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Since 2010, our apparel experts have tested 96 of the best fleeces available. For our latest version of this review, we've included 16 of the most promising men's jackets and rigorously tested them side-by-side. We assessed each model for warmth, comfort, breathability, layering ability, and weight to unearth the best options available today. We took each layer backpacking, rock and ice climbing, skiing, and hiking across the western US to ensure no stone was left unturned. We also chopped wood, hung out around campfires, and wore them out on the town. Whether you need a cozy stand-alone piece for cold mornings or a technical fleece for mountain adventures, our expert recommendations will help you choose the right jacket for your needs and budget.
Editor's Note: We updated our fleece review on October 21, 2024, to remove a discontinued jacket from our lineup. We plan to test some new jackets from The North Face and REI as autumn continues and will publish our findings when testing is complete.
The Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody brings a new level of comfort to performance fleece wear. Built from a proprietary “hollow core” fabric made from 100% recycled polyester, it is an exceptionally lightweight and breathable fleece that performs best in mild to cool weather. The zig-zag fabric pattern is unique to this model and facilitates a high degree of breathability. The material looks and feels more cozy than technical, but it stands up well. Whether heading to the mountains or the coffee shop, our testers always grabbed this jacket first. Its lightweight and warmth make it ideal for high-intensity activities like climbing and hiking.
Though this layer is warm for its weight, it isn't the warmest fleece we tested. When not on the move, you will cool down quickly in chilly temps. If you prioritize warmth and you're just looking for a fleece to stay warm on crisp autumn days, a fleece like the Patagonia Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Pullover or The North Face Denali will offer excellent heat retention, though they're not as lightweight or breathable. The fleece on the R1 Air is soft, but it's not as stretchy as some other hooded models like the Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody. A couple other minor gripes with the R1 Air are that its chest pocket can't fit a smartphone, and our testers found the fabric to be odorous after wearing it for even small outings. Minor criticisms aside, we love this warm, incredibly comfortable layer and find it to be ideal for anyone looking to upgrade their performance fleece wear.
Product Update
We tested the latest version of the OR Research Vigor Grid Full Zip Hoodie. The old version of the Vigor was slightly cheaper and had very small nuance differences in seam lines.
The Outdoor Research Vigor Grid Full Zip Hoodie breathes well, layers easily, and its stretch fabric offers incredible comfort, all at a fraction of the cost of comparable options. This fleece features a scuba-style hood, no-show thumb loops in the wrists, and a technical performance aesthetic. The cut is athletic and accommodates wide-set shoulders. This jacket offers a terrific range of motion, including overhead reaching, making it an ideal choice for backpackers, hikers, or skiers. The thin fabric and minimal bulk also make it easy to toss on an additional layer overtop when the weather calls for a bit of added warmth.
This hoody's lightweight breathability comes at the cost of warmth and wind resistance. It's great for sustained action, but our testers needed to layer up while stationary. The shape of the hood and neck coverage also don't protect against the wind as well as other models. We even stayed warmer in non-hooded jackets, like the cozy Kuhl Interceptr 1/4 Zip. Having said that, this high-quality, high-value fleece is perfect for adventuring in the mountains if the weather isn't planning to get too serious or as part of a layering system.
The North Face Summit Series FutureFleece Full-Zip Hoodie offers phenomenal performance in a very lightweight package. While wearing this fleece for high-output days, we greatly appreciated its breathability, hardly ever sweating out our base layers. On chilly days of ice climbing, the FutureFleece kept us warm and toasty when worn underneath our overlayers. The full-loop fabric also offered incredible next-to-the-skin comfort, making this a layer we never wanted to take off. When considering its class as a lightweight fleece, this is a garment you'll always want to bring with you to the mountains.
The North Face FutureFleece Full Zip Hoodie has an odd cut that runs long in the waist and sleeves and is slim-fit around the chest and biceps. Depending on your body type, this unique cut may be challenging to size correctly, potentially putting you between sizes. If this fit doesn't work for you, we'd recommend the Rab Ascendor Summit Hoody, which is easy to size and is also a great technical layer. After weeks of field testing, the FutureFleece also started to pill, though this is common with many fleece options. Simply put, if this high-performance jacket is in your price range and fits you, it belongs in your shopping cart.
We were impressed with the breathability and warmth-to-weight ratio of the FutureFleece.
The Rab Ascendor Summit Hoody is a well-made technical fleece that can handle most mountain adventures. Rab's unique fabric body mapping offers a hybrid construction of both a fleece and a softshell jacket using a Pertex Quantum Air fabric around the biceps and chest. This blend of materials offers wind and abrasion resistance while still maintaining the warmth of a fleece. Our testers loved the athletic cut of the Ascendor, offering a slim fit with unencumbered movement and great coverage. Even when rock climbing, this fleece kept its wearer protected, no matter how contorted the body position was. For much of our field testing, we were happy with the breathability of this piece, and we stayed toasty and warm during Arctic ice-climbing days.
The Rab Ascendor Summit Full-Zip Hoody wasn't as breathable as some of the fleece jackets we tested, with slightly sweaty hikes during warmer days. Being more proactive about delayering helped with the sweat, but if you're seeking a jacket that breathes better, take a look at the Patagonia R1 Air Hoody. The Ascendor is also one of the more pricey options on the market, though it could work for many different activities. Ultimately, this layer is a fantastic option for your future mountain pursuits. As long as it's within your budget, you'll likely be able to use this jacket year-round.
Product Updated and Renamed
The Kyanite Hoody is formerly known as the Kyanite AR Hoody. As the name suggests, the similarly named Kyanite Lightweight Hoody is a lightweight-class fleece. The Kyanite Hoody in this review is a midweight fleece made with different materials.
The Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody is equally at home in a coffee shop or on a mountain, making for a very versatile fleece. This piece boasts performance and comfort, with a nylon face acting as a shell and a brushed interior, providing a soft next-to-skin feel. On long mountain days, the breathability was incredibly surprising to our testers, given the warmth of the Kyanite. The 4-way stretch fabric allowed us to move freely from skiing to climbing to hiking without any movement restrictions. With a more urban aesthetic, this layer will likely meet multiple needs and is worthy of your consideration if you're hunting for a do-it-all garment.
The Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody has a baggier fit, which may be less ideal for folks seeking an athletic cut. This layer also only has two waist pockets, which are unusable when wearing a harness, and our testers missed having a chest pocket for a cell phone or a snack. If you want a performance-oriented fleece with a chest pocket, we recommend the Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody, which weighs less but is also slightly less warm. After several weeks of testing the Kyanite, its fabric began to pill. This was only cosmetic and didn't affect performance, but for the price, we'd expect less degradation of the material. At the end of the day, the Kyanite is an incredible layer as an all-arounder as long as it fits within your budget.
The Kyanite is incredibly comfortable whether in the mountains or in the city.
The Wrangler Authentics 1/4 Zip is one of the lowest-priced fleeces we've ever tested. Compared to some models, this layer costs nearly ten times less and still offers decent performance in certain metrics. Our testers were impressed with the breathability and casual style of the Authentics, equally enjoying winter hikes and around-town hangs in this layer. While this isn't a very technical fleece, you'll still be able to enjoy outdoor activities in cooler months and save your hard-earned cash for other clothing needs.
The Wrangler Authentics ¼ Zip doesn't have any pockets, and while that arguably improves its style, a pocketless design might be a deal-breaker for some. This fleece also wasn't the warmest option, requiring more layers on those chilly days. If you're looking for another dime-priced option, check out the warmer Amazon Essentials Full Zip, which also has a chest pocket, even if it suffers from decreased breathability. If you're shopping on a very tight budget, the Wrangler Authentics is worthy of your consideration, especially if your fleece needs are more casual.
Great for yardwork or bopping around town, the Wrangler Authentics offers great value for the price.
Credit: Zach Lovell
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Each and every product went through rigorous testing to find the best options available today.
Credit: Dan Wolfskill
How We Test Men's Fleece Jackets
Our process begins with researching the market to see which models are potential top contenders. We have tested over 80 unique fleece jackets since we started testing fleece over a decade ago. However, we considered dozens more, only selecting and purchasing the most promising products to highlight in this review. Our testing process is comprised primarily of field use throughout the year in the Eastern Sierra, Wyoming, the mountains of New England, the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and the deserts of the Southwest, but also includes a series of controlled indoor experiments. For more on our test processes, see our full How We Test article.
We rate each of these men's fleece jackets on five rating metrics as follows:
Warmth (25% of overall score weighting)
Comfort (25% weighting)
Breathability (20% weighting)
Layering Ability (15% weighting)
Weight (15% weighting)
The R1 Air offers great mobility and comfort.
Credit: Syd Knadler
Why Trust GearLab
The testing and review team for these jackets is Zach Lovell, James Lucas, Buck Yedor, Adam Paashaus, and Ben Applebaum-Bauch. Zach is an IFMGA Mountain Guide who climbs and skis all over the world, utilizing fleeces on a sometimes daily basis. With a detail-and-gear-oriented mind that never turns off, Zach is a thorough product tester, writer, and photographer for many categories for GearLab. James has been a long-time climber, writer, and photographer who spends every free moment in the mountains outside his house in Boulder, Colorado. From early morning runs up the First Flatiron to late nights hiking out of Rocky Mountain National Park, James has put these fleeces to the test. Buck has been playing outside for most of his life and working in the outdoor industry for about half of it. From long cold days spent ski touring in the alpine to frigid belays on El Capitan, Buck knows what to look for in quality fleece wear. Adam loves being a member of the outdoor community and appreciates having the ability to help others find the best gear for their next adventure. Ben has a decade of experience in the outdoor industry, guiding backpacking, cycling, and canoeing trips and thru-hiking some of America's most iconic long trails.
Some jackets have elastic cord in the waist that make it possible to cinch them down to keep an updraft from blowing in.
Checking out the mobility of the Arc'teryx Covert Cardigan.
Sometimes, more features don't necessarily mean a better fleece. The R1 Air Hoody has minimal features, but they are thought out and useful.
We put these fleeces through real-world testing and looked at them in controlled environments to determine top performers.
Analysis and Test Results
A fleece jacket is a versatile part of any outdoor layering system. Worn as a stand-alone piece in moderately cold and dry weather or layered under a puffy or rain shell, or both, a good fleece jacket is essential in your outdoor arsenal. Though jackets differ in their levels of warmth, breathability, and weight, they're typically stretchy and built to move, making them ideal for climbing, hiking, and skiing.
What's the Best Value?
At GearLab, when we talk about value, we compare price to a product's overall score. Ideally, we find some diamonds in the rough — models with a high score relative to their price. Having said that, purchasing a fleece involves tradeoffs. Thicker, warmer jackets tend to be less breathable and bulkier (i.e., they don't pack down as small). Though a higher price doesn't always directly translate to higher performance, more expensive models use lighter and more breathable materials that still provide insulation and warmth. Some higher-priced models will also have a slimmer fit with articulated sleeves for a better range of motion and easier layering.
For those looking for great value, the Wrangler Authentics 1/4 Zip and Amazon Essentials Full Zip jackets are comfy options that are several times less expensive than other models. Another great budget option is the REI Co-op Trailmade, which gifts great comfort relative to its price. The relatively affordable Outdoor Research Vigor is a higher-performance option for those seeking a more technical layer. But if you are able to spend a bit more, the Patagonia R1 Air or The North Face FutureFleece are top-performing, technical fleece jackets that are sure to serve you well for many years on many adventures.
A slim-cut, lightweight, and breathable fleece works best for try-hard activities like climbing.
Credit: James Lucas
Warmth
Warmth is critical for a fleece. These jackets are largely designed to capture and retain body heat in chilly conditions. To emphasize the importance of warmth for our test, this metric accounts for 25% of each model's overall score. Thickness and density are the two main fabric qualities that impact warmth. Features like fitted hoods, thumb loops, elastic cuffs (to create a tight seal), and drawstring hems all work to block wind and retain heat as well.
The heavyweight The North Face Denali ranks as the review's warmest jacket, expertly trapping and retaining body heat. If you need a warm and toasty outer jacket and prefer fleece to a synthetic or down jacket, this model provides plenty of warmth. However, the weight and bulk make it less than ideal for active use. Similar to the Denali, the Cotopaxi Teca Full-Zip is a high-volume, dense-weave fleece with a slightly looser fit that creates a nice bubble of body heat underneath. But for the more active crowd, a slew of other top contenders offer a better balance of warmth and breathability. The Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody offers decent warmth without compromising breathability and movement. The Amazon Essentials Full Zip is another classic crew fleece with extra thick pockets that helps keep your core warm but performs a bit better if you're on the move. In particular, the Kuhl Interceptr 1/4 Zip, which uses Kuhl's Alpaca Gold fleece, kept our testers comfy and almost as warm as the Denali with a softer, more breathable blended fabric.
Thick fleece and substantial pocket fabric like that on the Amazon Essentials Full Zip make for strong heat retention.
Credit: Sarah Van Cleve
Although the lightweight contenders aren't the warmest, they still have their place, depending on how you plan to wear them. Leading the pack in the lightweight class, the Rab Ascendor Summit Hoody and The North Face FutureFleece Hoodie offer incredible warmth-to-weight ratios. Jackets like the Patagonia R1 Air, OR Vigor, and Flylow Pierogi Hoody are not intended to thaw the deep cold, but are great options for active backcountry use where heavy activity demands good ventilation. The hoods also add a unique degree of warmth, all fitting snugly around the head.
The Rab Ascendor offers great warmth-to-weight and even has some wind resistance.
Credit: Keith Mody
Comfort
Comfort is the combination of factors that make a high-quality fleece we want to wear all the time, and it accounts for 25% of the overall score. It often comes down to the softness of the fabric, how well a piece fits you, and your movements. To assess comfort, we investigated the amount of bunching each option had while the wearer was field testing. We also assessed the coverage of each fleece in various body positions, which can be a make-or-break component of someone's purchasing decision. We then looked at how comfortable each fleece was against the skin. Products that scored well in this metric were either incredibly soft, fit well, allowed excellent range of movement, or had minimal bunching. Products that came in at the very top were both soft to the touch and had a great fit.
Though all the models in this review use comfortable materials, the Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody was a tester favorite for its next-to-skin feel. The combination of a bunny-soft interior fleece, superior stretch, and cozy hood make this fleece stand out. The Patagonia R1 Air has a longer hem and is made of a lightweight fleece that fits snuggly to keep it from riding up, all while reducing bulk in areas where layers overlap. The Rab Ascendor Summit Hoody also topped the charts in this metric, largely due to its incredible fit and lack of bunching rather than the softest feel.
The Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody is a joy to wear, with a soft feel and great freedom of movement.
Credit: Zach Lovell
The Cotopaxi Teca Full-Zip is a noticeably less technical fleece, but it is warm and thick and a great layer to cuddle into and layer under a winter jacket. Similarly, the Patagonia Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Pullover is an incredibly comfy fleece for less technical use and has rightfully been a part of Patagonia's catalog for many years.
The Patagonia Synchilla is a ridiculously comfortable fleece, especially on chilly days.
Credit: Zach Lovell
The REI Co-Op Trailmade offers a cozy feel and is less bulky than the material thickness suggests. While the OR Vigor is more minimalist, it still includes a form-fitting hood and thumb loops in the wrist to keep it from bunching. The trio of Kuhl Interceptr, Arc'teryx Covert Cardigan, and Patagonia Better Sweater all feature a very comfortable, slightly stretchy sweater-like fleece.
The soft and still athletic fit of the Patagonia R1 Air made it great for wearing out at the crag because if transitioned so well from being active to just hanging out.
Credit: James Lucas
Breathability
A fleece's ability to breathe and vent perspiration is important to its performance and is worth 20% of each model's overall score. Similar to warmth, fleece density and thickness of the weave affect how much air and moisture can move through it. Sweating in a fleece can feel gross against your skin, especially as it starts to cool, creating a damp, cold, and clammy feel. We are especially interested in jackets that mitigate this pitfall of an otherwise warm jacket.
The proprietary hollow-core fabric of the Patagonia R1 Air makes it exceptionally breathable. Its zig-zag weave creates a ton of porous surface area for moisture to escape. It's lightweight and works well for any aerobic activity in cold weather, from running and hiking to climbing and ski touring. The North Face FutureFleece Hoodie, with full-loop fabric, also offers excellent ventilation, allowing our testers to pursue any of their mountain objectives without excessive sweating.
The R1 Air Hoody is stretchy, well-tailored, and pleasantly breathable. All around, this is an excellent layer to own.
Credit: James Lucas
The OR Vigor and Flylow Pierogi use a grid pattern that allows perspiration to escape easily. The grid provided great airflow on mild days and kept our testers from feeling uncomfortable or sweaty. When it warmed up, the full zippers on both layers quickly came down, and each jacket's breathability became perfect. The Pierogi even has very loose mesh-lined pockets, so those can open up for additional ventilation.
The Flylow Pierogi has a grid pattern that makes it solidly breathable.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
The Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody is surprisingly breathable when considering that it's a midweight-class fleece, and it kept our testers dry while hiking but warm during breaks. The Kuhl Interceptr and Arc'teryx Covert are heavier and thicker, but the sweater-like weave of their fabric is looser than most, and moisture and air still pass through more freely than we were expecting. One of our favorite surprises in this metric came from the dirt-cheap Wrangler Authentics 1/4 Zip, with a baggier waist aiding in its excellent breathability.
The Arcteryx Kyanite is surprisingly breathable for a midweight fleece.
Credit: Dan Wolfskill
Layering Ability
A fleece jacket is an essential part of a layering system, usually sandwiched between a light base layer and a down puffy or waterproof shell. How well a fleece can be layered is important for a couple of reasons. A jacket that layers appropriately is key to creating an air pocket around the body that keeps you warm. Additionally, it can be frustrating to have to wrestle with a mid-layer that either bunches up or causes other layers to bunch. We tested each model with various other jackets, including other mid-layers and shells, and rated them on how easily they layer with both. We also noted how the fabric of the fleece lays against base layers.
Thinner models, like the Patagonia R1 Air, Rab Ascendor Summit Hoody, The North Face FutureFleece, OR Vigor, and Flylow Pierogi, layer easily underneath everything we tried them with. The thumb holes on the Vigor and Pierogi keep the sleeves from riding up when pulling on another layer, and the thinness of the jackets allows for increased mobility. However, they all have a more athletic fit, which creates a little more resistance when you try to pull them on over a base layer.
The close hood and the thumbholes on the Vigor help with the layering.
Credit: James Lucas
The Patagonia Better Sweater is emblematic of the traditional crew style in terms of its layering ability. It is loose enough to easily accommodate a layer underneath but not so loose that it bunches when putting on a jacket over the top. Other similarly bulky models like the Patagonia Synchilla, Amazon Essentials Full Zip, and Cotopaxi Teca Full-Zip are also great in between layers; that is, they can fit over a thinner fleece as well as underneath a shell. However, all of these jackets are less comfortable when worn underneath a puffy.
The Better Sweater is easily layered under and doesn't bunch when layered over.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Weight
Weight becomes important if you plan to take one of these jackets on a long-distance hike or a fast and light mission. A few ounces may seem inconsequential initially, but optimizing lightweight gear will save many pounds overall. The lightest fleece in the review, The North Face FutureFleece Hoodie, weighs just 7.98 ounces and easily stuffs down into a pack. The REI Co-Op Trailmade comes in second place at 11.14 ounces, with the Rab Ascendor Summit Hoody coming in just behind at 11.62 ounces. With every option besides the FutureFleece weighing more than 10 ounces, each shopper will need to carefully consider how much weight they're willing to carry relative to each product's performance.
The top-scoring Patagonia R1 Air comes in at 12.8 ounces, which will be worth the weight for many when considering its scores in other metrics. Surprisingly, the much bulkier Cotopaxi Teca Full-Zip is just a fraction of an ounce more than the R1 Air, making it a lightweight (though not low-volume) contender. The Arc'teryx Kyanite comes in at 14.84 ounces, squarely landing in the midweight category.
At 7.98 ounces, The North Face FutureFleece is the lightest option in our lineup.
Credit: Zach Lovell
On the heavier side, the Patagonia Better Sweater tips the scales at over 20 ounces, and the Arc'teryx Cover and The North Face Denali are both over a pound, making them less than ideal to throw in your pack for a long hike. However, the warmth they provide might ultimately be more important than their weight.
The R1 Air Hoody mixes breathability, warmth, and an athletic fit. Along with Patagonia's quality assurance, the piece is well worth the money spent.
Credit: James Lucas
Conclusion
The number of fleece jackets on the market can make your head spin, and we recognize that it can be difficult to know exactly what you're getting. We hope this rundown of the best fleece jackets for men will help you find the perfect one. Whether you're trying to take the edge off on a chilly weekend in the mountains or are searching for that next everyday-use cold-weather layer, we're here to help you on your quest for warmth.
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Zach Lovell, Ben Applebaum-Bauch, James Lucas, Adam Paashaus, Buck Yedor
