Outdoor Research Vigor Quarter Zip - Women's Review

The Outdoor Research Vigor Quarter Zip is a lightweight, hoodless fleece without a hood (though other hooded versions of the Vigor are available). It's made of 94% polyester and 6% spandex and has a single, large zippered chest pocket. It features thumbholes, flat seams placed away from areas that chafe, a zipper chin guard, a moisture-wicking interior, and UPF 30.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

As a lightweight fleece, the OR Vigor doesn't offer the same level of warmth as a midweight or thicker fleece. It also lacks a hood for extra protection. However, for its thickness and weight, the Vigor is warmer than expected. The 1/4 zip has a robust wind guard to protect your chest while the moderate height collar warms your neck. The sleeve cuffs have large thumbholes designed into their ends, allowing you to keep the backs of your hands covered without losing grip or movement in your hands.

The torso of the Vigor is much longer than any other model we tested. Combined with extensive stretchiness, this fleece shirt easily covers most of the bums of many of our testers when standing and maintains torso coverage through elongated movements like cycling, climbing, and setting up camp. This additional coverage and the ability to maintain that coverage through all kinds of exercise and activities add a type of warmth that almost no other fleece can match. On the other hand, the thinner fabric of this shirt doesn't block wind or protect from serious cold without staying in motion.

Comfort

The OR Vigor specializes in comfort of movement rather than comfort of hanging out or nesting. Rather than offering that thick snuggly vibe that feels cozy immediately upon donning it, the Vigor feels like wearing a warm shirt. The inside is lined with small squares of lightweight fleece fluff that do feel soft but are tempered in plushness by their relative thinness. Instead, all the comfortable features of this shirt are in how well it moves with you. The sleeves are very long and the thumbholes are wide and stretchy, adding to their comfort and wearability.

The stretchiness of the Vigor lends itself to a variety of body types. That elasticity also makes wearing the collar zipped all the way up against the cold actually comfortable. We appreciate the wide chin guard that provides protection against a cold, scratchy zipper irritating you when you zip the fleece all the way. The single chest pocket of the Vigor is large enough to hold a cell phone out of the way of your harness or hip belt. However, it lays a bit lumpy on your chest. Though this has no bearing on its comfort, it detracts from the aesthetic of this fleece in non-technical situations.

Versatility

The Outdoor Research Vigor quickly soaks up water (like most of the fleeces we tested). Its thinner fabric more quickly transfers that water through to your baselayer or skin underneath, but that thin fabric also dries much faster than many others. Up against wind, the Vigor offers little protection. The wind guard stops the zipper from being a weak point, but the entire garment isn't made to be windproof.

The size Small we tested weighs 8.9 ounces, which is several ounces lighter than most other fleeces, including most lightweight models — even considering the longer torso of the Vigor, which means more material. It's exceptionally easy to ball up and cram in a small daypack or carry-on bag. This is another plus for this model when taking along on technical pursuits, where weight and compressibility matter.

Breathability

The OR Vigor is one of the most breathable fleeces we tested. Breathability is often a tradeoff for wind protection. This pullover isn't super protective in the wind, but it's breathable enough for heat to escape while working hard during active pursuits. We love this layer for high-intensity activities like running, backpacking steep hills, and climbing.

Even without any formal vents, the Vigor is impressively breathable. The 1/4 zip and medium height collar allow you to comfortably unzip it as far as you need when you're really working up a sweat. Because the sleeves end in just regular cuffs (which also create the thumbholes), they are simple and comfortable to pull up your forearms as you heat up. This is an ideal layer for active endeavors on chilly days.

Layering Ability

Due to the Vigor 's slim fit and its propensity to show wrinkles of anything underneath, it's best worn over a next-to-skin layer rather than a loose-fitting top. Lighter colors are also a bit see-through, so wearing a white version of this shirt over a black baselayer makes that underlayer clearly visible.

On the flip side, because this fleece fits more like a shirt, it's easy to toss other layers on over it. Whether you're using the thumbholes or not, both ways feel fine with a puffy jacket or shell on top. While functionally, this works, it may look a little strange. We found that the extra long torso sticks out quite a ways under most jackets. This doesn't necessarily detract from its layering ability, but we don't love the way it looks when we do.

Should You Buy the Outdoor Research Vigor?

The OR Vigor is one of the more reasonably priced fleece jackets we tested. This is an obvious draw, and we think it's an excellent value for a highly technical piece that performs very well under trying conditions. However, for anyone looking for a fleece jacket that's plush and cozy and great for hanging around camp in, the thin, lightweight, shirt-like Vigor is not the one we'd recommend. But if you've been hunting for a warm layer to add to your high-octane activities in cold weather, the Outdoor Research Vigor is a great option for winter climbers, backpackers, and runners.

What Other Fleece Jacket Should You Consider?

If you crave a little more protection against precipitation and wind, the Voormi High-E Hoodie is a great choice. For a more versatile fleece that's still lightweight but is warmer and better suited to more moderate activities, the Patagonia R1 Air is a better option. But if you like the sound of this shirt-like fleece for full days of heart-pumping adventures, we solidly recommend the more affordable OR Vigor.