Mountain fleeces
If you need a versatile mid layer for cold-weather mountain missions, you still can’t beat a fleece for soft, cosy comfort, breathable warmth and reliable quick-drying performance.
When it comes to outright warmth for weight, ducks and geese are the undisputed insulation champs, thanks to the fluffy down plumage hidden beneath their feathers. That’s why down is used for the warmest and priciest insulated jackets. And to be fair, sheep have got it covered for daily life on claggy hills and mountains – particularly the antipodean super-sheep that is the merino. Hence why superfine merino wool is the yarn of choice for performance base layers. But one man-made fabric still reigns supreme when it comes to mid layers, and that is polar fleece. First developed in the late 1970s, this new synthetic wonder-fabric was lighter and softer than wool, and much cheaper and more versatile than down. If it got wet, fleece was also quicker drying than a heavy woolly pully or a soggy down jacket. Made from polyester pile, it was warm and comfortable. Ok, it wasn’t particularly windproof, but on the flipside, it was very breathable. Fleece proved to be a big hit, and soon every brand started making fleece jackets, making the leap from technical outerwear to everyday wardrobe staple. Today, they come in multiple variations, from lightweight, breathable gridded microfleece tops to uber-cosy, high-loft fleece hoodies. Everyone’s got one, from Alex Honnold to your granny. Of course, in these more enlightened times, we’ve now realised that a fabric made from petrochemicals is not so great for the planet. Similarly, disturbing research has shown that these fluffy synthetic fibres can also release tiny strands and particles – called microplastics – into the environment, particularly when they are chucked in your washing machine. The outdoor industry is trying to find solutions to these problems and many fleeces are now made from recycled polyester. But it cannot be denied that for versatile all-round performance, fleece is still one of the best options around.
Which is perhaps why – for now at least – it remains king of the mid layers.