The Best Fleece Jackets of 2024-2025

Recycled polyester is becoming a trend in fleece materials. It’s not exactly ‘natural’, but the recycled aspect is appealing. The softness does decline if you happen to accidentally dry it on high heat, but it’s not the type of fleece you’ll be getting dirty (though it would function just fine if you decided to do so).

Traditional fleece jackets aren’t ideal for the backcountry, so we’d recommend the Trailmade Fleece for casual wear and mild jaunts in cool weather. They don’t pack up well and aren’t breathable if you’re exerting much effort, but they still find their way into most outdoor athlete’s wardrobes.

After a long day in the mountains, there’s nothing better than a soft fleece to wear by the fire when you want to unwind. For the price, the Trailmade Fleece is an undeniably good score, and the numerous colorways and trendy color-blocking options allow you to choose a style that matches your aesthetic.

The Trailmade Fleece fit as expected, and we appreciate the elastic cuffs and interior phone pocket. We wouldn’t recommend it for jaunts where you’re wearing a backpack that might cause you to break a sweat, but it’s up to the task for active commuters and casual use. It was perfect over a T-shirt when bouldering.

On a brisk day, we shed it while on the rock and put it back on when we were chilling on the pads or brushing holds. A contender for the most stylish fleece jacket, the Trailmade was a no-brainer as the best budget option on this list.

The snag-free synthetic material is treated with durable water repellent (DWR), allowing precipitation to drip off while being air-permeable yet capable of barricading a breeze.

While this layer isn’t a burly shield for blizzards or rainstorms by itself, it works as an outer layer for variable weather and as a sleek piece beneath a jacket. The double-weave fabric is stretchy and breathable and can manage a range of conditions.

One of the authors of this guide used the TechFace as his primary midlayer for his thru-hikes of the Continental Divide Trail and Appalachian Trail. It kept him cozy and warm from snowy whiteouts in the San Juans to endless days of rain through the mid-Atlantic. Paired with a lightweight rain jacket and synthetic puffy, he considers this one of the best fleece jackets for long journeys that require versatile layers.

Two hand pockets with zip closures are smartly placed a few inches above the hem, allowing space for a climbing harness. An internal chest pocket with a streamlined zipper is a great stowaway for an ID or credit card.

The hood is spacious enough to fit over a helmet yet contoured to sandwich beneath one, too. Plus, the hood has an integrated laminated visor to help prevent obstruction of vision. The stretch-knit cuffs aren’t bulky. Overall, this layer is comfortable and articulates well during big-movement activities, from skinning to climbing.

As a breathable jacket, this isn’t the warmest fleece on the list but excels as an integral, lightweight part of your layering system on high-output adventures in the mountains.

A gridded interior and exterior retains warmth and provides a cozy, seamless feel on the skin. The athletic fit forms to the body, and the fabric has just enough stretch to maximize free movement without holding you back.

We took the Coefficient Hoody on an alpine bouldering trip and finished the day with a sunset summit of Clouds Rest in Yosemite. We used it as a standalone layer for climbing, but when the cold wind pummeled us at the summit that evening, we applied a wind jacket that fit easily over the hoodie and provided additional protection. As night fell and temperatures dropped on our brisk hike out, the Coefficient Hoody moderated our body temperature to perfection.

In cold temps, the upper zipper reached a perfect height to work as a neck gaiter. It’s an ideal layer for climbing and skiing, where you might shed a waterproof shell throughout the day. If you have an outer shell with a helmet-compatible hood, the Coefficient Hoody truly excels with its form-fitting, under-the-helmet hood. Your head will stay warm while your shell deflects any moisture from the outside.

Since its inception, this hoody has gained popularity among winter adventurers who rely on retaining core heat in their endeavors. The hip-length fit allows you to secure a harness over the jacket without worrying about it getting in the way of draws or your belay device. The zipper chest pocket is spacious, with enough room to keep a phone warm and protected beneath an outer layer.

An apt competitor to the more expensive active layers on the list, the Coefficient Hoody is one of the best fleece jackets available for outdoor athletes who rely on functional layers.

The Ascendor Summit Hoody ($200) quickly became our go-to active fleece layer for brisk winter climbing trips or fast and light alpine missions — and for good reason. Clocking in at a scant 11.6 ounces, it delivers a seemingly perfect balance between breathability, weather protection, and warmth in a lightweight, compressible package.

Body-mapped fabric seems to be the standard in high-end versatile layers these days, and the Ascender Summit Hoody sure does deliver in this department. The upper torso and top of the arms are protected with windproof Pertex Quantum Air overlays and lined with silky smooth brush mesh. This super-light material traps heat around the core with its high loft.

The lower torso, down the sides of the underarm, and the entire back panel are fitted with the unique Thermic G gridded fleece. This material allows for maximum mobility and ventilation along parts of the body that need it most while still retaining precious heat. This concoction of fabrics shines on cold, windy adventures where breathability is needed while active, but warmth and protection are required while static.

It’s difficult to find cons to this jacket, but our first impressions did have us thinking that the Pertex Quantum Air overlays were somewhat loud and crinkly while moving around. This diminished with use and wasn’t too big of a deal. Additionally, while we understand why Rab left them off, we found ourselves wishing for handwarmer pockets on several chilly escapades when wearing this as a standalone layer.

If you’re after maximum comfort and insulation, it’s probably best to look elsewhere. However, for speedy forays in the alpine, where adequate warmth but reliable breathability are needed, the Ascendor Summit Hoody is one of the best options on the market.

The Denali has a rich history of being worn on notable first ascents (such as Todd Skinner’s first free ascent of Yosemite’s Salathé Wall in 1988) and groundbreaking alpine expeditions (like Conrad Anker’s winter ascent of Nepal’s Ama Dablam in 1990) since its original release in 1988. The abrasion patches on the shoulders and elbows, weather resistance, and next-to-skin comfort made this a top midlayer pick for mountain athletes at the time.

While lighter, comparably warm fleece jackets now flood the market, the new reswizzled Denali 2 carries the torch, and makes this alpine classic still relevant to this day. It remains a symbol of exploration and adventure.

Burly Polartec 300 series fleece, with 100% recycled fibers, seals in warmth, while the two-ply nylon overlays on the chest, elbows, and shoulders boost weather resistance and durability. Two chest pockets and deep handwarmer pockets help with organization, and a drawstring cinched hem and elasticated cuffs help retain heat. All the reinforcement and extras do add up, though, and the Denali 2 tips the scales at around 25 ounces, making this one of the heavier options on the list.

Though this still stands as a solid adventure layer, with all the technical fleeces out there, the Denali 2 is probably best suited as a standalone jacket for casual wear in chilly temps. Its above-average wind and rain resistance, coupled with its stellar warmth, makes this one of the better all-weather fleeces you can buy.

Falling somewhere in the middle of the spectrum between purely performance pieces (like the R1 lineup), and beefy comfort (the Synchilla Snap-T), the Better Sweater ($159) is a middle-of-the-road, stylish jacket that can be used for light active wear, or just to look good around town.

Its recycled polyester knit-fleece fabric offers cozy, next-to-skin comfort and adequate warmth for shoulder-season adventures or as one of your layers for colder missions in the mountains. However, compared to some similar fleeces, we found it to offer subpar wind resistance.

Additionally, while the raglan sleeves used are comfortable, they are somewhat tight along the arms, limiting the layers you can add underneath or the ability to roll the sleeves up much to dump heat.

We love the versatility of this jacket, though. It looks equally great on an alpine ascent or while catching up with a friend over coffee. While it isn’t as warm or breathable as some of the other Patagonia offerings, we think it’s one of the best fleece jackets for outdoor enthusiasts who want a solid crossover piece that can be worn for a multitude of different adventures.

This jacket is definitely catered toward the active mountain athlete. A thin Primaloft insulated woven front panel offers warmth around the core, and Polartec Power Grid fleece fabric along the back and arms boosts breathability and cuts weight. This hybrid design makes the jacket a top pick for technical alpine missions where you primarily need protection and warmth while active.

Gusseted underarms, thumb loops, and a snug, under-helmet hood had us loving the Coefficient while rock climbing. It moves with your body effortlessly and doesn’t constrict at all. The gridded fleece pattern wicks moisture like a champ, and we felt quite comfortable while running hard or cranking up steep hills with this on.

As one of the lighter jackets we tested, the Coefficient doesn’t offer tons of warmth while static, so it’s best worn as an element of a layering system for slower jaunts, or an outer layer while charging hard. For fast-paced adventures in the backcountry, it’s hard to beat this technical fleece.

It’s the type of jacket we can sport in ski towns across the globe and get compliments, but it also holds its own in the wild. It might not be the best at any one thing, but it’s a solid fleece jacket that’s bound to get you some compliments.

The athletic fit might require sizing up if you have a more muscular build, but the material stretches generously. While bouldering near Bishop, we didn’t feel constricted at all and stayed quite warm when some cold, pre-storm winds started whipping through the meadow. The large pockets were a plus, and the various colorways have distinctive looks that give the jacket much versatility.

The standout feature of the Abisko Trail Fleece was the fleece-lined, contoured hood. If you accidentally leave your beanie at home, don’t fret. The Abisko hood is cozier than a beanie, anyway. It doesn’t work over a helmet, but you could wear it under one. We wouldn’t dub this a great fleece for climbing, but it would perform well if it had to.

The color options, well-crafted materials, and versatility make the Abisko Trail Fleece one of the best fleece jackets on the market. This is a great start if you’ve yet to explore Fjällräven’s catalog.

We put this jacket through more type-2 fun than most during our testing period, keen on determining its limits. Burly bushwhacks riddled with briers, heinous romps up granite chimneys, and long days on the open trail — this layer saw it all and performed with flying colors. Its tough, smooth polyester face fabric resists tears and abrasion, and the soft grid back fleece provides stellar next-to-skin comfort and a noticeable boost in breathability. Add phenomenal mobility and fit into the mix, and you have one heck of a mountain-ready shell.

The Cascade Shield also features one of the most robust DWR coatings we’ve seen on a fleece. This isn’t something we find particularly necessary on a fleece jacket, but it did come in handy during a handful of surprise showers during our testing period.

Despite its water-resistant nature, it definitely isn’t the warmest jacket we tested. Pair it with a rainjacket or even a thin windbreaker, though, and you can weather some tempestuous conditions. That said, its similarity to a softshell affords it solid wind resistance as a standalone layer without sacrificing breathability.

We appreciate the contoured hood with a slightly flat brim, which sits nicely over a hat — but does feel a bit floppy if you aren’t wearing one. The warmth it delivers is about average for a grid-back fleece, and you don’t want to be caught in freezing conditions with this as your only option. If your objective has you cranking hard and building up a sweat in chilly temps, though, this layer will move and breathe with you every step of the way.

At just over a pound, we wish it was a smidge lighter, but the comfort and thoughtful features atone for this slight con. Burly elastic at the cuffs and hood, and a drawcord at the hem add ounces, but play key roles in sealing in warmth. The tall zippered hand pockets sit above the hip and contribute to its higher scale reading, but are quite helpful when wearing a harness or backpack waist belt.

Catered more for alpinists who need an extra bump in protection and weather resistance, the Cascade Shield is a specialized layer that’s more at home on technical missions in the mountains than the stylish front-country. Its four-way stretch, breathable grid design, and stalwart face fabric make this a durable, beefy barrier against anything the backcountry throws your way.

We often find that a fleece can look mega comfy on the outside while having an underwhelming interior fabric. The Hale Snap does not follow suit. The double-sided shearling fleece is not as lofty on the inside but has one of the smoothest next-to-skin feels of any fleece we’ve donned. After months of wear and several wash cycles, the fabric stayed plush and indescribably cozy.

We love the loose — but not too loose — silhouette of the Hale. This makes it a prime pick for lounging all day with a book by the river or fireside hangs, but it has just enough gumption and durability for wearing it on light adventures. The fit is contoured enough to not get in your way while hiking or even bouldering, and Y-joint sleeves allow for more room in the arms and shoulders, therefore helping boost mobility.

An oversized kangaroo front pocket and a chest snap pocket keep your hands toasty and the essentials close by. Aside from that, the feature set is pretty minimal. Elesatication at the cuff and hems help seal in warmth, but the lack of a cinch cord allows strong gusts to worm their way through.

This fleece would be great for the serial fireside snuggler who wants an incredibly comfortable jacket with frontcountry style and a bit of backcountry performance. It’s not the lightest, most packable layer on the list. But for top-shelf, luxurious fluff at a reasonable price — the Sierra Designs Hale Snap Pullover punches well above its weight.

Made with 400 gsm fabric, the Alpenwurx is one of the warmest (and heaviest) jackets in this review and boasts top-notch durability. Great for cold bushwhacks in dense underbrush or rough scrambles over scree slopes, it can withstand a good deal of torture.

Ultra-soft polyester provides stellar next-to-skin comfort, and fluffy berber fleece lines the collar, making this one of our favorite heavyweight jackets to wear while lounging around the fire or curling up in our tents at the end of a long day. You won’t want to take this thing off. Two gigantic handwarmer pockets, a chest pocket, and thumb loops contribute to its usability, and articulated sleeves afford a broad range of motion.

For intense activity where breathability and maximum mobility are concerns, it would be best to look elsewhere. But if you’re after stylish, mega-warm durability for rugged adventures, KÜHL’s Alpenwurx fits the bill perfectly.

The Vigor Hoodie is a solid pick as a midlayer for colder alpine trips, or a standalone outer layer for chilly, shoulder season hikes. The insulating, wicking grid back fleece is fitted with ActiveTemp technology that allegedly “self-adjusts depending on your level of exertion.” We did find that as we changed our level of output in this jacket, the fabric seemed to keep us appropriately cool or warm, and was a joy to wear on start-stop missions.

We like the Vigor Hoodie’s simple, sleek look, and thoughtful touches such as thumb loops and a snug-fitting hood contribute to its usability. It’s not the warmest jacket, so it probably isn’t a great standalone option for particularly chilly ventures. We also felt that the fit was a bit loose overall, and we found ourselves wishing for a more athletic cut.

In short, the Vigor Hoodie is an affordable, extremely comfortable fleece jacket that is a great option for those who need a technical, high-performance layer at a more approachable price point.

Polartec Power Stretch Pro fabric and a brushed line interior join forces in this technical midlayer to deliver stellar warmth and maximum mobility. This is great for casual outdoor use — like light hiking, climbing, or belaying — but the Kyanite AR can often be too warm for intense activity and isn’t the most breathable jacket out there.

This piece’s athletic fit and no-lift gusseted underarms contribute to its overall comfort. It seems to contour perfectly to your body while hopping over downed trees or navigating a tricky boulder problem, and the streamlined design makes layering a breeze.

This jacket does an adequate job of holding off weather, but didn’t perform as well as others in our test. The tight weave of the fabric provides some wind resistance, but when it really picked up, we found ourselves quickly needing to throw on a windbreaker or rain jacket. It also doesn’t have thumb loops, which we found ourselves wishing for on several occasions.

At around 15 ounces for a men’s medium, the Kyanite leans toward the heavier end of the spectrum but offers enough warmth to make up for it. This isn’t the most packable, lightweight jacket for fast backpacking missions, so if ultralight minimalism is what you’re after, this may not be the one. However, as a toasty, crazy comfortable fleece for backcountry use and front-country style alike, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option.

A close-cut fit, ventilated Kashmira side panels, and hidden thumb loops make this a fine choice for casual backcountry use, with a muted aesthetic for the front country. While it would be better to find a more technical midlayer for purely active use, the Interceptr is no slouch on the trail.

The Alfpaca Gold performance fleece used in this jacket provides noticeable next-to-skin comfort, and though it’s not as warm as jackets like KÜHL’s Alpenwurx, it delivers solid heat for how packable it is. While not a purely athletic fit, it has a form-fitting design, making this an easy jacket to layer with. It’s not quite as breathable as comparable models like Patagonia’s Better Sweater, but it does offer adequate ventilation during light activity, and keeps you nice and toasty when stopped.

If you’re looking for a high-performance fleece jacket for demanding alpine summits, this probably isn’t the one for you. However, as a durable, stylish crossover piece that looks equally good in the mountains and around town, the Interceptr is hard to beat.

While loads of competitors for the 100% recycled Synchilla fleece used in the jacket now flood the market, it has retained its classic silhouette and reliable functionality over the years. It’s still an all-time favorite for casual or die-hard adventurers alike.

The streamlined design of the jacket — a four-button closure and a single, low-profile chest pocket — makes this a great crossover piece. Equally at home in the woods or in civilization, its moisture-wicking polyester fleece performs well on outdoor missions, while the slimmed-down profile doesn’t scream “technical mountain man” as you run errands downtown.

The Synchilla Snap-T comes in a regular and lightweight model. We tend to prefer the lightweight option, as the 13.2-ounce weight makes it a more viable option for chucking in our bag on adventures.

The jacket’s cuffs and hem have spandex trim, which helps seal in warmth and hug you a little closer. While it’s not known for its breathability, we found ourselves pulling hard on climbing projects this winter in the Synchilla and will regularly hike around with it in mild temps.

Though you can use it for active wear, this jacket is best suited for wearing around the fire with a hot cider after shredding hard in the mountains. The next-to-skin comfort and warmth it provides are pretty stellar.

The cons? Well, it’s about as simple as it gets in the design department. There are no handwarmer pockets, adjustable sinch cords, or stretchy, breathable side panels to boast of, but this rudimentary profile is largely what makes it so classic (and competitively lightweight). It’s also quite spacious and boxy, making it work well with layers, but isn’t the most flattering, form-fitting option around.

Despite these gripes, it’s impossible to write a guide like this without mentioning the time-tested Synchilla Snap-T. Its top-shelf comfort, sleek look, and rich legacy make this a shoo-in for the fleece jacket hall of fame.

We dangled off tiny crimps hundreds of feet in the air, scrambled across loose scree in the alpine, cruised mellow singletrack, and bopped around town wearing this jacket, and we’re yet to find a situation it doesn’t perform well in. It has an attractive, somewhat stylish snug fit, without being too “athletic” and close cut to layer underneath. It does fit a tad large, though, so make an effort to try it on in-store before settling on a size.

Similar to Patagonia’s R1 TechFace above, it has a hard-backed fleece on the outside, and a soft grid-fleece pattern underneath, boosting durability while prioritizing breathability on high-output activities. Polartec Power Grid fabric has been a fan favorite among adventurers for a while, as its exceptional moisture-wicking abilities, breathability, and thermal efficiency make it perfect for demanding outdoor missions.

We found that this fleece moved with us well while contorting our bodies on technical rock climbs or vaulting over blowdowns on the trail. Discrete thumb loops are attached to an ergonomically shaped stretch-knit fabric panel at the cuff, which hugs the hand well and pulls the sleeves in tight along your arms. Elasticated cuffs, hem, and hood help seal in warmth, but we do wish there was a cinch cord at the hem or hood to help with the process.

We experienced similar warmth and breathability as we do with our R1 TechFace, but the Polartec Power Grid weighs a couple of ounces more. It’s not necessarily a “heavy” jacket, but it isn’t as streamlined and packable as others on this list.

In short, this fleece gave us an overall positive impression during our testing period. A few small quibbles kept it from snagging our top spot, but we still grab this hardworking layer for just about any adventure we drum up.