Leaves are changing colors, fire stoves are being lit in the evening, and it’s nippy outside. Fall has arrived. Enter your perfect, warm and cozy fleece. Ahh, perfect fleece, where have you been all my life? After we have found your perfect men’s fleece, you’ll never want to take it off until next summer. You can go running, hiking, and skiing in it, and then go on dates, or to movies, or to your in-laws, you’ll always be warm and comfortable and know that you look good.
There are zillions of men’s fleeces out there to confuse you. But we’ll help you narrow it down to a handful of potentially perfect ones that combine function, quality, comfort, and of course the hunk factor. Sure we want you to be warm, but we also want you to look good, your other half will thank us.
Fleece sweaters or jackets are ideal for outdoor sports because they are lightweight and quick-drying while providing the warmth you need to stay outdoors, even when it’s a bit wet. Some are more lightweight than others and are designed for activities that require more movement. These fleeces are thinner, making them great for layering under a down jacket, for example, and/or over a technical base layer. Then there are thicker fleeces that are good for colder temperatures but may not be ideal for activities like running because they feel heavier and less breathable. So based on your activities and warmth needs, you may decide to own multiple fleeces, which is never a bad thing in our opinion – we all share this guilty pleasure here. That said, here are our favorite men’s fleeces.
Mystery Solved!
The Best Men’s Fleece is:
Norrona Falketind Warm1 Stretch Zip Fleece Hoodie Men
Why we love it?
- It's super lightweight and stretchy but with a high warmth-to-weight ratio
- Very versatile for layering or to wear alone when moving in lower temperatures
- Nice attention to detail like soft brushed chin protection and integrated hand gaiter
- High quality and the slim fit looks great
9
SOURCES UNCOVERED
950
SCUTTLEBUTT CONTEMPLATED
16
HOURS INVESTIGATING
20
PRODUCTS INSPECTED
Top 7 Products
Norrona Falketind Warm1 Stretch Zip Fleece Hoodie Men |
Arc’teryx Covert Cardigan Fleece Jacket Men |
Mountain Hardwear Monkey Man Fleece Jacket Men |
Arc’teryx Delta LT Fleece Hoodie Men |
Patagonia Performance Better Sweater Jacket Men |
The North Face Denali 2 Fleece Jacket Men |
Patagonia R2 TechFace Jacket Men |
|
| Awards |
|
|
|
||||
| Price | 124.93$ View On REI | 124.93$ View On REI | 139.99$ View On Amazon | 103.93$ View On REI | 144.97$ View On Amazon | 190.00$ View On Amazon | 129.93$ View On REI |
| Overall Rating | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 7.7 | 8 | 7.3 | 7.3 |
| Pros | High warmth-to-weight ratio, Stretchy, Lightweight, Breathable , Durable, Moisture wicking, Slim fitting looks great, High quality, Very comfortable | Knit exterior with soft, brushed inner, Elegant look, Very warm, High quality, Moisture wicking, Offers full range of motion, Breathable, Very comfortable | Polartec High Loft, Packable, Very warm, High quality, Offers full range of motion with zoned side panels, Breathable, Very soft, Multiple interior and exterior pockets, Sleek silhouette | Super lightweight, Packable, Polartec Classic 100 Microfleece, High quality build, High warmth-to-weight ratio, Breathable, Very soft inside, Versatile for everyday use and activewear, Stretchy for excellent movement | Sweater-knit face, soft cozy interior, Casual look, Very warm, High quality, Offers full range of motion with stretchy side panels, Breathable, Durable, Vents on side and underarms | Very warm with Polartec 300 high loft fleece, Heavy duty, Reinforced shoulders, chest and forearms for abrasion resistance and wind resistance, High quality, Water resistant , Breathable, Very durable and long lasting, Vents on underarms, Zip-in compatible with complementing The North Face shells | High-loft double-weave fabric is soft and warm, Water resistant, Wind resistant, Packable and lightweight, Highly breathable, Full range of motion, Versatile |
| Cons | Pricey | Pricey, Wind can get through, No hanger loop, Not as packable | Pricey, Fit works for some but not others | Loose fitting, Pricey, Slightly shorter hemline than previous version | Wind gets through, particularly the arms, Not as packable | Boxy fit, Not as packable, Bulky, limits some range of motion | Loose fitting, Pricey |
| Bottom Line | You’re just not going to want to take this fleece off until the summer. Yes, it’s that great. | This fleece will make you look like a sexy classy professor and not a ski bum, but it will keep you as warm as one. | You (and the ladies) will immediately fall in love with the warmth, softness, and comfort of the Monkey Man Fleece, if you like the particular fit. | The loose-fitting Delta LT Hoody is really light, easy to layer, and comfortable for any activity practically all year round. | We like the Performance Better Sweater because of its versatility, lightweight design, and sleek look. | Get ready to wear this heavy duty fleece for several winters because not only is it famous for its serious warmth but also for its durability. | The R2 TechFace Fleece offers you breathable warmth and is both water and wind resistant, something quite rare with fleeces. |
| Functionality | 9 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 9 |
| Warmth | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
| Hot Factor | 9 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
2. Arc’teryx Covert Cardigan Fleece Jacket Men
Functionality
Warmth
Hot Factor
Best offers
Pros
- Knit exterior with soft, brushed inner
- Elegant look
- Very warm
- High quality
- Moisture wicking
- Offers full range of motion
- Breathable
- Very comfortable
Cons
- Pricey
- Wind can get through
- No hanger loop
- Not as packable
Stay warm and look hot with Arc’teryx’s Covert Cardigan Fleece Jacket. This is a very versatile men fleece jacket perfect for a long hike in the mountains and also for a hot date in the evening because although it’s a technical layer, it doesn’t look it.
3. Mountain Hardwear Monkey Man Fleece Jacket Men
Functionality
Warmth
Hot Factor
Best offers
Pros
- Polartec High Loft
- Packable
- Very warm
- High quality
- Offers full range of motion with zoned side panels
- Breathable
- Very soft
- Multiple interior and exterior pockets
- Sleek silhouette
Cons
- Pricey
- Fit works for some but not others
Women will fling their arms around you when you wear the Mountain Hardwear’s Monkey Man Fleece Jacket because not only do you look good with its slim fit, this men’s fleece is super soft and warm, turning you into a big huggable plush animal – that does lots of outdoor sports.
4. Arc’teryx Delta LT Fleece Hoodie Men
Functionality
Warmth
Hot Factor
Best offers
Pros
- Super lightweight
- Packable
- Polartec Classic 100 Microfleece
- High quality build
- High warmth-to-weight ratio
- Breathable
- Very soft inside
- Versatile for everyday use and activewear
- Stretchy for excellent movement
Cons
- Loose fitting
- Pricey
- Slightly shorter hemline than previous version
An essential piece to your wardrobe, the men’s Arc’teryx Delta LT Fleece Hoody is light and soft but warm and breathable, making it the go-to layer all year long.
5. Patagonia Performance Better Sweater Jacket Men
Functionality
Warmth
Hot Factor
Best offers
Pros
- Sweater-knit face, soft cozy interior
- Casual look
- Very warm
- High quality
- Offers full range of motion with stretchy side panels
- Breathable
- Durable
- Vents on side and underarms
Cons
- Wind gets through, particularly the arms
- Not as packable
This men fleece takes the original Patagonia Better Sweater and makes it even better with the Performance Better Sweater with its slim fit, lighter design. Now it’s actually better because it allows more movement and is easier for layering or for wearing alone, but most importantly, it looks better because we like the slim-fit – trust us, you’ll look hot in it.
6. The North Face Denali 2 Fleece Jacket Men
Functionality
Warmth
Hot Factor
Best offers
Pros
- Very warm with Polartec 300 high loft fleece
- Heavy duty
- Reinforced shoulders, chest and forearms for abrasion resistance and wind resistance
- High quality
- Water resistant
- Breathable
- Very durable and long lasting
- Vents on underarms
- Zip-in compatible with complementing The North Face shells
Cons
- Boxy fit
- Not as packable
- Bulky, limits some range of motion
Now here’s a heavy duty men fleece that will keep you really warm on your cold adventures for years to come. The North Face Denali is the warmest and thickest fleece on our list, still good for layering under a shell or a heavier layer and has been tried and tested as a truly long lasting fleece.
7. Patagonia R2 TechFace Jacket Men
Functionality
Warmth
Hot Factor
Best offers
Pros
- High-loft double-weave fabric is soft and warm
- Water resistant
- Wind resistant
- Packable and lightweight
- Highly breathable
- Full range of motion
- Versatile
Cons
- Loose fitting
- Pricey
Tired of the wind getting through with most fleeces? This men’s fleece by Patagonia is wind and water resistant and is still highly breathable. Here’s the best part: it weighs only 380 g. The R2 TechFace has a high-loft double-weave fabric that is also warm and soft.
Criteria for Selecting our Best Men's Fleeces
Functionality
Our favorite fleece has to be highly functional, which means it’s got to keep us warm, allow us to move freely, be layer-friendly, and make us look good all at the same time. (We’ll get to the looking good factor later on). That’s a lot of responsibilities for our top fleece. It’s like wanting the cake and eating it, too. But with the right balance, it is possible. Keep in mind that fleeces are not meant to be windbreakers, so it’s normal to feel a bit of wind going through when you’re wearing just a fleece. However, heavier fleeces will be able to insulate a bit more, but never against wet weather. So, we always like fleeces that can be layered under a shell that will protect you from the wind and rain.
Warmth
Although we included warmth as an aspect in our Functionality criterion, we still wanted to highlight it again separately because some of our top fleeces are not as warm as others but allows a lot of movement and breathability for activities like trail running or cross-country skiing, for example. Warmer fleeces still made our top fleece list because there are times when you just want to wear a nice and warm fleece to hang out in or even for a night out.
Hot Factor
And we don’t mean warmth this time. We’re talking hot as in you look smokin’ hot in this fleece. Can a fleece have a hot factor? It definitely can for us. Some of the fleeces that made our list are slim fit, or athletic fit as some call it. If you’re athletic, we want to see it. So something that fits you nicely to show off your hot build ranks highly in our humble opinion.
And what do you think? Let us know in the comments!