Mens Fleece Jacket

Fleece jackets, the mid layer that does the actual insulating

A mens fleece jacket works by trapping air in a raised pile of synthetic fibre, which is why a light one can be warmer than a much heavier woven coat. The range covers thin technical fleeces meant to sit under a shell, thicker pile jackets worn on their own in town, hooded versions for hunting and stalking, and windproof designs with a membrane laminated between two faces. Choosing between them is a question of where the jacket sits in a layering system.

What does fleece thickness change?

Thin fleece breathes freely and dries quickly, so it moves heat and sweat away while walking uphill and cools down fast when the wind gets to it. Thick pile holds far more still air, feels warm the moment it goes on and keeps that warmth when standing around, but it traps moisture on a climb and takes longer to dry afterwards. Decide by activity level: the harder the day works the body, the thinner the fleece. Sleeveless follows the same rule, which is where a mens fleece gilet covers the core and leaves the arms to vent.

Does a fleece jacket stop wind and rain?

Not on its own. Open pile lets air pass straight through, which is exactly why it breathes so well, and water runs into the fibres rather than beading off. Some fleeces answer this with a membrane bonded inside the fabric or a tighter woven face, and those cut the wind at the cost of some breathability. Rain is a separate job entirely: a waterproof jacket goes over the top, and the fleece keeps insulating underneath because it holds warmth even when damp.

Which construction details are worth having?

• Zipped hand pockets: an open fleece pocket empties itself when sitting down or bending over a pack.
• Chin guard at the collar: a fabric flap behind the top of the zip, without which the slider sits against the throat.
• Hem drawcord: pulls the jacket in at the waist and stops cold air being pumped up the body with each stride.
• Cuff finish: elasticated or velcro cuffs seal under a glove, while a plain hemmed cuff rides up the forearm.

How should it fit?

Close enough that there is no loose bag of cold air around the body, loose enough to raise both arms without the hem lifting clear of the waistband. Check the fit over a base layer and under whatever shell goes on top, because a fleece that fits over a T-shirt in a warm room can be tight under a jacket on the hill. Sleeve length is the detail most often wrong: the cuff should reach the base of the thumb with the arm bent forward. The same points apply to a fleece jacket women cut, where the shoulder and hip shaping differ but the layering logic does not.

How do you stop fleece pilling and going flat?

Wash it cool, inside out, on a gentle cycle, and leave the softener out. Softener coats the pile, mats the fibres and takes away the loft that does the insulating. Air dry it: heat from a tumble dryer or a radiator melts the fibre tips, and a fleece that has been cooked never regains its texture.