A can mean a lot of things: bulky outer layer, ultralight or streamlined . This lightweight fleece jacket from The North Face has gone for the latter, with a low profile, full-zip design that can add insulation under a or shell, or make a light outer layer for early starts and cool summits during the summer the summer months. Fleece's insulating power is easily its most appealing quality, but for any jacket you plan to wear during vigorous activity, you also require capabilities and , and this jacket offers those in bucket loads thanks to the power grid fleece lining.
We've worked up quite a sweat in this jacket on a mild day and haven't even had to unzip. The face fabric is tough enough to withstand ropes, rock and backpack strap and it's built to avoid the annoying we expected from our fleece jackets in the 1990s. A high collar seals out a draft, while the cuffs and hem are elasticated and sit flush against the body, though they do lack adjustability and .
Added stretch is enough that you can move dynamically in this fleece and three zipped pockets provide ample storage space for phones, cards and hands. There's no mention of antimicrobial treatment but for a synthetic garment, this one doesn't get too smelly with a single use, which is always a bonus. Made with recycled content and at a moderate price point, we can't find much to argue about with this high-performing fleece.
As a hiker, I can never get enough of fleece jackets, but some are too bulky, others too light, and.
