Fleece jackets are a great pick for camping adventures. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

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Winter, spring, summer, or fall, fleece jackets come in clutch when the temperatures drop. Whether you spend your free time camping, hiking, skiing, or climbing, a fleece jacket is a great option to wear over a base layer or beneath a snowboard jacket.

Some fleeces are designed to be breathable and lightweight whereas others are created to be ultra warm or stylish. We tested a wide range of the best fleece jackets and compiled our favorites for every type of active (and not so active) pursuit.

Navigate To: Comparison Table | How We Tested | Buyer’s Guide 

Related: Best Men’s Puffer Jackets | Best Women’s Puffer Jackets | Best Flannel Shirts

Editor’s Note: We updated this guide in November 2024 with a handful of new picks mostly geared toward active pursuits—think snowsports and hiking. We also improved navigation, cut picks we no longer felt represented the best, and updated links.

The Best Fleece Jackets of 2024/2025

Best Overall Fleece Jacket: Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody
Best Budget Fleece Jacket: REI Trailmade Fleece Jacket
Best Lightweight Ski/Snowboard Midlayer: Rab Ascendor Hoody
Best Midweight Fleece for Skiing/Snowboarding: Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoody
Best Fleece for Hiking: Outdoor Research Mega Trail Mix Fleece Hoodie
Best Technical Fleece: The North Face FutureFleece Full-Zip Hoodie

Jump To Best of the Rest

Best Overall Fleece Jacket

Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody ($179)

Weight: 12.9 oz
Jacket Closure: Full Zip
Hood: Yes

Pros: Midweight warmth with lightweight breathability, classically soft with performance chops
Cons: Not body-mapped (underarms prone to getting warm)
Best For: True all-around fleece that performs on trails, around town, or on the slopes

Leave it to the fleece pioneer to craft such an excellent fleece jacket: The Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody is the best option we’ve tested this year. It combines excellent comfort and insulative properties with surprising breathability and a versatile feature set. This full-zip hoody boasts three zippered pockets, making it a great technical layer (think hiking or climbing) as well as an ideal mid-layer for skiing or snowboarding. Plus, the R1 Air is soft and cozy enough to wear around casually.

The unique chevron patterning on this fleece provides an impressive blend of warmth and breathability. The fit and maneuverability are second to none, but we wish there was a little lighter material in high-heat areas like the underarms. We found the hood fit securely and made a great under-layer for a climbing or snow helmet.

Overall, other fleeces on this list might perform a singular task better than the Patagonia R1 Air, but none tested better across all considerations. This fleece jacket not only has technical chops, but you won’t want to take it off when you return home and cozy up next to the hearth.

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We couldn’t get enough of the Patagonia R1 Air Hoodie; it’s a lightweight, breathable, and classically soft fleece jacket. Photo: Jack Conners//The Inertia

Best Budget Fleece Jacket

REI Trailmade Fleece Jacket ($60)

Weight: 12.7 oz
Jacket Type: Full Zip
Hood: No

Pros: Excellent warmth for the price, super soft
Cons: Not very packable or breathable
Best For: Casual, warm fleece for cold hikes and staying cozy

If you’re looking for a fleece that trends a bit more casual but still holds up on hikes, the REI Trailmade Fleece Jacket can be had for an excellent price—$60 at the time of publishing. While it lacks a hood and some breathability tech, the Trailmade Fleece is incredibly soft and comfortable, and it boasts a ton of warmth for how affordable it is.

The problem with midweight fleece jackets is that they are not particularly packable. And while this hoodless fleece is lightweight, its thicker fleece makes it a bit bulkier. That’s great if you are using it in truly cold conditions, but that can limit mobility and versatility. That said, the REI Trailmade Fleece Jacket is so soft, that we never thought about what it lacked. It’s the perfect chilly morning dog walk jacket or insulating layer on a cold hike.

We tend to prefer fleece jackets with a hood, but the Trailmade Fleece is a simple jacket at an affordable price. The zippered hand pockets are large enough to stow your phone, and we found this jacket to be pretty stylish. It’s a great price for a classic and comfortable fleece jacket.

The REI Co-op Trailmade Fleece Jacket is simple, cozy, and affordable. Photo: Nathan Lemin//The Inertia

Best Lightweight Ski/Snowboard Midlayer

Rab Ascendor Hoody ($145)

Weight: 11 oz
Jacket Type: Full Zip
Hood: Yes

Pros: Maneuverability and breathability perfect for high-output
Cons: Not warm enough for cold weather
Best For: Active backcountry pursuits, under your ski or snowboard jacket

Backpackers, backcountry skiers/snowboarders, climbers, and the like will love the Rab Ascendor Hoody, and we’re stoked to add this to our layering system. For extremely active pursuits, we haven’t tested a more comfortable or breathable fleece jacket. The stretchy, body-mapped, lightweight fleece material is fast-drying and incredibly comfortable. While the Ascendor won’t hold up to cold or wind on its own, as a second layer in a full system, nothing we tested can handle sweat and body heat better.

From the slim, stretchy fit we knew this was going to be a technical garment, and when we got it out on the trail for a chilly but strenuous hike, our suspicions were confirmed. The Rab Ascendor is built for, well, ascending. We were really impressed with the mobility and thermal regulation we experienced while wearing this fleece. Now, such a thin and lightweight fleece doesn’t perform as well in really cold weather or more static endeavors, and we’d reach for something warmer like the Arc’teryx Kyanite below.

The hood fits snugly and allows for excellent head movement, but this isn’t the most casual or stylish fleece jacket. We loved the integrated cuff thumb loops, too. If you’re an active person who gets out in the mountains, we highly recommend the Rab Ascendor Hoody as a technical layer.

The Rab Ascendor is an extremely lightweight and technical fleece—perfect for high-output activities like backpacking or ski touring. Photo: Nathan Lemin//The Inertia

Best Midweight Fleece for Skiing/Snowboarding

Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoody ($200)

Weight: 15 oz
Jacket Type: Full Zip
Hood: Yes

Pros: Really cozy interior, the exterior is more resistant to pilling than classic fleece
Cons: Lacks body-mapped design and breast pocket, slightly pricey for feature-set
Best For: True cold weather mid-layer, stylish and comfortable around town

Any given fleece jacket’s Achilles heel is the fact that the material is prone to pilling and getting less soft over time. The Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoody is much more resistant to that potentiality because it has a smooth-face exterior (rather than fleecy). Don’t worry: The interior is still as soft as can be. The Kyanite makes for an excellent midweight mid-layer because that smooth outer fabric also moves really well under a ski or snowboard shell.

The Arc’teryx Kyanite reminds us of our favorite sweatshirt, but more sophisticated. It’s soft inside, but the smooth nylon exterior is more resistant to pilling and pulls and seems to slide a bit better under a shell than a typical fleece, making it our go-to ski/snowboard midlayer. Plus, the interior has full-length breathable mesh at the front, which does a great job managing moisture and heat when hoofing it uphill. What at first looks like a simple hoody, under testing turns out to be a highly effective technical piece that we’re loving in our winter layering quiver.

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With a smooth outer and soft interior, the Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoody looks simple but packs a technical punch. Photo: Nathan Lemin//The Inertia

Best Fleece Jacket for Hiking

Outdoor Research Mega Trail Mix Fleece Hoodie ($125)

Weight: 14 oz
Jacket Type: Full zip
Hood: Yes

Pros: Breathable, UPF 30 sun protection
Cons: Not the warmest fleece
Best For: Hiking

When it comes to hiking, the Outdoor Research Mega Trail Mix Fleece Hoodie is a winner. The Trail Mix fleece is lightweight and the material is quick-wicking and breathable. The jacket also has built-in UPF 30 sun protection for cool days when the sun is shining.

The Trail Mix fleece isn’t the warmest fleece on our list, but it provides just the right amount of warmth for hiking and other higher-output activities. The fleece features a three-panel hood that works well for both sun protection and warmth as well as two-zippered hand pockets. The Trail Mix fleece is stretchy, warm, and comfortable, and packs down small enough to stash in a pack should you get too warm.

Best Technical Fleece Jacket

The North Face FutureFleece Full-Zip Hoodie ($170)

Weight: 7.3 oz
Jacket Type: Full Zip
Hood: Yes

Pros: Super light, hooded, thumb loops, packable
Cons: Lacks softness, not great for casual wear
Best For: Extreme weight savings, awesome active mid-layer

Most of the fleece jackets on this list will have a familiar fleece-y feel, but not so with The North Face FutureFleece. This highly technical jacket uses a full-loop fabric interior to maintain warmth in a shockingly lightweight construction (just 7.3 ounces). The FutureFleece isn’t the softest or the best casual jacket, but as a capable midlayer for backcountry skiing or technical climbing, it can’t be beaten. The jacket does an excellent job at maintaining body temp while active, and the smooth exterior holds up well to abrasion.

While we might not slip on The North Face FutureFleece to snuggle up by the fire, this jacket is the first out of our closet when pursuing a high-output activity like backpacking, trail running, or climbing. We’ve tested it as an outer layer on a winter backpacking trip in Southern Arizona and dewy trail runs in the mountains. The thumb loops and snug hood kept the jacket situated, and the FutureFleece is impressive when it comes to maintaining temps. While you will want something warmer in truly cold climates, when we were sweating in the cold, we found this jacket kept us temperature-regulated and dry. Plus, the FutureFleece is super packable, so you can easily stash it if you get too warm.

Primary drawbacks include the price and the lack of real softness. This jacket is well-suited to someone who frequently participates in high-output adventure sports, but we wouldn’t recommend it to someone looking for a cozy fleece (in that case, we’d opt for the REI Co-op Trailmade Fleece). With that specialized use-case in mind, the price is somewhat high. That said, if you backcountry ski, climb, winter trail run, and need an awesome technical midlayer, look no further.

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More Of Our Favorite Fleece Jackets

Our top six fleece jackets represent the best in their respective categories, but the rest of our list features excellent options for a variety of pursuits. Below you’ll find fleece jackets for casual wear, very cold weather, ski-layering, climbing, and more.

Excellent Comfort and Warmth-to-Weight

Rab Evolute Hoody ($165)

Weight: 12 oz
Jacket Type: Full Zip
Hood: Yes

Pros: Excellent warmth to weight, super soft interior, smooth exterior
Cons: Tech-face isn’t as durable as competitors, zipper isn’t great
Best For: Comfortable ski mid-layer that can be worn as an outer layer on the climb.

The Rab Evolute Hoody is a newly released fleece jacket that we’re already working into our layering system. It’s somewhat reminiscent of The North Face FutureFleece, above, but a bit heavier, warmer, and softer. While that jacket boasts unmatched weight-savings, the Rab Evolute Hoody hits a really nice all-arounder segment, with plenty of comfort for casual wear, and plenty of technical chops for ski-layering and other activities.

The real winner for the Evolute is how soft the interior PrimaLoft Evolve Active insulation is. The comfort of this technical piece is off the charts, but the smooth face fabric helps with durability and weather resistance. The fit is slim and the piece moves really well as a midlayer. If you’re interested in the FutureFleece but want something a touch warmer, the Rab Evolute makes a perfect choice.

We didn’t love the plastic main zipper, but it wasn’t a dealbreaker. Also, while the smooth face fabric helps with movement under a shell, we found it to be slightly less durable than options like the Black Diamond Coefficient Storm Hoody.

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The Rab Evolute features a buttery soft interior fleece with a smooth exterior for an excellent warmth-to-weight mid-layer. Photo: Nathan Lemin//The Inertia

The O.G. Fleece

Patagonia Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover ($139)

Weight: 13.2 oz
Jacket Type: Snap-closure pullover
Hood: No

Pros: Mostly recycled, extremely durable
Cons: Not very packable
Best For: Cozy, long-lasting casual fleece

A list of fleece jackets is not truly complete without the venerable Patagonia Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover. The long-lasting, simple, and cozy fleece is our favorite for casual camping trips, hanging around a campfire, or back at the lodge after a day on the mountain. It’s not particularly packable or light, but it’s comfortable as can be, and ours have lasted years.

True story: One of our editors worked repairs at a local outdoor store, and one of his customers brought in a Synchilla Snap-T Pullover from the late 1980s to have a small hole patched. She’d sent it into Patagonia a handful of times to get the occasional button replaced or cuff hemmed, but the fleece was still kicking, and aside from a bit of pilling, looked in great shape. That same editor got his own first Synchilla fleece at age 19, and now, over 11 years later, it’s the first fleece out of his quiver for a chilly night at camp.

So what? Well, the Patagonia Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T is, in our robust experience, an extremely durable and comfortable fleece. It’s not as soft, light, or packable as others (though the “Lightweight” version is an improvement), but the fleece jacket just works. It’s the pullover your significant other or kids want to nab and wear. The one you cherish for years, decades even.

And though it’s expensive, we’ve found that Patagonia and other retailers often sell past-season colors at a steep discount.

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Durable Tech-Face Fleece Jacket

Black Diamond Coefficient Storm Hoody ($180)

Weight: 12.7 oz
Jacket Type: Full Zip
Hood: Yes

Pros: Stretchy, water-resistant
Cons: Not super warm
Best For: Durable, weather-resistant outer

The Black Diamond Coefficient Storm Hoody is a technical fleece at its finest. The Coefficient Hoody is breathable yet warm and has a DWR finish so that it’s water resistant. The hoody feels like a blend between a fleece and a windbreaker and provides protection from the elements. The outside of the jacket is durable and abrasion-resistant, but the inside is soft and comfortable.

Our tester found that the Coefficient Storm fleece worked well as a warm-up jacket before activities like climbing or for an early morning layer while hiking. Made from a blend of polyester and elastane, the Coefficient Hoody is incredibly stretchy, further solidifying why we listed it as the most technical fleece. Finally, the hoody has hand pockets as well as a zippered chest pocket. It’s pricey, but for serious active pursuits, it’s tough to beat this fleece from Black Diamond.

Cozy and Casual Fleece Jacket

Patagonia Microdini 1/2-Zip Fleece Pullover ($129)

Weight: 10.01 oz
Jacket Type: Half Zip
Hood: No

Pros: Sustainably made, zippered pocket
Cons: No hood
Best For: Lightweight and comfortable

The Patagonia Microdini 1/2-Zip Fleece Pullover is a classic fleece for all activities. The fleece is a pullover style fleece and the 1/2-zip is a nice way to let in a little air should you get overheated.

Made from 100% recycled polyester, the fleece feels soft against the skin and provides generous warmth. The collar is made from 100% nylon ripstop that is soft and hits high, so you can zip the jacket all the way up to protect your neck if it’s extra chilly out. There’s elastic in the cuffs, which further helps to seal in the warmth. There is one zippered pocket on the chest, which is just large enough for stashing a cell phone or chapstick. Fair Trade Certified sewn with lots of fun color options, the Microdini Fleece is a winner. The Microdini also comes in a hooded version, a full-zip version, and a kid’s version.

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Very Warm Fleece Jacket

Fjallraven Vardag Pile Fleece Jacket ($165)

Weight: 25.8 oz
Jacket Type: Full zip
Hood: No

Pros: Warm, zippered hand pockets
Cons: Not very soft, runs big
Best For: Warmth and comfort

The Fjallraven Vardag Pile Fleece Jacket is a two-layer fleece designed for the outdoors. The jacket sports structured fleece on the outside with a flat-knit jersey inside. Neither the fleece nor the jersey are very soft, but the internal jersey feels smooth against your skin.

The fleece jacket has a full-length zipper as well as two zippered hand pockets. We found the Vardag to be an incredibly warm jacket, and it worked well as a full-blown jacket for cooler temperatures. The Vardag runs slightly big, so if you prefer a more slim fit you may want to order down.

Classic and Durable

The North Face Retro Denali Fleece Jacket ($180)

Weight: 19.7 oz
Jacket Type: Full zip
Hood: No

Pros: Water-repellant finish, adjustable hem
Cons: Color options are a little funky
Best For: Classic style with solid features

Made from 100% recycled fleece, The North Face Retro Denali Fleece Jacket is soft, comfortable, and functional. The Denali has been around since 1988 because it’s just that great. The design has a retro look with a few modern upgrades.

The Denali Fleece Jacket features a full-length zipper, two zippered chest pockets, and two zippered hand pockets. The jacket has nylon overlays in the chest area to increase its durability, especially while wearing a harness or a backpack. The Denali has a woven hem and a shock cord that is helpful for adjustments. The fleece jacket also has elastic binding in the cuffs with snaps to attach it to a compatible shell, which we thought was pretty cool. Finally, the jacket is treated with a water-repellent finish, which came in handy during some unexpected showers while exploring New York City. The North Face Denali is a classic fleece for good reason: It works and it lasts.

Arc’teryx Covert Cardigan ($180)

Weight: 18.9 oz
Jacket Type: Full zip
Hood: No

Pros: Durable, woolen look
Cons: Not super soft/flexible
Best For: Stylish looking and warm

Made from 100% recycled polyester, the Arc’teryx Covert Cardigan is a well-made, durable fleece jacket. The jacket features a heathered face fabric that looks like wool — it’s not incredibly soft but it looks nice and retains warmth.

Luckily, the inside of the jacket is lined with brushed fleece that feels soft and warm against the skin. The high collar helps protect you from the elements and the full zip allows for temperature control. The two zippered hand pockets have laminated, glued-in zippers, so they’re extra durable and warm. In general, the Covert Cardigan isn’t the most comfortable or flexible fleece, but it is high quality and is sure to last for years. Plus, it looks classy enough to be versatile on trail or around town.

Mountain Hardwear HiCamp Fleece ($150)

Weight: N/A
Jacket Type: Full zip
Hood: Yes

Pros: Multiple pockets, three-piece hood
Cons: All over print might not be everyone’s taste
Best For: Warm and pocket-laden fleece

The Mountain Hardware HiCamp Fleece is a cozy fleece with exceptional warmth. It’s certainly a heavyweight sherpa fleece, but the HiCamp Fleece is one of the warmest fleeces we tested. It was our favorite to warm up in after chilly hikes and mountain bike rides in Colorado.

For days and nights when it’s extra chilly, the three-piece hood with elastic binding is helpful for sealing in the warmth and keeping the cold out. The HiCamp fleece has two hand pockets to help you warm up but our favorite was the dual chest pockets, which work well with a climbing harness or to quickly grab essentials on a hike. The all-over print might not be for everyone but we thought it added some fun style points.

Fleece Jackets Comparison Table

A warm, oversized fleece like the Fjallraven Vardag Pile Fleece Jacket is perfect for chilly beach days. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

How We Tested Fleece Jackets

Fleece jacket testing was led by Nathan Lemin and Rebecca Parsons. Avid outdoorspeople, both tested fleece jackets in a range of conditions and applications. We wore them on long hikes, around town, to check the surf, on the mountain as a midlayer, and more.

Nathan Lemin is based in Arizona, where winter temperatures plummet at night due to a lack of moisture. He uses a fleece jacket as his go-to around the camp top and on winter hikes, as well as his primary midlayer for snowboarding (temps in Arizona rarely get cold enough for a puffer jacket midlayer on the mountain).

Rebecca Parsons lives in Hawaii, where fleeces are only necessary on rare occasions. As such, she did the bulk of her testing while traveling. She tested fleece jackets on a 16-day rafting trip down the Colorado River, during a wintertime trip to New York, during beach outings and hiking trips while visiting family in California, and during a chilly spring visit to Colorado.

Read our Buyer’s Guide to learn more about why we love fleece jackets. Photo: Jack Conners//The Inertia

Fleece Jackets Buyer’s Guide

Intended Use

The first thing to take into consideration before purchasing a fleece jacket is how you actually plan on using it. Do you simply want to wear it around town? Do you plan on doing lots of hiking wearing your fleece? Do you intend to wear it as a base layer while skiing? Will it keep you warm under your harness while climbing? After determining how you plan to use your fleece, then you can start shopping!

If your plan is to simply wear your fleece around town, then you’ll do fine with a warmer and bulkier fleece like the Patagonia Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover. However, if your goal is to wear it for active endeavors, then you’ll want something that’s more lightweight and breathable like The North Face FutureFleece Full-Zip Hoodie.

If your needs skew technical, there are excellent fleece jacket options for you. Photo: Nathan Lemin//The Inertia

Fleece Jacket Materials

Fleece was first invented in 1981 by Malden Mills, an American textile maker. Industry giants like Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia went on to create fleece jackets the Synchilla Snap-T fleece, which dropped in 1985. The idea was to create an alternative to wool that wouldn’t hold as much water.

Fleece jackets are usually made from synthetic materials like polyester. Other materials used are nylon, elastane, spandex, and more. Occasionally, fleece jackets do still include wool. Increasingly, companies seem to be using recycled materials in their fleece jackets.

The Outdoor Research Mega Trail Mix Fleece Hoodie is a lightweight, breathable fleece. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Weight

The weight of a fleece jacket typically depends on the thickness and warmth.

Lightweight Fleece

Lightweight fleece jackets tend to be thinner and more breathable, pack down smaller, and are great for layering. Lightweight fleece jackets are a good pick for hiking or traveling, especially backpacking when every ounce counts. The downside of lightweight fleeces is that they aren’t as warm, making them less suitable for extra chilly wintertime activities. Our favorite lightweight fleece jackets include the Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody and the Rab Evolute Hoody.

The Rab Evolute Hoody makes an awesome midlayer or a lightweight outer layer. Photo: Nathan Lemin//The Inertia

Midweight Fleece

Midweight fleece is somewhat up to interpretation, but we view these fleece jackets as ideal ski/snowboard midlayers in truly cold weather, or warm enough to wear on their own in mild temps. Some of our favorite midweight fleece jackets include the REI Trailmade Fleece Jacket and the Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoody. These jackets don’t dump warmth and moisture as well as the truly lightweight options above, but they still can perform in technical activities without being too bulky.

Heavyweight Fleece

Heavyweight fleece jackets are specifically designed for cold weather. Heavyweight fleeces are bulkier and less breathable, but they are great for when the temperatures get low. They also are a good option as an outer layer over base layers. Typicallly you wouldn’t wear a heavyweight fleece as a midlayer (because the bulkiness isn’t usually worth the trade-off, in the case of very cold weather, we opt for a puffer jacket midlayer). That said, we love heavyweight fleece for casual use and staying cozy, none we tested can compete with the Fjallraven Vardag Pile Fleece Jacket.

The Mountain Hardware HiCamp Fleece is perfect for warming up after a chilly mountain bike ride. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Breathability

Fleeces are a great pick for active outdoor activities thanks to their breathability. Because fleece jackets allow some breathability throughout, they work best as midlayer. In general, lightweight fleece jackets are more breathable than heavy fleece. The North Face FutureFleece Full-Zip Hoodie takes fleece breathability to uncharted territory, and we love it for high-output activities. Consider whether your priority is warmth or breathability before purchasing.

Cozying up in the Smartwool Hudson Trail Fleece. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Wind/Water Resistance 

Because fleece jackets are primarily a midlayer, they aren’t designed to withstand heavy winds and rain. The synthetic fibers used for these jackets are created so that they won’t absorb water, but they still allow wind and water to pass through. Some fleece jackets are treated with a DWR finish, which works to help combat light elements, but if you want a truly wind/water resistant set up you’ll want to layer a rain jacket or a snow shell over your fleece. That said, the Black Diamond Coefficient Storm Hoody offers better weather resistance than most fleece jackets.

Zippered pockets are a feature we look for in a fleece. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Fleece Jacket Closure Type

The three main types of fleece jackets are full-zip, half-zip, and pullover. There are pros and cons to each design and it ultimately comes down to personal preference and what your goals are for the use of your fleece.

Pullovers can be warmer, but they’re much more difficult to get on and off when you’re carrying a pack, out climbing or doing a similar activity. Jackets with zippers — even half-zip fleece jackets — allow you to control the ventilation. Zippered fleeces are also a good pick for layering over baselayers.

Other Features

Pockets

Some extras to look for in a good fleece jacket are pockets. We like a fleece to have hand-warming pockets. Zippers on the pockets are a huge plus to keep gear safe. It can also be nice to have a chest pocket or two for stashing your phone, sunglasses, or other small items.

Hooded Fleece Jackets

While not a dealbreaker for us, for some pursuits we like a hooded fleece jacket. Or, if you don’t want the bulk of a hood adding weight or interfering with your pack, a high collar is helpful for those extra chilly days. The best hoods are fitted and zip up to cover your face a bit, as they add a lot of versatility and warmth in case you need it. The Rab Evolute Hoody has an excellent hood.

Thumb-holes

One more thing we look out for is thumb holes: They’re a nice touch that helps keep your hands warmer and your sleeves in place, especially when cycling, hiking, or running.

Editor’s Note: Looking for an even warmer outer layer? Grab one of The Best Men’s Puffer Jackets or The Best Women’s Puffer Jackets. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.

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