Fleece jackets are highly versatile. For lovers of the outdoors, they make the ideal mid-layer for hikes and treks, while those who like to take things a little more casual will find them indispensable for treading the autumnal streets nearer home.
There are many options available on today’s market, so we’ve decided to round up the very best fleeces around. We’ve collected together options that are great for casual and everyday use, right through those options that can be stowed in walkers and mountaineers' backpacks to keep them warm on their adventures.
We’ve split our selection into two, separately rounding up the best men’s fleeces and the best women’s fleeces. The reason for this being that each gender’s respective body shape is taken into account during a fleece’s design, allowing the resulting fleece to offer a better and more efficient fit. In addition to fleece jackets, we’ve also included a few half-zip options which we feel are particularly great alternatives.
For those looking to gear up for their next fellside adventure, you’ll find a quick explainer at the bottom of this page detailing the role and requirements of a mid-layer fleece.
The best men’s fleeces at a glance:
Regatta Half-Zip Micro Fleece
Montane Wolf Jacket Fleece
Rab Original Pile Jacket
North Ridge Atlas Textured Fleece
Mammut Innominata Half-Zip Pullover
The best women’s fleeces at a glance:
Montane Wolf Hoodie Fleece
Mountain Warehouse Camber Half-Zip Fleece
Rab Original Pile Jacket
Jack Wolfskin Horizon Jacket
Rab Nexus Jacket
The best men’s fleeces in detail:
Best Menu2019s Fleece Jackets
1 of 5Regatta Half-Zip Micro Fleece
Pros: As with most things Regatta, the first thing to note here is the extremely affordable price tag. As a half-zip pullover style fleece, this top offers good warmth across the body. The anti-pill finish helps the Micro Fleece stay fresh for longer, which is ideal for multi-day hikes and walking holidays.Cons: As a pullover, the lack of full-zip reduces the ability to regulate heat with ease. It's pegged as an activewear design, but those looking for mountainside warmth in late autumn and winter will need to look elsewhere.Weight: n/aFor: Casual and light active
2 of 5Montane Wolf Jacket Fleece
Pros: Montane describes the Wolf Jacket as being "designed for use during high-output start-stop activities when thermal regulation is required." This about sums it up – thanks to the considered design and well-utilised materials, this jacket is perfect for keeping you warm while hiking, but not too warm. The main body panels are made from POLARTEC Thermal Pro Hi-Loft material, which balances well between heat retention and breathability. The underarms and cuffs are made from POLARTEC Power Grid, offering increased temperature regulation and improved durability, allowing the jacket to stand up against friction from scrambling and rucksack straps.Cons: An expensive option for those who will not fully utilise the hiking credentials.Weight: 400gFor: Active
3 of 5North Ridge Atlas Textured Fleece
Pros: The North Ridge Atlas is a very versatile lightweight, hooded fleece. The material and construction make this a very flexible and non-restrictive garment, allowing the wearer to have an unimpeded full range of motion. The collar is very high and useful for keeping the breeze at bay, while the hood is of a close-fitting design and therefore doesn't billow. The fleece material swapped out for a more robust fabric that grips the side body and reduces friction wear.Cons: The thin material does make this jacket pretty defenceless against moderate to high winds.Weight: 460gFor: Active
4 of 5Rab Original Pile Jacket
Pros: The Rab Original Pile Jacket is an excellent and stylish choice for anyone looking for a casual-use fleece. The jacket's Berber outer is thick and insulating, and the corded hems allow the jacket to be pulled close around the neck and hips. What elevates the Original Pile Jacket is Rab's inclusion of a full windproof lining, which works to stop sharp, chilly gusts from carrying off your body's warmth. This jacket uses recycled materials.Cons: Expensive, and not entirely suitable for hiking due to heavy weight.Weight: 807gFor: Casual
5 of 5Mammut Innominata Half-Zip Pullover
Pros: The Mammut Innominata Half-Zip Pullover successfully borders functionality and fashion, resulting in a fleece pullover that's just as at home in the city as it is on the hillside. Tidy retro-styling aside, the high collar's baffle covering offers substantial additional protection from wind that would otherwise cut through the zip. The panelled design makes for excellent garment flexibility, and the front stretchable breast pocket is very useful for tucking away a GPS, pairs of sunglasses or a smartphone. The POLARTEC Thermal Pro fleece is great at retaining heat without overheating, and is lightweight.Cons: A half-zip design can be more of a nuisance to remove quickly during a hike.Weight: 443gFor: Active
Read more: The best waterproof jackets for men
The best women's fleeces in detail:
Best Womenu2019s Fleece Jackets
1 of 5Montane Wolf Hoodie Fleece
Pros: The Wolf Hoodie is "designed for use during high-output start-stop activities when thermal regulation is required." This is indeed the case. The considered design and well-utilised materials make this jacket perfect for keeping you warm while hiking, without overheating. The main body panels are made from POLARTEC Thermal Pro Hi-Loft material, which balances well between heat retention and breathability. The underarms and cuffs are made from POLARTEC Power Grid, offering increased temperature regulation and improved durability, allowing the jacket to stand up against friction from scrambling and rucksack straps. The hood and high collar are also made of the Power Grid, which offers great wind-protection and helps to dissipate moisture from the wearer's breath. Cons: An expensive option for those who will not fully utilise the hiking credentials.Weight: 390gFor: Active
2 of 5Mountain Warehouse Camber Half-Zip Fleece
Pros: A basic and functional fleece for everyday use and light countryside walks. As a half-zip pullover style fleece, this top offers good warmth regulation across the body. The anti-pill finish helps the fleece stay fresh for longer, which is ideal for multi-day hikes and walking holidays. It's breathable and lightweight quality offers breathability to help control perspiration.Cons: For hiking, half-zip pullovers aren't the most efficient garments to take on and off. Affordable, but the cheaper materials are prone to some shrinkage. It's pegged as an activewear design, but those looking for fell-walking warmth from October through to March may want to consider a higher-tier option.Weight: n/aFor: Casual and light active
3 of 5Rab Original Pile Jacket
Pros: The Rab Original Pile Jacket is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a casual-use fleece. The Berber outer is thick and insulating, and the corded hems allow the jacket to be pulled close around the neck and hips. What helps the Original Pile Jacket extend its use into the colder months is Rab's inclusion of a full windproof lining, which works to stop sharp, chilly gusts from carrying off your body's warmth. This jacket uses recycled materials.Cons: Expensive, and not entirely suitable for hiking due to heavy weight.Weight: 662gFor: Casual
4 of 5Jack Wolfskin Horizon Jacket
Pros: The Horizon is a brilliant sportswear fleece from a brand you can trust. The lightweight fleece is robust and stretchy, ensuring a long garment lifespan and wearer comfort. It's also a hardwearing material, providing a robust defence against the friction and pressure of backpack straps. Its breathability helps regulate body temperature, and the adjustable hem allows the jacket to be tightened against pervasive winds. All in all, a great and reliable hiking mid-layer.Cons: The wrist cuffs could be tighter to help against drafts.Weight: 310gFor: Active
5 of 5Rab Nexus Jacket
Pros: Rab's Nexus is a great hooded activewear fleece. The jacket is constructed from Thermic stretch material, which offers a close-fit with excellent heat management credentials. The subtle panelled design helps the wearer maintain mobility and flexibility, and the tight-to-wrist cuffs help prevent drafts and the sleeve from riding up the forearm. The hood and collar fits snuggly around the head and face to protect against the elements. Anyone looking to pack light on their next hiking retreat will be glad to hear that this jacket is extremely lightweight and stowable.Cons: None.Weight: 280gFor: Active
Layers explained
Within the outdoor community, it’s common to hear talk of “layering systems”. This is a just industry talk for how a walker, hiker, trekker or mountaineer should approach their clothing. Breaking down your clothing into discreet layers helps you to plan and better prepare for whatever the weather may throw at you without risking overpacking or overloading with heavy, unnecessary clothes.
Typically, most people are going to talk about three top-half layers: the base layer, mid-layer and outer, or shell, layer. The base layer is the layer next to your skin, such as a merino t-shirt or moisture-wicking jersey. The mid-layer is the garment that goes on top of this, like jumpers and hoodies. The outer layer is the final defence against the weather, such as a down jacket or waterproof shell.
How to pick a mid-layer
A mid-layer is the garment that you’re going to go for when things start to get a bit cool. This layer needs to offer three things: a level of insulation (how much you need depends on the local climate and forecast); breathability to control perspiration and prevent overheating; and flexibility to allow you to still access your full range of motion.
These three requirements are met by close-fitting garments, like many of the items listed above. Rather than a fashion statement, the figure-hugging fit and technical materials are designed to manage your body temperature and sit comfortably underneath an outer shell layer. Avoid heavy wools (expect from Merino), cottons and other absorbent, bulky materials.