Even with spring seemingly in reach, bitter temps still blanket much of North America (and South Korea, goodness gracious!). Good news is, there's no better excuse to get extra cozy than shit weather. With this in mind, we rounded up six fleece jackets that nicely blend both technical functionality, performance, and aesthetics worthy of wear in multiple environs—even around town.
Reigning Champ Trail Jacket
Canada’s own Reighing Champ has for ages been our go-to for perfectly minimal, Canadian-made, no frills cotton sweatshirts. The full-zip Trail Jacket ($280) builds on the brand’s solid reputation with the use of tech-driven Polartec 300 series fleece, specially designed to retain heat and regulate core temps. Plus the materials’ hydrophobic nature repeals water and dries quickly.
Houdini Hairy Houdi
Lesser known in North America yet a staple in its native Scandinavia, Houdini makes bulletproof outerwear with a superior aesthetic sensibility. The Hairy Houdi ($230) too uses Polartec fabric, opting for High Loft (made with recycled fibers) to double down on warmth and moisture management. The result is one extra-cozy, lightweight layer with articulated construction and two-way zipper for use while climbing, skiing, etc.
And Wander High Loft Jacket
We’ve sung the praises of Japan’s and Wander plenty here at TF, but that doesn’t mean we can’t keep going. Run by former Issay Miyake designers, the outdoor lifestyle brand knows how to blend technical materials with forward thinking design. The High Loft Fleece ($460) uses the same Polartec High Loft as Houdini’s iteration, though a slimmer, hood-less silhouette with technical shell panels at high abrasion areas differentiates the two.
Best Made Co. Wool Fleece Pullover
It’s hard to beat a good anorak. What the half-zip design lacks in ease of on/off, it makes up for with style and heat retention abilities. Best Made Co’s classic Wool Pullover ($198) is constructed of super soft, natural Italian wool in the face of so many synthetic offerings seen everywhere else on the list.
Mountain Hardwear Monkey Man Fleece
An absolute staple that’s been around in one form or another for decades, the Monkey Man Fleece (on sale for $120) from Mountain Hardwear is hard to beat. The extra soft fleece is made of lofted proprietary fleece with a slim cut to allow for additional layering. Plus it’s available in a handful of colors.
The North Face Campshire Full-Zip Fleece
Remember in the early 2000s when EVERYONE had TNF Denali Fleece? Yeah, that thing is the worst. The Campshire ($129) though, is not. It’s great. It’s stylish, affordable, functional, and lands somewhere between heritage-inspired and modern. What more do you want?
