Fleece jackets

Find the best for your budget

UP TO £50 At this price you get a basic insulation layer that will provide the warmth needed for hillwalking, but it will tend to lack the benefits of more expensive products. The fleece may be slightly thinner, so it’s not as warm as some costlier options. You may not get any pockets nor a hood. More subtle missing details may include no draught baffle behind the front zip, the front zip may only extend to the chest and there may be no zip garage to prevent the top of the zip from scratching your chin or neck area. This price band of fleece jackets is good for general hillwalking, though, and if you are on a tight budget you don’t need to spend more to be warm and comfortable on the hills. FROM £51 TO £100 There is a clear improvement in performance in this price band compared to the lower-priced products. The fleece materials may be slightly thicker, and therefore warmer, or you may get additional benefits, such as a pair of well-placed pockets or a hood. The fleece materials may also offer additional wind resistance or breathability, or they may have a more durable outer face so they don’t snag on rocks so easily. In general, the jackets in this price bracket are well suited to more regular hillwalkers who will benefit from the small but incremental extras on offer. FROM £101 In this price band the benefits are directed to more specific user needs. So you get more stretchy materials that may offer excellent levels of moisture management, along with higher levels of breathability, wind resistance or warmth. You will also have excellent pocket designs that allow easier access while wearing rucksacks and a hood that fits and moves very well with your head. The overall fit of these jackets may be more tailored to produce a closer and more athletic style, which better suits the needs of more active users, climbers and mountaineers. Hillwalkers can still benefit from these designs, though, if they can stretch to the price tags.