like: Not very breathable, runs small
Best for: Ultralight backpacking
The Decathlon M100 Hiking Fleece is the best fleece jacket on a budget for outdoor pursuits. We carried the Decathlon M100 Hiking Fleece as a mid-layer on a southbound Continental Divide Trail thru-hike, and it was perfect for this. We wanted a lightweight and affordable fleece to wear on cold mornings that we wouldn’t have to worry about ruining on a 3,000-mile thru-hike. This fleece fits the bill and exceeded our expectations. It held up surprisingly well on a multi-month backpacking trip. It withstood getting snagged by cactuses, dragged across rock faces, and being packed and unpacked repeatedly. We still use this fleece for shoulder season backpacking trips to this day, and it costs 75% less than many fleeces.
VIEW THE DECATHLON M100 HIKING FLEECE
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WOMEN'S
The author wearing the Decathlon M100 hiking fleece in the desert Southwest on an ultralight thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail.
The Decathlon M100 hiking fleece is a lightweight fleece that only weighs 7 ounces–among the lightest of those we reviewed. It’s made of 100-weight fleece, the thinnest available, and has a quarter-length zipper. It’s a very basic fleece and has no pockets. There’s not much to it, reallly. But if you’re concerned with price and weight, a minimally-featured 100-weight fleece is what you might want.
The author at the Toaster House, a famous hostel in Pie Town, New Mexico, while thru-hiking the Continental Divide Trail in the Decathlon 100 fleece.
The low price does have some drawbacks, though. This fleece contains no recycled material, isn’t very breathable, and has no pockets. These days it’s quite common for outdoor brands to make fleece from recycled materials, but Decathlon doesn’t use recycled polyester fleece in this model.
Close up on the zipper on the Decathlon MH100 fleece, which is a minimalist fleece.
On cold days, this fleece will keep you warm. But when the temperature rises, it gets hot pretty fast. Many days on trail, we spent a lot of time debating when was the best time to take this off before we overheated too much. That’s pretty common with a basic 100-weight fleece, though. Its affordability also comes at the cost of pockets—you won’t find any pockets here.
Although the Decathlon M100 is marketed for outdoor use, it also works well as a fleece for city use.
The Decathlon M100 also runs on the small side–we’re usually an adult small, have a medium, but could wear a large in this fleece. So while it’s technically available up to 4XL, we’d take that number with a grain of salt.
The Decathlon M100 hiking fleece costs less than a quarter of the price of some more technical fleece jackets, and it has been trail-tested by many ultralight backpackers. There is no shortage of glowing reviews of this ultralight fleece on backpacking message boards; Sectionhiker.com loves it, and so do we.
Other fleece jackets we tested
Cotopaxi Otero Fleece Half-Zip Pullover
Available sizes: S-XXXL
Fit: Slim
Weight: 10.8 oz / 307 g (men’s), 18.4 oz / 521 g (women’s)
Fleece weight: 200 g/sm grid fleece
What we liked: Looks great, lightweight, warm grid fleece, ½ zip vents well
What we didn’t like: Not as breathable as some grid fleeces
Best for: Hiking, casual wear
The Cotopaxi Otero Fleece Half-zip Pullover is a lightweight and stylish grid fleece. We love how this fleece looks, and we love Cotopaxi’s sustainability mission.
With this fleece, the brand is wading into the crowded field of performance activewear. And while it’s an excellent fleece, we didn’t think it breathed as well as some other grid fleeces we tested. We ultimately didn’t pick it as a winner, but we still think it looks great and performs pretty well as an active mid-layer.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE COTOPAXI OTERO FLEECE HALF-ZIP PULLOVER
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WOMEN'S
Orvis Horshoe Hills 1/4 zip Fleece
Available sizes: S-XXL
Fit: Casual
Weight: 14.1 oz / 399 g (men’s), 12.1 oz / 343 g (women’s)
Fleece weight: 100-weight grid fleece
What we liked: Looks good, easy to operate zipper closure, lightweight
What we didn’t like: Not as comfortable as some fleeces
Best for: Hiking and casual wear
The Orvis Horshoe Hills ¼ zip Fleece features a grid fleece inner with a smooth exterior face. We like that this fleece toes the line between activewear while still having a casual style.
The Orvis Horshoe Hills 1/4 zip is a stylish fleece that is incredibly durable.
It’s a super durable, well-made fleece that’s great for a chilly hike with the family or sitting around a campfire with friends. It’s not quite as comfortable as some of the more casual fleece sweaters we tested, and it isn’t really a high-performance piece of activewear either. So, we didn’t choose it as a winner.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE ORVIS HORSHOE HILLS 1/4 ZIP FLEECE
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WOMEN'S
Kuhl Interceptr 1/4 zip
Available sizes: S-XXXL
Fit: Casual
Weight: 13.7 oz / 389 g (men’s only)
Fleece weight: 200-weight Kashmira™ Fleece
What we liked: Very comfortable, looks like a knit sweater
What we didn’t like: Too warm for active pursuits, heavier
Best for: Casual wear
The Kuhl Interceptr ¼ zip fleece is a heavyweight fleece for casual settings or cold conditions. We love the wool-like fleece interior, which looks like a knit sweater on the outside.
The author walking around Denver in winter wearing the stylish Kuhl Interceptr 1/4 zip fleece.
It’s a thick fleece and warm and comfortable but not quite as comfortable as some fleece sweaters we tested. Ultimately, this wasn’t quite as cozy as some other fleeces, so we didn’t choose it as a winner.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE KUHL INTERCEPTR 1/4 ZIP
Available sizes: XXS-XXL
Fit: Casual
Weight: 11.9 oz / 337 g (unisex)
Fleece weight: Unique pullover anorak design, abrasion resistant finish, breathable, excellent pockets
What we didn’t like: Less versatile than many fleeces
Best for: Cold weather activities
The Patagonia R1 Crosstrata pullover is perhaps the most unique fleece we tested. It has a hoodless pullover design that looks like an old-school windbreaker jacket.
The Patagonia R1 Crossstrata Pullover is a men’s only version of the R1 Air full zip paired with abraision-resistant shell and a kangaroo pouch pocket. While it’s certainly a nice fleece, it’s less versatile than the other R1 offerings.
It uses the same fleece lining as the R1 Air full-zip we love but pairs that with an abrasion-resistant shell face similar to the R1 Techface jacket. It also has a kangaroo pouch handwarmer pocket with a separate horizontal zipper pocket that sits above the kangaroo pocket. We love this fleece but we ultimately didn’t choose it because it’s a little less versatile than the R1 Air or the R1 Techface. If you like this look, though, you should go for it.
VIEW THE PATAGONIA R1 CROSSSTRATA PULLOVER
Quechua MH900 Hiking Fleece Jacket
Available sizes: XS-XXXL
Fit: Slim
Weight: 12.9 oz / 365 g (men’s), 10.2 oz / 290 g (women’s)
Fleece weight: not stated
What we liked: Great looking fleece hoody, full zip versatility, lightweight, inexpensive
What we didn’t like: Not very breathable, fits small
Best for: Hiking, casual wear
The Quechua MH900 Hiking Fleece Jacket is a very affordable full-zip midweight fleece hooded jacket. This is one of the most affordable hooded fleeces we tested, and it looks great.
The author on a winter trail run in the Quechua MH900 hiking fleece jacket.
It has a chest pocket with a second internal pocket inside as well. This fleece runs quite small, though. We usually wear a size small, and the medium we tested was too tight for our liking. It’s also not as breathable as some performance fleeces we tested, so we didn’t choose it as a winner.
VIEW THE QUECHUA MH900 HIKING FLEECE JACKET
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WOMEN'S
Fleece jacket can encompass a wide variety of different kinds of outdoor apparel. We delve into their similarities and differences in this article.
WHAT IS FLEECE?
Fleece is a wool-like material made from polyester. It’s lightweight, soft, warm, and vegan-friendly. It’s hydrophobic, so it doesn’t absorb much water. Fleece retains most of its insulating properties when wet, too.
Fleece material is a good alternative to wool if you’re allergic to or find wool itchy. Fleece is also lighter than wool, making it a better material for outdoor adventures or traveling. It is often made from recycled plastic bottles, too. Many fleeces we tested here use 100 recycled polyester material, including Patagonia, La Sportiva, Cotopaxi, Orvis, and Ortovox. Sometimes fleece can even be recycled and turned into new fleece material.
Some of the fleece jackets we tested side-by-side for the “Best Casual Fleece” category. From left to right: Kuhl Interceptor, Cotopaxi Otero, Orvis Horshoe Hills, Kuhl Revel, and Patagonia Better Sweater
Types of fleece material
Polyester fleece
Polyester fleece is often smooth on the outside and plush on the inside, but some types of polyester fleece have the same plushness on both sides of the fabric. Most of the fleece jackets we cover here are made with polyester fleece.
The Patagonia R1 pullover Hoody and La Sportiva Descender Storm Jacket are two of the stretchiest fleeces we tried.
Stretch fleece
Stretch fleece is any fleece material with spandex added to create a stretchy fabric. It’s popular in performance fleece materials and for garments like fleece leggings. Some of the fleece jackets we cover here are made with stretch fleece such as the Patagonia R1 Fleece Pullover Hoody, La Sportiva Descender Storm Jacket, Patagonia R1 Techface Jacket, Ortovox Fleece Grid Hoody, and the Patagonia R1 Air Full Zip Hoody.
The Decathlon M100 Hiking Fleece and Quechua MH900 Hiking Fleece Jacket are both microfleece jackets we tested
Microfleece
Microfleece is a thin and soft double-sided fleece. Microfleece is often shorthand for any lightweight fleece used in performance fleece clothing. Anything called microfleece is usually a 100-weight fleece.
The Patagonia Better Sweater, Kuhl Revel 1/4 zip, and Kuhl Interceptor 1/4 zip are all thicker "polar" fleece sweaters.
Polar fleece
Polar fleece is a thicker and warmer version of microfleece. Polar fleece was the first type developed and is still popular for warm fleece jackets, fleece blankets, and more. Polar fleece is often used interchangeably with the thickest 300-weight fleece.
The North Face Summit Series Futurefleece and Mountain Hardwear Kor Airshell both use a lightweight sherpa fleece-like lining for warmth and breathability.
Sherpa fleece
Sherpa fleece is a very fluffy polyester fleece. It looks like wool and is very warm. Sherpa fleece is often used to line jackets but is also commonly used to make cozy fleece sweaters.
A comparative shot of all the grid fleeces we tested.
Grid fleece
Grid fleece is a lightweight material with a grid-textured pattern on one side of the material. Grid fleece can be warmer than other fleece of the same thickness because the grid texture traps small pockets of warm air between the fabric and your skin. Grid fleece is often more breathable because it allows heat to escape through the space between the patches of fleece that make the grid pattern.
Cotton or cotton blended fleece
This is another common material found on the inside of most cotton sweatpants and sweatshirts. It isn’t as good for outdoor activities because cotton doesn’t retain its insulating properties when wet.
A pile of some of the fleece jackets we tested side-by-side.
Buying advice / How TO Choose a Fleece Jacket
There are tons of different fleece jackets out there. We developed criteria to judge fleece jackets based on the advice of outdoorsy people we know who are experts in skiing, running, hiking, biking, and camping, along with our own experience doing all these activities.
Determine what you plan to use a fleece for, and then get one designed for that use case. There are many differences between a casual fleece intended to look good and keep you warm, a fleece designed for climbing up a mountain, and a fleece for ultralight backpacking. You could get away with using one fleece for every activity, but it won’t be perfect for everything.
Material
Most fleece jackets are made of polar fleece, a soft and fuzzy insulating fabric made from 100 polyester. Polar fleece was first developed in 1979 by Malden Mills (now Polartec LLC) and Patagonia. This first fleece, Synchilla (synthetic chinchilla), revolutionized the outdoor fabric world when it came out in the late 70s.
These days, fleece comes in many forms. When we say fleece, we generally mean any of the countless varieties of soft, fuzzy synthetic insulating materials. There are a lot of different kinds of fleece fabric out there now beyond the original Polartec Fleece, and we’ll shed some light on the differences here.
Some fleece fabrics have even started incorporating natural fibers into their fleece weaves. In a sense, fleece with natural fibers has come full circle since fleece was initially developed to be a warmer and lighter alternative to wool. The Ortovox Fleece Grid Hoody we tested uses a polyester and wool blend to create a high-performing grid fleece material.
A close-up of the Ortovox fleece jacket, which also includes some merino. This is rare in the fleece world. Most fleece are made of 100% polyester.
Material density / Fleece weight
Fleece is categorized by weight per square meter, in grams per square meter (gsm). Fleece traditionally comes in the following densities: 100, 200, and 300-weight. 100-weight fleece is the thinnest and lightest but the least insulating type of traditional fleece. On the other hand, 300-weight fleece is three times as heavy and will be much thicker and warmer.
Generally, all 100-weight fleece jackets will be about the same weight because the material they’re made with is the same thickness. This weight consistency is also the case with 200 and 300-weight fleece jackets. Other factors will affect the overall weight of a fleece garment, such as the length and size of zippers, pockets, and other features. But, the density of its material affects the weight of a fleece jacket the most.
The author running in the Patagonia R1 Crossstrata fleece jacket in the desert southwest.
Fit and sizing
A fleece should fit loose enough for you to fit a base layer underneath. However, it should also not be too loose because you’ll probably want to layer a jacket on top of it.
Most high-quality fleece activewear jackets are designed not to be bulky, so you can fit them underneath a shell. You'll be ready for most cold-weather pursuits with a base layer, a fleece mid-layer, and a protective shell jacket.
Wind and water resistance
Fleece is relatively wind resistant. However, some kinds of fleece are better at blocking the wind than others. Most standard fleece materials don’t stop the wind entirely but block a fair amount of wind. Some fleece jackets are constructed with wind-blocking material on the exterior face. These are the most wind-resistant fleece jackets.
Fleece does not absorb much water. Though you can’t use fleece instead of a rain jacket, it will stay relatively dry in the rain. If you’re out in the rain wearing only a fleece, you will get wet whether or not the fleece material feels wet.
Some fleeces with a wind-resistant outer layer also have a DWR (durable water-repellent) coating. This DWR coating makes the wind-resistant fleece relatively waterproof, but it still shouldn’t be used in place of a rain jacket because it won’t keep you dry in a heavy downpour.
Breathability
Some kinds of fleece jackets are more breathable than others. Generally, the thinner the fleece, the more air can pass through it and the more breathable it is. However, thinner fleeces won’t has as much warmth. And if something isn’t very warm, it doesn’t need to be as breathable because your body won’t build up as much heat.
Some fleece jackets are highly breathable but aren’t very warm when you stop moving. Some fleeces are less breathable but much warmer. Unfortunately, it is tough to find any jacket that is breathable enough to keep you from overheating while you’re moving and also warm enough to keep you comfortable when you stop moving. Some fleece jackets are warm and breathable but are usually more expensive.
We tested several fleece jackets that are warm and breathable. Most of our top picks were surprisingly breathable and use innovative fleece designs to accomplish this. The most breathable fleeces we tested were the Ortovox Grid Fleece Hoody, the Mountain Hardwear Kor Airshell, Patagonia R1 Air Full-zip Hoody, and The North Face Futurefleece Full-zip.
Pockets
Close up of the Patagonia R1 Crosstrata pullover horizontal zipper pocket.
Most fleece jackets have some pockets, but not all do. Pockets help keep your hands warm and store maps, your phone, and more. But pockets also add weight, bulk, and cost to a fleece.
The least expensive fleeces probably will have no pockets. A basic fleece without packets will also weigh the least. For this reason, a good ultralight backpacking fleece will have no pockets or anything extra to add weight.
If you don’t care as much about weight, pockets are a useful addition to a fleece jacket. In cold weather, the chest pocket found on many fleece jackets is a great place to store your phone to keep it warm and not kill the battery.
Zippers
Close up of the Patagonia R1 Pullover Fleece zipper and zipper closure.
A zipper allows you to regulate temperature quickly by mechanically venting a fleece jacket. If you’re too hot, you can open the zipper. If you’re cold, you can pull the zipper close to your neck. Zippers also make it easier to take a fleece jacket off or put it on, especially while wearing a helmet.
Most fleece jackets have a zipper that at least unzips a quarter down the jacket. These fleeces are usually referred to as ¼ zip. Some fleeces have longer zippers: ½ zip, ¾ zip, or a full-length zipper. Longer zippers add weight and versatility since you can fully unzip the jacket for maximum ventilation and breathability. Keep in mind, though, smaller zippers can get caught and tend to be less durable, so they’re not necessarily better even though they save weight.
Choose your fleece jacket based on the activities you are most likely to do while wearing it. Here, a Treeline Review tester is climbing in the Mountain Hardwear Air Kor.
Fleece Jacket Categories
There are endless categories of fleece jackets out there, but we define a few of the major categories here.
Active Fleece
This fleece is the most lightweight and breathable. It’s best for running, skiing, and other high-intensity activities.
Casual Fleece
A casual fleece jacket is best for warmth and looking good. Weight won't matter as much here, but well-placed generous pockets matter a lot for a casual fleece.
Backpacking fleece
This sub-category of active fleece prioritizes weight over all else. If you’re carrying it on your back whenever you aren’t wearing this fleece, you want it to be lightweight.
Hybrid fleece shell
This category is a bit of a catch-all, but fleece hybrid jackets all combine a fleece inner with a shell material. Fleece hybrid jackets are usually warm and breathable, and tend to have better wind and water resistance than traditional fleece jackets. They’re also often the most breathable kind of fleece.
A fleece jacket can keep you warm outdoors without overheating. Here, the author is on a trail run in the North Face Summit Series Futurelight Fleece.
FAQ
What is a fleece jacket?
A fleece jacket is a warm, lightweight jacket made of fleece polyester material. A fleece jacket is lightweight, breathable, wind resistant, and warm. Fleece jackets do not absorb much water, so they won’t get heavier as you sweat. A fleece jacket is a good alternative to wool because it is lighter, warmer, costs less than wool, is vegan-friendly, and can be made of recycled materials.
Is a fleece jacket warm?
A fleece jacket is very warm. Most cold-weather layering systems involve a fleece jacket, a baselayer, and a weatherproof shell jacket. For most outdoor activities, a fleece and a base layer will be all you need to stay warm while being active in the wintertime. A fleece jacket underneath a waterproof shell is even warmer, and this is a common strategy for staying warm while skiing and snowboarding.
How to wash a fleece jacket?
You can wash most fleece jackets in your washing machine at home. To wash a fleece jacket, zip all zippers, turn the fleece inside out, and wash it in cold water with mild laundry detergent. We recommend using a washing bag like this one to prevent microplastic from shedding into the waterways.
Do not use fabric softener or bleach when washing a fleece jacket. Hang dry or tumble dry on low heat. Do not dry a fleece jacket using high heat. Always follow the care instructions on the label of your fleece.
How we tested
We tested these fleece jackets by using them while running, hiking, backpacking, cycling, and skiing. We wore them when it was cold and snowy, or just plain cold, all winter. We carried them while backpacking on cold mornings. We wore them on winter trail runs and while riding our bike during a Colorado winter. We also used them while skiing, both in the backcountry and at ski resorts. And we wore these fleeces in more casual settings while we went about our lives. But casual is a relative term, especially when commuting by bike with a foot of fresh snow on the ground.
We assessed how comfortable each fleece is, compared to the other fleeces. We noticed how warm each fleece sweater kept us and how much it caused us to overheat when working hard. We also paid attention to which fleeces breathed best, because some fleece jackets just don’t provide enough ventilation during high-output activities. We used all the pockets, hoods, zippers, and other features, noting what worked and what didn’t.
The author testing fleece jackets on a run in the snow.
About the author / Why you should trust us
Sam Schild is a thru-hiker, bikepacking cyclist, and mountain athlete based in Colorado.
He has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, and the Colorado Trail twice.
He has biked and bikepacked over 50,000 miles in the last decade on the Colorado Trail, Kokopelli Trail, all over the American Southwest, and commuting around Denver.
Sam started to love fleece’s lightweight and cozy warmth during a cold, wet month on the PCT in Washington.
Now, he brings a fleece along on every shoulder season thru-hike and other cold weather adventures.
He regularly gets outside in the wintertime, whether on a trail run, peak bagging mission, snowy bike ride, or uphill ski mission, and he’s definitely wearing a fleece whenever it’s cold.
You can read more about Sam on his author page or on his website.
