The Finest Fleece Jackets for Ladies in 2023

Fleece jackets are like a hug on a drizzly day yet are as diverse as the weather across four seasons. Whether you’re sledding with kids at 9,000 feet in the Rockies, ice climbing in below-freezing temperatures, shoveling dirt at a North Dakota farm, or rafting Idaho’s most remote rivers, we’ve got you covered. Finding the right fleece for your day-to-day use is essential for warmth and protection.

Regardless of the fabric makeup, pile, and aesthetic, the purpose remains the same — to hold your body heat. Despite that aim, fleece midlayers have a range of other attributes that make them unique including their fit, weatherproofness, and durability. Some women’s fleece jackets are more technical than others, which serves a certain purpose like for alpine climbers or backpackers.

And while there isn’t a single fleece that works for every person and application, we’ve highlighted a variety of options so you can find the one that suits you best. Whether you’re after a jacket with good range of motion, high warmth-to-weight ratio, or just plain ol’ comfort from the cold while tailgating, we’ve got you covered.

With so many fleeces to choose from, it can be hard to pick the best option for your outdoor activities. Check out our buyer’s guide and FAQ for a breakdown of the how and why of women’s fleece jackets. Have a look at our comparison chart to steer your decision process.

Otherwise, dive into a category that interests you or scroll through our picks for the best women’s fleece jackets of the year:

The Best Fleece Jackets for Women in 2023

Women’s Fleece Jacket Comparison Chart

Why You Should Trust Us

We know outdoor activities don’t all look alike, so we made sure every women’s fleece jacket we tested was used in a wide range of conditions and activities. These fleece were tested across environments, four seasons, and various weather conditions. We also used them for daily life from shoveling snow to jogging and running errands.

Our GearJunkie testers include a range of skilled pros: an AMGA-certified rock guide, sugar beet harvester, ski patrol tail guide, professional wildlife photographer, and rancher, to name a few of our field experts. Our team of skiers, snowboarders, hunters, climbers, and farmers put these jackets to the test to find the best women’s fleece.

The fleece accompanied us while alpine skiing and on backcountry tours. These layers have proven their durability and heat retention while traversing Idaho’s remotest wild rivers, working the land in North Dakota farmlands, and ascending cracks in Utah’s Indian Creek. We used them rock climbing and skiing throughout Colorado’s high-elevation peaks and limestone walls. Temperatures stretched from splitting cold at sunrise to scorching beneath the sun during fieldwork.

These layers protected us while glassing for animals and trail running. Other designs even helped keep us warm while we cleaned farm machinery, pedaled cruisers around town, and cooked meals at the campsite.

Using our first-hand experience, we narrowed down this season’s best fleece for women who work and play outside on a regular basis. While testing our fleece, we consider overall fit, warmth, hand value, density, weight, quality, durability, comfort, breathability, and overall value. We also took a close look at the design features from the zippers, hems, and hoods to the pockets, and considered the best application of each fleece.

We also take into account the most innovative, sustainable, novel, objective-specific, popular, highly-rated, and legacy products across a range of price points. We’re confident this list is comprised of the best women’s fleece jackets on the market that serve a variety of budgets and end uses.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Fleece Jacket for Women

Fleece is a human-made fabric that is soft and fuzzy and imitates wool fleece. The fabric is used to make a variety of insulating midlayers and lightweight jackets or vests that often have a full or partial front zipper.

Fleece is typically made from synthetic materials like polyester or a polyester blend.

It’s not to be confused with wool fleece, which comes from a variety of animals including sheep, lamb, alpaca, and goat.

For this guide, we focused on fleece jackets rather than vests.

Benefits of Fleece

Fleece is generally breathable, wicks moisture, and is quick-drying. Those qualities can be good for cardio activities like backcountry skiing, trail running, backpacking, or hiking.

Designs vary based on their warmth-to-weight ratio, wind and water resistance, bulkiness, and features like thumbholes, pockets, or hoods.

Wool, on the other hand, regulates temperature well, shields wind, and carries anti-odor properties. Wool is also naturally water-repellent due to the lanolin that coats the fibers. Comparatively, fleece wets quicker than wool but dries faster.

Warmth and Insulation

Fleeces offer varying levels of warmth and insulation from the cold, based on the type of fabric, weight, and any fabric liners. We classify all of our picks as midlayers, though some are warmer and more weather-resistant than others. In some conditions, these fleece work perfectly fine as an outer layer.

• Lightweight: The lightest fleece jackets are around 100 gsm. These layers are great for high-aerobic activities like nordic skiing or running. They are generally more breathable and less bulky. An example of the best fleeces in this category is the Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody.
• Midweight: Moderate-weight midlayers are a bit thicker at 200 gsm but still could be used while active at colder temperatures. They offer good insulation and can be integrated into a complete layering system underneath a protective wind or rain shell. The REI Groundbreaker and Topo Designs Subalpine Fleece are good examples of midweight options.
• Heavyweight: The thickest fleece layers are around 300-400 gsm and are great for layering up at the campsite. They tend to be a bit bulkier and warmer than light or midweight fleeces. They typically aren’t as comfortable or breathable during high-output activities. The North Face Denali Jacket was among the heaviest-weight fleeces we tested this year.

Layering Systems

Some of our favorite fleeces can be used as a standalone layer in adverse weather, though many are designed to be integrated with other jackets as part of a layering system. Using several layers allows you to stay comfortable as the conditions change or as your level of activity increases or decreases.

For example, if you are hiking uphill and start to sweat, you can shed your insulating layer (maybe it’s a fleece) and keep hiking in a base layer. If the wind starts to howl, zip a wind shell over your fleece to trap heat.

Weather & Water Resistance

Modern fleece designs often feature water-repellent treatments on the surface to prevent your fleece from absorbing moisture if weather conditions deteriorate. This means they do a much better job keeping you warm when it’s wet outside than, say,  a cotton sweatshirt.

The Voormi Diversion Hoodie is particularly good at this job due to the technical fabric weave and DWR coating. Most fleeces are not truly waterproof, however, and it’s still a good idea to bring a rain jacket as part of a complete layering system.

Some fleece jackets also have a fabric weave or outer coating that offers protection from the wind, like the Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoodie. These features are most useful when you intend to use your fleece as a standalone outer layer, as compared to an insulating midlayer.

Similarly, abrasion-repellent treatments on the outside of your fleece can enhance durability. This is especially useful for climbing, moving around equipment like a snowmobile, lifting objects, or other activities during which your jacket may be scraping against rough surfaces.

Breathability

If you’re going to be running, skiing, biking, or generally moving in your fleece, breathability is essential.

Fleece is typically made with materials that are designed to draw or “wick” moisture away from the body. Light or midweight layers are best for active pursuits. The dense fabric of heavyweight fleece tends to be less breathable and agile.

Among our winners for the breathability category, the Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody is constructed with a unique zigzag pattern that combines breathable channels with lofty fleece. These channels let heat escape from areas where you are likely to sweat the most, but they offer little respite from the wind.

Another choice with excellent aeration but heat-holding power is the Norrøna Falketind Alpha 120.

Other fleece designs even integrate wool fibers for odor control while keeping your warmth in.

Size and Fit

Women’s-specific fleece jackets take into account the shape of the female body including the hips, chest, and shoulders as well as torso length and width.

Many of the athletic-fit fleeces we tested are also tailored and gusseted in the arms and shoulders to be more form-fitting yet allow a range of movement.

Alternatively, there are also plenty of relaxed-fit fleece jackets for women on the market.

Price

If a wool fleece includes cashmere, a super-soft and fine goat hair, its price increases considerably.

Otherwise, the majority of fleece and wool falls in a similar price range, plus a handful of budget-friendlier fleece options.

The most economic choices in our guide are below $100. These include the REI Groundbreaker Fleece 2.0 ($50) and Helly Hansen Daybreaker Fleece Jacket ($65). The Stio Turpin Fleece Half Zip ($99) and prAna Polar Escape Half-Zip Plus Pullover ($99) both come in at just under a hundo.

At a moderate price, the majority of our favorite fleece are between $100 and $200. That collection includes the Kari Traa Rothe Midlayer Fleece Jacket ($100), Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoodie ($180), Backcountry Hybrid Grid Fleece Pullover ($128), Patagonia R2 TechFace Hoody ($199), Orvis Pro Fleece Half-Zip Pullover ($129), The North Face Denali 2 Jacket ($179), and Topo Designs Subalpine Fleece ($189).

Pricier fleece jackets that rank high on our list exceed $200. Those tags include the Norrøna Falketind Alpha 120 ($209), Voormi Diversion Hoodie ($269), and Norrøna Trollveggen ($249).

Sustainability

When it comes to sustainability, buying new gear isn’t as environmentally friendly as having a closet swap with friends or finding scores at the thrift store. But conscious consumers can still shop with Mother Nature in mind.

Some jackets, like the Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoodie, are made with fabrics that meet the criteria of Bluesign, an organization that works to keep chemicals out of the supply chain for the health of humans, wildlife, natural resources, and the earth. Factories approved by the group must meet standards for pollution control and safety protections for workers. Products can meet those standards partially or as a whole, which is identified in labels and online descriptions. 

Companies are also taking matters into their own hands. Patagonia is renowned for its environmental activism, as the brand supports more than 1,000 groups that support a range of initiatives from biodiversity loss to climate action, as well as the company’s self-imposed “Earth Tax” called 1% for the Planet. Smaller companies such as Stio are third-party certified climate neutral, and work to reduce offset by investing in comparable renewable energy.

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