Best fleece hiking jacket
When it comes to outright warmth for weight, ducks and geese are the undisputed insulation champs, thanks to the fluffy down plumage hidden beneath their feathers. That’s why down is used for the warmest and priciest insulated jackets. Sheep have also got it covered for daily life on claggy hills and mountains – particularly the antipodean super-sheep that is the merino. Superfine merino wool is the yarn of choice for performance base layers.
But one manufactured fabric still reigns supreme when it comes to mid-layers, which is polar fleece. First developed in the late 1970s, this new synthetic wonder fabric was lighter and softer than wool. It was also much cheaper and more versatile than down. The fleece was quicker drying than a heavy woolly pully or a soggy down jacket if it got wet. Made from the polyester pile, it was warm and comfortable. Ok, it wasn’t particularly windproof, but on the flip side, it was very breathable.
Fleece proved to be a big hit, and soon every brand started making fleece jackets, making the leap from technical outerwear to an everyday wardrobe staple. They come in multiple variations today, from lightweight, breathable gridded microfleece tops to uber-cozy, high-loft fleece hoodies. Everyone’s got one, from Alex Honnold to your granny. The Best Fleece Hiking Jackets
1. Great for Hillwalking: Berghaus Pravitale Mountain 2.0 Hooded Fleece Jacket
2. Built for Exploration: The North Face Resolve Fleece Jacket With Quarter-Zip
3. Excellent Temperature Regulation: PATAGONIA Better Sweater Jacket Sweatshirt
4. Best Active Insulation: Rab Capacitor Hoody Long Sleeve Fleece Jacket
5. Soft and Cosy: Salewa Tognazza Pl W JKT Fleece Jacket MidlayerBerghaus Pravitale Mountain 2.0 Hooded Fleece Jacket
Our thoughts: If you often wear fleece as an outer layer, this is a great option for UK hillwalking soft, warm, comfortable, and a little more protective than most. Thoughtful design features include a decent hood, stretch-bound cuffs with thumb loops, two sensibly placed hand pockets, and an upper arm pocket.
Pros:
Very warm and comfortable.
Stylish design that blends well with other clothes.
Cons:
Relatively heavy, so it might get too hot or cumbersome on longer walks. The North Face Resolve Fleece Jacket With Quarter-Zip
Our thoughts: Made from conveniently machine washable polyester, this jacket is built to cover all bases you’d expect from a fleece jacket in the modern day and comes in various sizes. It’s pretty good value for money and from a trusted brand, although it’s not going to cover everything compared to higher-end products.
Pros:
Keeps you warm in most weather.
Flexible design won’t restrict your movement during the trickier parts of hiking.
Cons:
Not insulated enough for colder winter walks.PATAGONIA Better Sweater Jacket Sweatshirt
Our thoughts: It’s nice and long in both the arms and the body, giving ample coverage, and even though our test sample was a size larger than we’d normally take, the fit still wasn’t baggy. We liked it a lot, not only for its versatile performance but also for its high-quality feel and good eco-credentials.
Pros:
Fantastic breathability.
Can also be used as a base layer in colder weather.
Cons:
Not that much protection from the cold by itself.Rab Capacitor Hoody Long Sleeve Fleece Jacket
Our thoughts: Superlight and very breathable, this is a superb active insulation layer for all-day comfort on the move, in cold or mild conditions. The hood is more comfortable than most, especially when not in use, because it doesn’t bunch so much. We also like the full-length zip because it makes taking the jacket on and off so much easier.
Pros:
Versatile uses in a variety of weather conditions.
Effective use of body mapping.
Cons:
Relatively expensive compared to similar products.Salewa Tognazza Pl W JKT Fleece Jacket Midlayer
Our thoughts: This soft and cozy fleece mid-layer is ideally suited for winter ridge walks and summits. It has a useful hood, too, with a stretch binding for a close fit around the face. Cuffs and hem are also elasticated to lock in warmth. Two angled hand pockets have easy-grab zip pulls, though they are slightly obstructed if wearing a rucksack hip belt.
Pros:
Very form-fitting, but not too tight.
Excellent in winter.
Cons:
Too warm for use in summer or spring. Key features to look for in a fleece jacket
Weight: There are three weights of fleece: 100g/m², 200g/m², and 300g/m². Naturally, it depends on what activity you’ll be doing in regards to suitability.
100g/m² fleece is the most breathable and the lightest – it’s ideal for fast hiking, climbing, and other high-output activities.
200g/m² fleece is a great mid-layer on a hike underneath a hardshell waterproof layer. It strikes a good balance between warmth and breathability.
300g/m² is best for very cold winter hikes. In most cases, 200g/m² is fine for cooler UK conditions unless you’re embarking on an expedition that plunges well into the negatives. This weight is also quite common in everyday-use, relaxed-fit fleeces.
Breathability: The design of the fleece matters here. A common method used to achieve this is to use a grid pattern on the inside of the fleece. It looks like a chequered pattern, with the thin channels in between the squares allowing for perspiration to evaporate easily.
Fit: Slim-cut fleeces with extra stretch are the best shape for wearing while being active because they allow for the best movement and breathability. They are lighter fleeces and can be worn over a base layer and beneath an outer layer. Heavier fleeces tend to have a more relaxed fit to accommodate layers underneath them comfortably.
Hood: This simple addition is a great way to gain a lot of extra warmth in a fleece without sacrificing breathability. Some may find a tucked-away hood annoying, and that’s fair enough.
Zips: Quarter, half, or full-length? Quarter-length zips are lighter and are warmer but the hardest to take off; full-length zips are the easiest to remove but are heavier and compromise warmth due to a longer seam, and half-length is a good in-between.
Pockets: Hand pockets on the sides are very useful; just make sure that if you use a harness, the pockets are well above the hip line, so you still use them. You might want to consider a chest pocket, too, for some extra and secure storage space.
Thumb loops: These aren’t a necessity at all but they are useful for keeping sleeves down.
Matt Jones is a former hiking magazine editor and now works as LFTO’s most experienced gear tester and kit reviewer.