15 Best Fleece Jackets for Staying Warm Without the Bulk

Of course, we’re starting off strong with a favorite from Patagonia, the brand whose fleece jackets sort of started it all. Patagonia’s Pile fleece jackets are a staple of its product line, and have inspired imitators everywhere. It’s still a great option, but we think the company’s chunky, textured Retro-X fleece feels more of the moment.

Colorado based Topo Designs was founded by a pair of friends who couldn’t find outdoor staples that they felt comfortable wearing off mountain. Its first products were hiking packs, but the company has long sold jackets, pants, and other outdoor accessories. These items have won fans over for their technical prowess and longevity, but also for how the company has embraced colorblocking as its visual trademark. The technique is evident in the colorways available for its light Vista quarter-zip fleece, including one that places a sharp blue next to gentle oatmeal.

Danner is best known for its history producing extremely durable work and hiking boots. But the company has also been making hard-wearing yet handsome-looking apparel for quite some time. Its Wolf Creek pullover is no exception. Cut from recycled polyester fleece, the garment is reinforced at the elbows and forearms to prevent unnecessary wear and tear. Interestingly, it is only available in three colors that aren’t quite neutral: blue, olive, and orange.

Vuori is one of the fastest-growing activewear brands of the moment, but it has a reputation for designs that fit well but don’t always inspire. The Lou jacket, with its beefy pilgrim collar, is a relatively bold statement in the company’s otherwise simple product line. The design, which conjures images of cool-guy leather jackets with shearling linings, demands top billing. In other words, this is not a fleece to be worn under another coat. Don’t worry: it’s cut long enough to actually work as an outer layer.

Purpose-built clothing from mainstream brands is rarely bad at doing what it says it will do. But it also rarely inspires unexpected delight. You cannot say the same of gear from Earth/Studies, a brand producing a tight range of technical shorts, pants, and jackets that can withstand any challenge presented by weather while still turning heads in the subway. The roomy MS-110 ESCEP fleece jacket is no exception to this rule, constructed from a dusty green recycled polyester fleece with cotton rib and ripstop reinforcements. Best of all, like many other Earth/Studies garments, the jacket has an absurd number and range of pockets. The best might be the cavernous “foraging” pocket in the front, which you can cinch closed to hold any treasures you find in the wild. (It also works for your phone.)

The promise of Quince is simple and enticing. The company claims it ships clothes to customers directly from the factory in which they are produced, allowing it to sell at often staggeringly low prices. There are apparent trade-offs—mainly that its products don’t look that distinctive. But it’s hard to fault a garment like the Quince Polar Fleece for not looking like a luxury item when it costs less than a date night meal at some restaurants. And anyway, it nails the basics, soft to the touch and designed to work either as a jacket or mid-layer. You love to see it.

Arc’teryx appears to design all its gear to fill a particular technical use. Fortunately, in the case of the Covert zip neck, the scenario is something anyone who walks regularly will encounter basically every day from the first frosts to the final thaws of spring: “It’s cold but I’m doing something that will make me sweat.” The recycled polyester fabric is just thick enough to both offer warmth and breathability—a tricky balance. Plus, strategic articulations allow the jacket to move with your body. Ultimately, the pullover, like many other Arc’teryx products, is so good at what it does, you’ll want to wear it as much as you can. Thankfully, it also looks sick.

It’s the worst kept secret in fashion: Uniqlo is where the best-dressed go for simple wardrobe staples like shirts and socks. But there is heat in its outerwear section, too. In this case, that’s meant literally. Though they’re constructed of a relatively thin polyester, Uniqlo’s fleece jackets are designed to keep you plenty warm. When you pull it on, you’ll notice piping at the cuffs and hem, which keeps the openings from flapping in the chilly wind.

Gramicci is the rare label that has both the buy-in of the fashionable and the outdoorsy, given its history making clothing for climbers, mainly thanks to its pants with easy-adjust belts. Its light fleece jacket is modeled after a pair of cozy flannel pajamas, and packs plenty of pockets. Better yet, the company makes a matching pair of pants, in case you really want to flex.

The menswear wizards at Drake’s, a company founded primarily as a maker of beautiful accessories like scarves and shawls, began making fleece jackets a couple of years ago. As you might expect from a company now mainly known for its tailoring, Drake’s fleece is more fitted than those from other brands. Size appropriately.

Fjallraven is primarily known for its kindercore backpacks and bags, but the company has been making clothes designed to withstand the outdoors since the late ’60s. The outer body of the Vardag Pile Fleece is made of two layers of teddy fleece—just the right amount of warmth for late fall and early winter explorations. The jacket has three pockets, including one eye-catching snap on the chest.

Those looking for a bold alternative to simple solids, color blocking, and the occasional stripe, should look no further than the wares of Sundae School. The Seoul-born label that’s now based in California might primarily be known for its sublimely flavored edibles, but the brand has been making colorful fleeces for a few years. The cuddly Kloudy Bay fleece is just one entrant in its line inspired by urban landscapes and bridges.

Traveling to practically arctic conditions? The District Vision fleece is constructed from a heavyweight Italian fleece with an internal shell layer that’s super durable. No matter how cold it gets, the jacket should be plenty thick enough to keep you warm.

Though these days you’re just as likely to see a magazine editor wearing Carhartt as a dock worker, the company’s line of gear is still built to handle tough conditions. Its fleece, a cozy, high-pile fabric, is constructed with a loose, relaxed fit. There are two pockets in the front, placed in the exact same spot as they are on your favorite hoodie.

The vast majority of Cotopaxi’s new backpacks, travel gear, and clothes are made from recycled materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill. The company’s fleeces are no different. Featuring Cotopaxi’s logo and three colored stripes, the cut is a bit more fitted than some of the others we’ve highlighted. Size up if you want a cozy outer layer; size down if you plan to wear it under a larger jacket.