Best fleece jackets 2025: Tested by our experts to find the best option for every hiker

If you could only take one technical fleece into the mountains, we’d pick this one. The R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody from Patagonia is lightweight, breathable, stretchy and warm without ever feeling bulky or restrictive. It's earned the top spot on our

It’s been our go-to layer for weeks of hiking, biking and general outdoor faffing, and it still hasn’t let us down (though it probably needs a wash).

The waffle-textured R1 Air fabric is made from 100% recycled polyester and does an excellent job of regulating temperature during high-output activities. It wicks well, dries fast, and feels soft against the skin, making it ideal for long days on the move.

It’s not windproof, but the breathability is outstanding—perfect for layering under a shell when conditions shift.

We loved the articulated fit, with sleeves that move naturally and a female-specific cut that manages to be flattering without sacrificing function. The hood fits neatly under a helmet, and the zipped chest and hand pockets stay accessible even with a harness or pack.

At just over 300g, it’s light enough for big days but still warm enough for chilly starts and summit stops. Yes, it’s on the pricey side, but the performance, ethics and sheer reliability make it an easy recommendation.

Read our full Patagonia R1 Air review or find the men's version here.

If you're looking to stay warm – but not too warm – while hiking, then this fleece jacket is a solid option worth considering.

It has a PrimaLoft Evolve lining that's made out of fabrics of varying lengths and thicknesses. What does this mean? Well, in combination with the air-permeable outer fabric, the result is a decent amount of warmth yet high levels of breathability and ventilation (the latter is boosted by the mesh-lined pockets).

The Evolute Hoody proved reliable throughout several months of testing, saving us from having to add and remove layers too often. In short, the thermo-regulation is great, making it ideal for days when you're almost constantly on the move.

That all being said, other jackets in this list are warmer and this wouldn't be my first pick if I'm likely to be hanging around a lot. The outer fabric doesn't offer much wind resistance, either, while the cuffs fit a little looser than I'd have liked.

Ultimately, though, this is a truly fantastic technical fleece for hiking in changeable conditions.

See our full Rab Evolute Hoody review for more and find the women's version here.

In our view, Montane has been one of the best producers of high-performing fleeces for some time and its Fury Lite Hooded Fleece Jacket is our current favourite.

It's simply everything you want from a fleece: warm yet breathable, durable, reasonably well priced, and comfortable.

We found the fit to be slim but the four-way stretch allows for excellent freedom of movement. The hem is quite short too, which is beneficial for scrambling and climbing.

The Fury Lite Hooded Fleece Jacket is made from Montane's Thermo Stretch material, which is a soft, fleecy polyester lining paired to a tough nylon face material.

It's excellent to wear and is highly breathable for more strenuous outings. It's not great as an insulating layer for when you're idle but that's not what the Fury Lite Hooded Fleece Jacket is designed for.

In terms of sustainability, the Fury Lite Fleece uses recycled polyester and Montane is a Fair Wear Foundation member, and offers a repair service for its gear.

Find the women's version here.

Craghoppers is a staple outdoor brand for many, but you wouldn’t necessarily consider it to be at the cutting edge of industry innovation.

Before we get into what makes this Craghoppers fleece an exception, we want to say that our testing of it proved it to be a very reliable, comfortable, ‘classic’ style fleece that works well in a range of scenarios, from hiking to everyday use.

The CO2 Renu Fleece is partially made (30%) from Bio3 carbon smart polyester. This polyester is made from captured CO2 emissions from a steel mill in China and converted into ethanol. The ethanol is converted into the chemicals needed to make polyester fibres, which are then spun into fabric.

The remaining 70% of the fabric is made from recycled polyester, while the labels and zip-tape are all 100% recycled materials. To reduce waste, Craghoppers designed the CO2 Renu Fleece using a 3D design programme, which reduced the need for prototypes. By changing the construction of the fleece to lapped seams it has also been able to minimise material waste in the production process too.

There are men’s and women’s versions, with half and full zip models of each. In all, this is a good, reliable fleece at an excellent price, and one that breaks new ground in the sustainability of hiking apparel.

Read our full Craghoppers CO2 Renu review or find the women's version here.

If you’re after warmth, comfort and all-round reliability, the Rab Superflux Hoody is an easy pick. We wore this through a classic British spring – blustery coast walks, cool hill days, and the odd downpour – and it held its own impressively well. While it’s not the lightest fleece on the market, it delivers real adventure-ready performance with enough everyday versatility to earn its keep year-round.

The standout here is warmth-to-weight ratio. Rab’s Thermic fleece traps heat without piling on bulk, and we found it genuinely cosy down to around 10°C with just a baselayer underneath.

It shrugs off wind surprisingly well for a non-windproof piece, dries fast after light rain, and stretches just enough to keep up on technical terrain without feeling baggy or clingy.

Comfort is where the Superflux really excels. The brushed interior feels plush against the skin, the hood and collar combo seals in warmth without faff, and the roomy cut fits true to size.

We especially liked the subtle but useful extras: low-profile thumb loops, a dropped hem for coverage, and three zipped pockets that balance warmth with ventilation (just don’t expect mega breathability overall).

It’s not the cheapest fleece out there, but the level of comfort, performance and polish make it a worthy investment – especially if you're the kind of person who needs one fleece to do it all.

Read our full Rab Superflux Hoody review or find the women's version here.

Fjallraven isn't really about fast and light hiking. It's more about leisurely trekking, and produces gear that is designed with comfort and quality in mind.

The Abisko Lite Fleece, despite having 'Lite' in its name, is certainly a trekker's fleece. It's durable, breathable and very comfortable, if not a tad pricey as Fjallraven gear tends to be.

The inner fabric is in a gridded pattern to help maintain warmth, while the outer face is a smoother texture.

Unlike the other options here, the Abisko Lite Fleece also has a two-way zip. We also like the thumb loop design, which hides away completely inside the cuff for those who don't like them (like us).

Fjallraven makes the Abisko Lite Fleece in lots of colours for both the men's and women's versions.

Check out the women's version here.

With its roots set firmly in mountain sports, it's perhaps no surprise this Black Diamond fleece excels in alpine and climbing settings.

It carries quite a premium price, particularly for the lightweight, no-fuss design, which about the only thing we don't like about the Coefficient Storm. Happily, however, it makes up for it somewhat in performance.

It's made from a partially recycled stretch fleece, which hugged us in a brilliantly comfy slim fit that allows for freedom of movement. It feels very athletic and light to wear.

Despite its lightweight construction we were also surprised how warm and weather resistance it is. The grid-shaped backing is the reason for the former, while a PFC-free DWR helps keep light precipitation at bay.

So, it's minimalist yet pricey, which can be hard to justify but we were seriously impressed with the Coefficient Storm Hoody's fit, comfort, and versatile performance.

Read our full Black Diamond Coefficient Storm review or find the women's version here.

Although fleeces are incredibly popular, there are alternatives for those wanting some enhanced performance or prefer natural fibres.

We're big fans of innovation and American outdoor clothing brand Artilect has an obcessive, scientific approach to hiking gear, producing some of the best technical clothing we've tested, many of which use merino.

The Artilect Quandary jacket is a merino-nylon blend, which we found is fantastically adaptable. The merino is 220gsm Nuyarn, which is a clever spinning technique that enhances the merino's natural properties.

It's lightweight but regulates temperature very effectively, even in colder conditions. It still performs when wet, too.

But crucially, one of the things we like most about Nuyarn and this jacket is its durability. Some people are critical of merino for being expensive and not especially tough but Nuyan is durable.

For us, the jacket pilled quite quickly when wearing a pack but we've found that on a lot of high quality jackets and fleeces before. It's not a sign of bad quality.

Check out the women's version here.

If you want a fleece that punches above its weight on warmth while also being kind to the planet, the Montane Protium Hooded Fleece Jacket delivers on both fronts.

With over 90% recycled content and a classic grid fleece construction, it’s become a go-to for cooler-weather hillwalking, campsite lounging, and year-round layering.

We’ve worn this as a mid-layer under a shell on frosty hikes and as a solo layer on breezy summer evenings – and it always hits that sweet spot between insulation and packability. At 390g for a men’s medium, it’s impressively light for how warm it feels, and it compresses down to something smaller than a Nalgene bottle, especially when stuffed into its own hood.

The fit is athletic but not restrictive, with enough stretch to handle scrambling and steep climbs. The sleeves came up slightly long on us, but the cut will suit most bodies well – especially if you’re layering under a waterproof. The hood fits snug under a helmet, and a neck baffle adds bonus wind protection.

With cosy, fleece-lined hand pockets, smooth recycled YKK zips, and a brushed Thermo-Grid interior that feels lovely next to skin, this fleece is built for practical comfort. It can run warm if you’re powering uphill in double digits, but for chilly starts and shoulder-season hikes, it’s spot on.

Read our full Montane Protium review or find the women's version here.

There’s a lot to like about the Lumiko Hooded Jacket, especially if you value versatility and movement over brute warmth. It’s an ultra-light, stretch fleece that can slot into your layering system almost anywhere – base layer, mid-layer, or standalone top – depending on the day’s pace and temperature.

We’ve tested it in varied mountain conditions and found it genuinely earns its reputation as Mountain Equipment’s most adaptable fleece.

The feel is soft and comfortable against bare skin, with flat seams and a brushed back that minimises chafing. It moves exceptionally well thanks to the 7% elastane content, and the slim ribbed fabric dries fast and packs down small – great when you’re on the go.

Breathability is a real strong suit too, though that comes at the expense of serious insulation, so it’s not the one for wintry summit stops. One thing to flag is the fit: it’s form-fitting, particularly through the torso, and runs a bit small.

If you’re between sizes or prefer a looser cut, we’d recommend sizing up. The hood is neat and unobtrusive, and while you only get one zipped chest pocket, the whole design sits nicely under a harness or pack.

With 93% recycled fabric and a decent price tag, the Lumiko is a solid choice for active users who run hot, move fast, or want a fleece that won’t get in the way.

Read our full Mountain Equipment Lumiko review or find the women's version here.

The Thrudark Centurion, which has won a Polartec Apex Award for its clever combined use of fabrics, is the result of 30-odd years of Polartec evolutionary design.

Even with a cursory glance there’s absolutely no mistaking this for a ‘car boot sale’ fleece (you know what we’re talking about). Part of the reason for that is the distinctive military silhouette – exactly the sort of athletic and slightly menacing cut you might expect from a brand founded by former special forces operatives.

To be frank, we find that pseudo military vibe a bit cringy, and there isn’t even a women’s version of the Centurion. However, a close look and testing from us reveals there’s more to this jacket than a stylish and technical design; the real magic is in the fabric.

We found Polartec’s Power Air fabric, which is used across the torso front and back, and over the upper arms and shoulders, makes the Centurion a warm midlayer even when the temperature drops below 0°C. Moreover, it’s less prone to shedding microfibres than conventional fabrics, helping to reduce its impact on the environment.

We liked the sturdy construction of the Centurion, the thoughtful design touches including surprisingly handy shoulder pockets, and its comfort (the chunky thumb loops are unusually comfortable, and the design of the hood means that even when it’s down, the collar remains raised and highly protective).

This means that although this is a pricey fleece, you’re getting bang for that buck.