Bottom Line
The Outdoor Research Vigor (men’s / women’s) is one of our favorite fleece jackets to wear when conditions are chilly, but we’re likely to also break a sweat. It’s the lightest full-zip jacket on our list, so when it comes to high-output activities, we reach for the Vigor. Its quick-drying grid fleece provides the perfect amount of warmth and airflow to keep you comfortable even while chugging uphill.
The Vigor is like a beefed-up baselayer, so it’s a great go-to for everything from hiking to snowsports – anything that requires thermoregulation and moisture management. We also love the full-seat coverage.
The price of the Vigor is excellent too, with comparable fleeces costing significantly more. We recommend the Vigor to anyone looking to score a great deal on a versatile, high-performance jacket for their active lifestyle.
We tested this fleece throughout the fall on cool morning hikes and chilly evenings by the fire pit. We love the scuba hood for wearing under helmets alpine climbing and while backcountry skiing.
We also love that the layer transitions from hiking as an outer layer to a midlayer for backcountry skiing. It is an ideal layer for early morning ascents when it’s cold out, but you are generating body heat. The pros far outweigh any cons for this well-priced fleece.
Quick Specs
Outdoor Research Vigor
Most Breathable Fleece
CleverHiker Rating:
68
Price:
$120
Measured Weight:
12.9 oz.(Men’s M)
Fleece Weight:
Lightweight
Pros
- Affordable (especially for technical wear)
- Lightweight
- Highly breathable
- Quick-drying
- Easy to layer
- Good mobility
Warmth
The Outdoor Research Vigor offers a good mid-layer level of warmth. It is not as warm as some of the warmest fleeces on our list, but it is still a great option for cool mornings on the trail.
This thin, lighter-weight fleece will not perform well as an outer layer in frigid winter temperatures unless you are really working up a sweat. We wore the Vigor on a cool crisp Colorado day deep in the Rocky Mountains and around town on casual walks.
This thermoregulating layer has Outdoor Research’s signature ActiveTemp fabric treatment, which means it regulates your temperature during high-energy hikes, runs, and ski tour laps. It is a solid mid-layer fleece to pair with a jacket for additional warmth. The hood also adds additional warmth by slowing heat loss from your head.
Comfort
The Outdoor Research Vigor was very comfortable both as a townie layer and as a technical trail layer. Its stretchy material moves with your body. While not a warm fuzzy fleece, it is more of a second-skin style fleece.
It is very lightweight and stretchy, and we quickly forgot we were wearing it. Outdoor Research designed the Vigor with a flat-seam construction, which adds comfort, especially with layers, and eliminates any chance of chafing. Lightweight and free range of movement are the two high points for comfort here.
Durability
Our testing showed no wear and tear on this fleece. The bluesign-approved 94% polyester and 6% spandex material stood up to standard hikes and some scrambling over rough rocks. If the Vigor encountered a sharp branch or you were to take a big crash, then the fabric might tear, but this would have to be something out of the ordinary.
For your average hikes on a trail, the Vigor is going to perform great and should last a long time. When washing this fleece, it may be better to air dry it since it has high-performance sweat-wicking technology. That could help prolong the life of the Vigor, but there’s no fear of pilling or fraying here.
Weight
This fleece is 12.9 ounces, making it one of the lighter fleeces on our list. While testing the Vigor on hikes in the Rockies, we found it to be an excellent lightweight layer that is easy to hike in. We had to scramble over a few rocks, and the Vigor moved with us while never weighing us down. It also packs into a lightweight ball about the size of a softball and stows away easily into a backpack. In terms of compact and lightweight fleeces, this is one of the top options on our list.
Features
There are not a ton of features with the Outdoor Research Vigor; however, for being such a basic lightweight layer, it has some nice features. Our favorite is the 3-panel hood with binding. Often, fleeces that are this light will sacrifice a hood and pockets for fewer ounces, but Outdoor Research included a nice hood here, along with a zipper chest pocket and two hand pockets.
The fleece is quick-drying, sweat-wicking, and breathable. It also has UPF 30 sun protection, which is nice for cloudless days on the trail. It has a full zipper and thumb loops on the sleeves, which makes it easy to layer. While the Vigor is a minimalist design, it has some nice features that came in handy while we tested it.
Should You Buy The Outdoor Research Vigor?
The Outdoor Research Vigor is a great fleece for the price (and OR is quite generous with their sales, so keep an eye out for them!). The value here is off the charts and offers a great balance of lightweight warmth and comfort. It’s not a casual bulky/fuzzy fleece but more of a technical layer that is designed for any outdoor activity where you will be working up a sweat.
If you want a lightweight, breathable layer for the trail or rock climbing, or a mid-layer for winter sports, this is the fleece for you.
What Other Fleeces Should You Consider?
Patagonia R1 Air Review: A similar fleece to the Outdoor Research Vigor, the R1 Air is a lightweight, technical, breathable fleece. It does not have a hood or hand pockets, but aside from that, these two fleeces have similar designs and chest pockets and work for the same activities.
REI Flash Hyperstretch Review: Like the Outdoor Research Vigor, the REI Flash Hyperstretch is not the warmest fleece, but it is comfortable, lightweight, and wicks sweat on high-energy hikes. The Flash Hyperstrech is another lightweight fleece that works great for backcountry hikes and longer ventures.
