The Best Fleece Jacket Review

Comfort/Coziness
There are two default settings in my wardrobe when temps drop: fleece and down. Fleece is the go-everywhere, do-everything magic, less fragile than down and more appealing to the skin. A good fleece should feel like some kid's favorite old blanket that's been washed into near-transparency, and the two favorites were the Mountain Hardwear Monkey Man and the Patagonia R3 Hi-Loft - Men's. They're basically the same jacket, and topped the comfort charts by a good margin. The Patagonia R2 scored well also, having a lower nap version of the R3 that was almost as comfortable.

Warmth
It ain't rocket surgery – trap a bunch of air and keep it from moving around. The Monkey Man narrowly edged out the R3 here, with the crazy plush faux fur trapping a couple acres of dead air space and the trim fit keeping the heat in. The R3's slightly looser fit let a little more air in under the waist.

Layering Ability
Like piling more dogs on the foot of your bed, more layers trap more air and keep you warmer—but only to a point. Beyond that point, the layers begin to compress each other and reduce the ratio of air to solid material, increasing heat transmission to the cold cruel world. That's why it's not always warmer to sleep with a bunch of layers on inside your sleeping bag.

Anyway—The North Face TKA 100 was the absolute best base layer tested, because it was the simplest. No extra zippers, pockets, or other nonsense to hang up and get in the way, and just enough heavier than a long underwear layer to make a difference. Next up was the Patagonia R1, which breathed incredibly well but had extra frills.

For layering over, the North Face Denali Jacket - Men's had the most room, while the Mountain Hardwear Tech created the most bomber combination of wind protection and warmth.

Breathability
Tied for breathability are the two lightest full-zip jackets, the Arc'Teryx Caliber and the Patagonia R1. With lightweight fabric, mesh handwarmer pockets and the option to open up the front completely, they ruled for exploring the edges of oxygen debt. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Denali and Tech both had trouble moving high volumes of sweat out through the fabric.

Wind Protection
The only one with a windstopper membrane in this test ruled it. On really nasty days, having the Mountain Hardwear Tech along was the difference between having a great time, and building character. The Denali came in second on sheer weight.

Water Resistance
Don't wear fleeces in the rain. It just doesn't work. You're going to be soaked in no time, and then damply miserable until you can dry them out. You won't freeze, of course, but it's often better to stuff the heavier fleece in your pack and hammer harder in a base layer until you get under cover. Just burn more calories—that's what they're for. The R1 dried fastest, closely followed by the Caliber and TKA. Of course, sometimes you have no option and are going to be in the precip all day. In that case, the Tech was the answer, offering the best water resistance of them all.

Movement
Less weight=better movement. The R1 and Click to edit this gear review Arc'Teryx Caliber Cardigan - Men's were a rough tie in this segment, with the R2 and TKA right behind. The Denali and Columbia Steens Mountain Full Zip brought up the rear with heavy fabric and restrictive cuts.

The Bottom Line
It's kind of odd how a fleece that didn't win a single category wins the whole thing. The superb generalist, the decathlete of the bunch, was the Patagonia R2 Jacket - Men's. For sheer versatility, it was unbeatable, and while definitely expensive, seemed like it should hold up well. The Mountain Hardwear Monkey Man was next, based on sheer comfort and warmth—worth every penny.


The Best Buy award goes to the North Face Khumbu Jacket - Men's. It scored solidly and was half the price of all the fleece jackets that scored better.

As a base layer, the North Face TKA won out on simplicity and light weight, with the Patagonia R1 best for an all-around light layer. If you can only get one, go with the Mountain Hardwear Tech. You'll gain massive wind protection at the expense of some comfort, and can make up the difference in warmth with a cheap base layer.


Unlimited Budget Fantasy Team by Usage
Best for gasping desperately while racing a storm: Patagonia R1 Full Zip - Men's
Best for long days in the high lonesome: Patagonia R2
Best for never taking off 'cause it's so comfy: Mountain Hardwear Monkey Man
Best Wind-Resistant fleece and best buy: Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Tech Jacket - Men's
Best base layer: North Face TKA 100 Glacier - Men's

Limited budget: The North Face Khumbu. Absolutely.