The 6 Best Fleece Jackets for Men

Best Overall Fleece Jacket

Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody

Weight: 12.8 ounces | Type: Lightweight

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 high 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. However, they're not as lightweight or breathable. The fleece on the R1 Air is soft but not as stretchy as some other hooded models like the Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody. A couple of 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 ideal for anyone looking to upgrade their performance fleece wear.

Read more: Patagonia R1 Air Full Zip Hoody review

Best Bang for the Buck

The North Face Canyonlands Hoodie

Weight: 14.6 ounces | Type: Midweight

The North Face Canyonlands Hoodie is a great fleece for shoppers needing performance on a budget. After several weeks of testing, our lead reviewer shared, “This was a fleece I kept on all day, going from the trailhead to dinner without missing a beat.” During our heat retention test, a water bottle tucked inside took 1 hour and 20 minutes to dip below 150 degrees Fahrenheit, making the Canyonlands one of the warmer options tested. We loved the next-to-skin feel of the brushed interior, and the relaxed fit was comfy regardless of the activity we were engaged in. Hanging around town, this fleece was right at home in a coffee shop or dinner party, thanks to a clean aesthetic that all members of our review team found stylish.

The Canyonlands can be a bit harder to size than other options, with a baggier fit putting a few of our testers between sizes. The appropriate cut of a fleece depends on personal preferences and intended uses, so if you're looking for a slimmer-fitting option, we'd recommend something like the Rab Ascendor Summit Hoody. If you're looking for another budget option, the REI Co-Op Flash Hyperstretch is worthy of consideration, with a decent all-around performance at an accessible price point. At the end of the day, the Canyonlands offers incredible value, with great scores in several metrics at half the price of the high-end competition.

Read more: The North Face Canyonlands Hoodie review

Best Lightweight Fleece

The North Face Summit Series FutureFleece Full-Zip Hoodie

Weight: 7.9 ounces | Type: Lightweight

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. If price is a concern, the Outdoor Research Vigor Grid Full Zip Hoodie offers a less expensive alternative to the FutureFleece. It provides even better breathability, though it is slightly heavier.

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 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.

Read more: The North Face FutureFleece Full Zip Hoodie review

Best Technical Layer

Rab Ascendor Summit Hoody

Weight: 11.6 ounces | Type: Lightweight

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 maintaining a fleece's warmth. 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 protected its wearer, 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, look at the Patagonia R1 Air Hoody. The Ascendor is also one of the more pricey options on the market, so if you're shopping on a budget, take a closer look at the Outdoor Research Vigor Grid Full Zip Hoodie, which is almost half the cost. Ultimately, the Ascendor is a fantastic option for your future mountain pursuits in all four seasons.

Read more: Rab Ascendor Summit Full-Zip Hoody review

Most Versatile

Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody

Weight: 14.8 ounces | Type: Midweight

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 similar to the budget-priced Canyonlands Hoodie from The North Face. On long mountain days, the breathability of the Kyanite was incredibly surprising to our testers, given its heat retention. 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 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. Our testers also 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 we'd expect less material degradation for the price. At the end of the day, the Kyanite is an incredible layer as an all-arounder as long as it fits within your budget.

Read more: Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody review

Best on a Tight Budget

Wrangler Authentics 1/4 Zip

Weight: 12.5 ounces | Type: Midweight

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. This option isn't the most technical fleece, so if you need something more sport-specific, the REI Co-op Trailmade is worth your consideration, which still costs quite a bit less than high-end options.

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 a close look, especially if your fleece needs are more casual.

Read more: Wrangler Authentics ¼ Zip review

Compare Products

Compare select up to 5 products to compare

	Score	Product	Price
	78	Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody Best Overall Fleece Jacket	$179
	78	Rab Ascendor Summit Hoody Best Technical Layer	$200
	77	Outdoor Research Vigor Grid Full Zip Hoodie	$120
	77	The North Face Summit Series FutureFleece Full-Zip Hoodie Best Lightweight Fleece	$170
	77	Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody Most Versatile	$200
	74	The North Face Canyonlands Hoodie Best Bang for the Buck	$100
	74	REI Co-op Flash Hyperstretch	$100
	73	Kuhl Interceptr 1/4 Zip	$135
	72	Cotopaxi Teca Full-Zip	$120
	67	REI Co-op Trailmade	$60
	66	Patagonia Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Pullover	$139
	66	The North Face Denali	$180
	65	Arc'teryx Covert Cardigan	$180
	64	Patagonia Better Sweater	$159
	63	Wrangler Authentics 1/4 Zip Best on a Tight Budget	$26
	63	Columbia Steens Mountain 2.0 Full Zip	$46
	62	Amazon Essentials Full Zip	$29
	61	Flylow Pierogi Hoody	$150

How We Tested

Our process begins with researching the market to see which models are potential top contenders. We have tested approximately 100 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 it also includes a series of controlled indoor experiments. See our full How We Test article for more on our test processes.

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)

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 that. 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.

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 warmth, breathability, and weight levels, they're typically stretchy and built to move, making them ideal for climbing, hiking, and skiing.

What's the Best Value?

At GearLab, we compare price to a product's overall score when discussing value. 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 are likely to be less breathable and are generally 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 often 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 North Face Canyonlands Hoodie stands out as an exemplary option that carries your dollar very far. If you're trying to find the least expensive fleece, the Wrangler Authentics 1/4 Zip and Amazon Essentials Full Zip jackets are comfy models several times less expensive than most of the competition. Multiple budget options from REI offer great value, including the REI Co-op Trailmade and the REI Co-Op Flash Hyperstretch, which are a fraction of the price of top-tier models. The relatively affordable Outdoor Research Vigor is a higher-performance option for those seeking a more technical layer. But if you can spend a bit more, the Patagonia R1 Air or The North Face FutureFleece are top-performing, technical fleece jackets that will serve you well for many years on many adventures.

Warmth

Warmth is critical for fleece jackets, 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 also work together to block wind and retain heat.

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. Like 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. 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.

Classic sweater-style fleeces like the Arc'teryx Covert Cardigan, Patagonia Better Sweater, and Columbia Steens Mountain 2.0 Full Zip do an admirable job keeping you warm but are also susceptible to wind.

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 against a deep cold. Still, they 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.

Comfort

Comfort is judged based on a combination of factors that result in a high-quality fleece we want to wear all the time, accounting 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. If you lift your arms and your torso or wrists are immediately exposed, the fleece suddenly stops doing its job and loses points accordingly. 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, with The North Face Canyonlands Hoodie coming in closely behind with a similar construction. 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.

If you're seeking mobility, consider the REI Co-Op Flash Hyperstrech, which offers unencumbered movement in an affordable package. Unfortunately, the seams at the fabric change caused some rubbing in an otherwise high-scoring fleece in this metric.

The Cotopaxi Teca Full-Zip is a noticeably less technical fleece, but it is warm and thick and a great piece 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 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.

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. Like 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. Another breathable option was the REI Co-op Flash Hyperstretch Hoodie, which was competitive with the high-end models despite its substantially lower price.

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, perfecting each jacket's breathability. The Pierogi even has very loose mesh-lined pockets, which can open up for additional ventilation.

The Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody is surprisingly breathable considering that it's a midweight-class fleece, and it kept our testers dry while hiking but warm during breaks. The North Face Canyonlands Hoodie is a similarly designed fleece that boasts excellent scores as well. 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.

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 several 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 Patagonia Better Sweater is emblematic of the traditional crew style's layering ability. It is loose enough to accommodate a layer underneath easily 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, these jackets are less comfortable when worn underneath a puffy.

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 7.9 ounces and easily stuffs down into a pack. The REI Co-Op Trailmade comes in second place at 11.1 ounces, with the Rab Ascendor Summit Hoody just behind at 11.6 ounces. With every option besides the FutureFleece weighing more than 10 ounces, each shopper must 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 14.8 ounces, squarely landing in the midweight category.

On the heavier side, the Patagonia Better Sweater tips the scales at over 20 ounces, and the Arc'teryx Cardigan 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, their warmth might ultimately be more important than their weight.

How to Pick the Best Fleece Jacket for You

A dizzying number of fleece jackets are available on the market today, from featherweight models that add minimal warmth to heavy-duty options that top the charts in heat retention. Keep reading to learn more about the world of fleece jackets and how to determine which option is ideal for you and your needs.

Why Use a Fleece Jacket?

Amongst softshells, hardshells, puffy coats, parkas, and synthetic insulators, it can be hard to determine where exactly a fleece jacket belongs in the world of outdoor garments. First and foremost, fleeces offer a comfy option for near-body warmth that can be more difficult to find in other jacket classes. While they can potentially reduce breathability, they're warmer and offer unparalleled next-to-skin comfort compared to the other layers you may incorporate into your outdoor kit. Whether you're recreating in chilly environments, need more robust basal insulation, or want a light layer around town, fleece jackets deserve a spot in your closet.

Intended Uses of a Fleece Jacket

While there are dozens of activities for which one can use a fleece, there are a few distinct considerations to make when shopping for your first or the next fuzzy jacket to add to your wardrobe. For active outdoors people, lighter and more breathable models are typically preferred, offering less warmth but can be worn during high-output cardio missions. On the other end of the spectrum, heavyweight fleece jackets prioritize warmth over breathability, making them more ideal for indoor/outdoor activities that keep the heart rate down. Lastly, midweight options often strike a middle ground, offering an impressive weight-to-breathability ratio while providing warmth.

Layering a Fleece Jacket

One of the most important considerations when shopping for a fleece is how it will fit into your layering system. While most fleece jackets are worn closer to the body, the exact place they will sit in a jacket combination will depend on your intended uses and the overall cut of the layers you intend to wear with your new fleece. Slimmer-fitting fleece garments work best when placed closer to your base layers, while baggier models may be more ideal slightly further away.

Assessing the construction of the specific garment will help you capitalize on warmth or breathability. We found lightweight models that excel at ventilation perform best when worn close to the body. For heavier-weight models, we found it best to wear them one layer away from the base, as they also typically had a more relaxed cut. Ultimately, we recommend evaluating your current wardrobe and intended uses for the fleece to help you determine where any specific jacket might fit into your layering system.

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.