Despite some rumblings about gorpcore being over, it seems in fact to be widening in influence. Just look at the fleece-jacket market, which consists of not just classic Patagonia and North Face zip-ups, but in the last 15 years has grown to include versions by heritage menswear labels and reinterpreted by edgy designers. Now you can find these jackets in quilted fabrics, sheep’s and yak’s wool, in addition to the standard Polartec, as well as in more modern silhouettes and patterns.
To get an update on the coolest new fleeces, I asked more than a dozen stylish people about their favorite fleece jackets and the ones that they frequently recommend, from their everyday picks to splurge-worthy statement pieces.
Best fleeces for women
Best under-$200 fleeces for women
“I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to fleece, and my all-time favorite is the Patagonia Synchilla anorak in navy blue,” says brand consultant and stylist Laurel Pantin, who writes the shopping newsletter Earl Earl. “I like Patagonia’s company ethics, and I also like that this looks like what an ’80s Connecticut dad would wear — my aesthetic.”
Style blogger Bethany Everett-Ratcliffe likes this colorful snap-button pullover from Free People. “It’s most comparable to the brand’s older Nantucket Fleece, which I have and am still obsessed with,” she says. “While I don’t typically wear fleeces with jeans, it’s a great way to make jeans and a white tee look fun while keeping it casual.”
Strategist junior writer Brenley Goertzen has worn this fleece for five years and says that it’s been great for Minnesota winters and cooler, transitional fall-to-spring weather. “In the winter, I wear it under my parka a lot when I want a fuzzy layer because it provides extra mid-weight warmth,” she says. “The collar is nice because it helps shield my neck from freezing gusts, plus the cuffs keep heat trapped inside really well. I also wear it without my parka when I’m lounging, running errands, or taking my pups for quick bathroom breaks.”
This recycled-polyester fleece is a favorite of Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio, who throws it on anytime she’s not wearing a puffer. She likes it with jeans and athleisure styles and for cooler weather. “I will wear it out more casually in the spring and fall but also for coaching soccer on the weekends or as an all-purpose jacket,” she says.
One of our favorite gifts for hikers, this fleece comes recommended by Strategist writer Kat Gillespie, who says its unique cut (which she describes as more of a ’70s look as opposed to a lot of other fleeces that reference the ’80s and ’90s) is rooted in versatility. “It’s designed for hiking/performance, but you could totally wear it in the city without anyone batting an eye,” she says. “The quilted fabric — rather than fuzzy — makes it feel a bit more formal and put together.”
Everett-Ratcliffe calls this bomber “a chic cozy option,” noting how she reaches for her fleece “when going for my sad-girl walks, layered over a sweatshirt to keep warm.” She also likes to wear it when running quick errands and with leggings.
Best $200 and up fleeces for women
“I’ve always admired this Snow Peak fleece,” says freelance fashion and culture writer Emilia Petrarca, who writes the shopping newsletter Shop Rat. “I think the lines are really flattering (fleeces can be too SpongeBob SquarePants for me sometimes). And I like that it keeps your hands warm. There are also big pockets in the back for carrying a book, or whatever, to the park.”
This reversible wool jacket is on Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo’s wish list. “I love soft fuzzy fleece but don’t love microplastics, and I run hot so synthetic fleece jackets make me sweat, while wool is breathable,” she says, adding that she likes wearing men’s clothing, and appreciates that it’s a unisex piece.
“For a fancier fleece, I just got this one from Aztech Mountain, and it is so good,” says Pantin. “It’s solid black, so less gorpy, and looks great with a more polished skirt or pair of trousers. It’s kind of fashion-y — almost — but I’m also going to bring it skiing this spring.”
“This fleece by Nanushka is my favorite of the season,” says stylist Kiarra Logan. “I love that it has a bandana-paisley-style pattern on top of a cool buttery yellow color.” Logan says that the fleece is a statement on its own, so she often styles it with a simple bottom combo of black sweats and Loewe Flow Runner sneakers.
Best fleeces for men
Best under-$200 fleeces for men
Timothy Grindle, co-founder of men’s clothing store Canoe Club, recommends this traditional L.L. Bean fleece with a more modern, boxy fit. “It has all the classic details in insanely good colorways,” he says. (While this is an only-in-Japan release, you can still order it for shipment to the U.S.)
Benje Williams and Ken Bernard, co-founders of Brooklyn’s first dedicated hiking store, Outlandish, both recommend this ultrasoft crewneck fleece from Topo Designs. They like subtle details, like the “oh-so-necessary kangaroo pocket” and the thumbholes in the cuffs. Williams and Bernard add that the corded hem adds “a little extra swag to this boxy-cut piece.”
Bandit is known for making high-quality running apparel, and this jacket made from Portuguese wool is no exception. It’s much more breathable than it looks, which is great for runners who tend to overheat, like I do. Plus, it has a boxier, bomber-jacket silhouette that I like for casualwear.
Some fleece designs look more like paintings on canvas, and this oversize option from Picture Organic has “a picturesque mountain scene that gives it a vintage appeal,” says men’s fashion director at Nordstrom Jian DeLeon.
DeLeon calls the iconic Denali a “forever-relevant piece,” which he says can be zipped into a shell layer like the Mountain Jacket for extra protection against the weather. “Worn alone, it’s a great compromise of quality and classic style,” he says. “It’s great, but when zipped into the equally inimitable Gore-Tex shell, you end up with a modular piece you keep for life.” He also offers this pro tip: “The retro fit runs a bit baggier, which you absolutely want.”
The Woolly is made from a breathable yet supremely warm Polartec Alpha fabric, so it can be worn as a mid-layer under a shell on chillier days or by itself on warm days. Bernard says it’s “super lightweight” but excellent for wearing in a wide range of temperatures. The collar is thin and unobtrusive, which makes it easy to wear with other long-sleeved layers. Plus, William Ellery makes other versions with colorful, iridescent forearm patches.
This is my favorite fleece for winter running. Whenever it gets below 30 degrees, I throw this jacket on top of a base layer, and I’m perfectly insulated for long runs. It has multiple reverse panels (a fuzzy, high-pile polyester on one side, and a ribbed polyester on the other side) that keep my arms and torso from overheating. It’s also one of our favorite gifts for runners.
Best $200 and up fleeces for men
“There’s nothing more influential than the first Patagonia fleece,” says Trevor Davis, the founder of outdoor brand William Ellery. “The shape of it, whether it be the three-button pullover or the full-zip chest pocket — that classic Patagonia style — that was the introduction to fleeces.”
From its chopsticks to its stainless-steel camping mugs, Snow Peak makes high-quality gear. Leon Hedgepeth, an editor at the menswear newsletter Sprezza, says the brand’s clothes (like this fleece) are just as nice. “Everything design is functional since its an outdoor brand, but the fit and design are always spot on,” he says. “This fleece jacket is lightweight but lined with a thick Polartec fabric and front and back pockets for storage. If you’re looking for a mid-layering fleece to throw under a down jacket or topcoat, look no further.”
For a hooded option, DeLeon recommends this fleece hoodie, which he says has made a resurgence in recent collections. “Carhartt WIP’s version is based on its hard-wearing Active Jacket silhouette, reinterpreted in a colorful fleece with an artisanal touch,” he says.
Hedgepeth says that wearing the Mountain Gorilla fleece has a similar effect to wearing a vintage Patagonia fleece: “It feels like a winter jacket you can wear in 20-30-degree weather. The fleece is windproof, and the hemp cotton twill throughout the body and sleeves is substantial. I’ll happily be wearing this until April.”
“Ralph Lauren always excels at injecting classic menswear with a modern novelty, and the label’s take on mixing a high-pile fleece with a dressier pattern like glen plaid elevates the casual silhouette,” DeLeon says.
Best fleeces worth splurging on
“I only wear fleece from Kapital,” says Strategist style columnist Chris Black, who recommends this polyester jacket with wavy stripes. “The prints and patterns are cool and a bit loud, but I can’t get enough.” Meanwhile, Grindle prefers the Boa Alpine fleece, which he calls a “sleeper piece” in the Kapital collection. He says the Alpine is a bit boxier, “So it feels modern and fresh, but nothing else about it is super wild, like a lot of Kapital pieces, so anybody can work it into their wardrobe.”
Grindle says this hybrid snap-tee sweater is one of the most unique fleeces he owns. “It has a long staple fiber mohair, so it’s hairy (without being too hairy) and gives great texture and depth to a simple piece. It really shines as a mid-layer because you get that texture and the sophistication of a knit in the style of a casual fleece,” he says.
Grindle says that while this high-pile yak-wool-blend jacket is pricey, it’s his most-worn fleece and his top recommendation. “These are made in super-limited quantities in Japan. It has this insanely beautiful texture and highs and lows in the fabric that are unmatched.” Grindle says that after years of wear, the Sunset Pile will show its wear “like a pair of jeans due to being hand-dyed with Sumi ink (soot dye) with accents in pure natural indigo. If there was one fleece to rule them all, in my opinion this is it,” he says.
“One of the designer labels doing really interesting takes on the fleece is Angelo Urrutia of 4SDesigns,” says DeLeon. “Last season he introduced a patterned fleece with motifs commenting on immigration and reflecting on his Hispanic heritage. Couple that with a boxy, cropped fit, and interesting details like a two-way zip and a turquoise zipper pull, and it’s the kind of head-turning item that starts a conversation.”
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