Fleece jackets can be worn during or after activity and are often made from mostly recycled materials to lessen the garment’s environmental footprint.

Fabric

Fleece jackets and pullovers are made from polyester fabric and should be anti-pilling. Many garments now feature stretch panels for increased mobility. Fabrics are often sourced from post-consumer waste and recycled products.

Weight

Heavier-weight fleeces are thicker and warmer and suited to very cold conditions. They may have reinforced areas to better cope with abrasion and wear and tear. Lighter fleeces are better as a shoulder-season garment or midlayer where a more robust insulated jacket or raincoat is worn over the top. 

Fit

A loose fit will allow layers to be worn underneath. A tighter-fitting fleece is used as a midlayer.

Wind resistance

Most fleeces don’t block wind, though some colder-weather garments may have a windproof lining to help trap warm air next to your body. 

Pockets

Zipped hand-warmer pockets are the norm, and some also have a Napoleon chest pocket and internal drop-in or security pockets. Fleeces designed to be worn during activity should have pockets that can be accessed while wearing a pack or harness. 

Hoods

Hoods provide extra warmth and are designed to be tight-fitting so they can be worn beneath a helmet. 

Earth Sea Sky Helium II $399

Constructed from US-made Polartec High Loft fleece, this jacket is warmer and more compressible than a standard fleece of the same weight. It is non-pilling and non-shedding. The sides, cuffs and front panel lining use Tecnopile microfleece. It has an internal zipped chest pocket and zipped handwarmer pockets. Made in NZ. 608g (m), 512g (w). www.earthseasky.co.nz

Patagonia Classic Retro-X Fleece $379.99

This jacket uses recycled polyester fabric and has a relaxed silhouette. It has a fleece-lined stand-up collar, zipped chest and hand pockets, Y-joint sleeves for mobility and a centre-front zip with internal wind flap. Made in a Fair Trade-certified factory. 726g (m), 675g (w). www.patagonia.co.nz

The North Face Ridgelite FutureFleece Wind Jacket $370

This jacket pairs recycled Windwall fabric with a plush FutureFleece lining for warmth and wind resistance. It has a regular fit, a non-PFC DWR finish, an adjustable three-piece hood, zipped hand pockets and elasticated cuffs, and it stows in its hood. 238g (m), 203g (w). www.thenorthface.co.nz

Patagonia R1 Air Fleece Zip-Neck $249.99

This lightweight, breathable and quick-drying technical fleece for cool conditions is made with 100% recycled polyester fabric, has a quarter-zip for venting and easy layering, off-shoulder seams and a zipped rear pocket. Made in a Fair Trade-certified factory. 298g (m), 249g (w). www.patagonia.co.nz

OMM Core+ Hoodie $229.99

Made from PrimaLoft Active insulating fabric (a synthetic plume woven through a knitted mesh), this air-permeable hoodie offers the warmth of a fleece at a lower weight. It has flatlocked seams positioned away from the shoulders, uses 64% recycled fabric, has a soft rolled hood and will insulate when wet. 185g (m), 165g (w). www.furtherfaster.co.nz

Rab Ascendor Hoody $229.95

This layering piece has a slim yet unrestrictive fit and uses Thermic G Soft fleece fabric that balances warmth, wicking, breathability and mobility. It has an under-helmet hood, a YKK Vislon centre-front zip with grosgrain welt for comfort, a chest pocket, two hand pockets and elasticated cuffs and hem. 397g (m), 362g (w). www.outfitters.co.nz

Rab Ramshaw Hoodie $219.95

This mountain jacket is made with soft gridded Thermic fleece, and its low-bulk relaxed fit offers easy layering. It has a zipped chest pocket and two handwarmer pockets, a close-fitting hood and a full-length centre zip. 517g (m), 437.5g (w). www.outfitters.co.nz

Marmot Men’s Rockbound Fleece Hoodie $179.95

Made of midweight grid fleece created from post-consumer recycled polyester and with a recycled mesh lining, this hoodie has an under-helmet three-piece funnel hood, a half-zip closure for ventilation, pack-friendly zipped hand pockets, elastic-bound cuffs and hem and raglan sleeves for mobility. 372g. www.marmot.co.nz

Marmot Airfleece Performance Full-Zip Jacket $179.95

This jacket’s checkerboard grid fleece pattern creates airflow grooves for breathability, to trap heat and reduce bulk. It has a roomy fit for easy layering, thumbholes, a zipped chest pocket and hand pockets. 312g (m), 296g (w). www.marmot.co.nz