Generally used as a mid layer in the winter or an outer layer in the warmer months, there’s nothing quite as cosy as a good ol’ fleece. I’ve been out with the women’s gear team testing a whole range of different fleeces to find out which ones are the best for hiking.
And if you’re here looking for men’s options too, here’s the results of our most recent tests for that.
How We Tested The Best Hiking Fleeces for Women
All of these fleeces were first tested in the winter at the beginning of 2025, right up till now in the summer of 2026. They have been tested by a variety of female testers including long-term hikers and outdoor adventurers Jazz Noble and Becky Angell, to name a few. Hiking fleeces for a variety of shapes and sizes have been tested, with sizes ranging from a UK 8 to a UK 18.
The Best Women’s Fleeces for Hiking 2026
The majority of these fleeces were tested across UK landscapes such as Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, the South Downs and the Cairngorms, as well as Glenveagh National Park and the Dartry Mountains in Ireland. Including short day hikes, everyday dog walks, a cheeky bit of bouldering and multi-day walking trips along iconic trail routes – we’ve really put these jackets through their paces. Here are our top 5 favourites:
- Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoody – Best Hiking Fleece for Women Overall
- Artilect Supermoon Bio Hoodie Fleece – The Warmest Hiking Fleece for Women
- Passenger Ayla Recycled Micro Polartec Fleece – Best Microfleece Jacket for Women
- Helly Hansen Odin Breeze Fleece – Best Technical Women’s Hiking Fleece
- Cotopaxi Abrazo Half-Zip Fleece – Best Everyday Hiking Fleece for Women
Spoiler alert: our gear team’s favourite fleece at the moment is the Kyanite from Arc’teryx. Based on its weight, warmth, breathability and sustainability efforts, amongst other factors, we decided that it performed best overall. In particular it performed well on some hikes in the Dartry Mountains in Ireland, and in the Cambrian Mountains in Wales.
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If you need something a little warmer, we’d go for the Artilect Supermoon Bio fleece, or the Salomon Chroma if you need something on the bulkier side. For all-out technical performance, on the other hand, the Patagonia R1 Fleece Hoody performed well on some fast hiking tests across the UK.
Editor’s note: We will be continuing our tests throughout the seasons so keep an eye out for updates and changes, including fleeces that have stood up to the almighty test of time. This article was last updated in June 2026 to make sure all of our favourite items are still available at our selected retailers. Helly Hansen’s Odin Breeze fleece also made it into the list after performing well in our tests.
1. Arc’teryx Kyanite Fleece Hoody
Best Overall Women’s Fleece for Hiking: This gets our pick for best in test due to its comfort, versatility and warmth.
Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody
★★★★
Price: from £96
Weight: 360g
Best for: three-season hiking, climbing, everyday
Breathability Rating: 4/5
Warmth Rating: 4/5
The Arc’teryx Kyanite remains one of the brand’s standout fleece mid-layers, now refined with a slimmer silhouette and the addition of a discreet internal security pocket. Its clean, minimalist design is paired with Polartec fabric that offers excellent temperature regulation and four-way stretch, while durable nylon fibres help improve resistance to wear and abrasion.
The feature set is simple but well thought out. You’ll find two zippered hand pockets, a low-profile flatlock seam construction that reduces chafing and bulk, an elasticated hood and hem for a secure fit, stretch cuffs, and articulated patterning throughout.
After spending time with the Kyanite across a range of outdoor activities, I found it to be an impressively versatile layer. While I wouldn’t use it for ultra-cold weather, I found it ideal for everything from day hikes and multi-day backpacking trips to climbing sessions and evenings around camp. It slots comfortably between a base layer and a waterproof shell when temperatures drop, while still providing enough warmth to wear on its own during milder conditions. One of its standout qualities is the exceptionally soft brushed interior, which feels great against the skin while efficiently managing moisture during more active pursuits.
My only criticism is some minor pilling across the lower back after repeated contact with rough rocks and wooden benches. Aside from that, the fabric has proven fairly durable, and the generous stretch gives the jacket a barely-there feel that doesn’t restrict movement, even on more technical terrain.
Its understated styling also means it looks just as at home on city streets as it does on the trail, making it an easy choice for everyday wear as well.
Pros: versatile, warm, very stretchy
Cons: seems prone to pilling
2. Artilect Supermoon Bio Hoodie Fleece
The Warmest Hiking Fleece for Women: This fleece is our runner-up and gets our pick as the best option for colder weather, according to our tests.
Artilect Supermoon Bio Hoodie
★★★★
Price: from £85
Weight: 500g
Best for: multi-day hiking in cold climates, big trips, winter use
Breathability Rating: 3.5/5
Warmth Rating: 5/5
As the runner-up from our tests for the best hiking fleeces for women, there’s a lot to like about the Artilect Supermoon Bio. One of my favourite features is the 260gsm of 100% recycled Primaloft Bio fleece that it’s made from. Primaloft Bio, in case you didn’t know, is a type of biodegradable synthetic insulation made entirely from recycled materials. It’s also impressively warm while avoiding the bulkiness of a traditional fleece. In essence, it’s the good (sustainable) stuff.
Related: Best Hiking Backpacks for Women
I wore the Supermoon throughout much of our winter and spring here in the UK and was very impressed. In the Rhinogydd especially, this fleece saw me through some cold weather on the mountain sides. Initially I mainly used it as a midlayer. As the days have gotten warmer, however, I’ve used it as an outer layer and it’s done me well. It’s too warm for high exertion stuff or for low altitude summer hiking, but for everything outside of that, this is the fleece I’d use.
In terms of features, you’ve got a cosy under the helmet hood, two zippered hand pockets, one zippered chest pocket with more than enough room for your phone, and some lycra cuffs that are handy for keeping the cold out. The cut is nice too, with a design that would blend in on a wide variety of adventures.
Pros: biodegradable, recycled materials, cosy and warm, repels rain quite well
Cons: none so far
3. Passenger Ayla Recycled Micro Polartec Fleece
Best Microfleece Jacket for Hiking: Our top pick for those who want a good microfleece jacket.
Passenger Ayla Recycled Micro Polartec
★★★★
Price: from £42
Weight: TBC
Best for: fast hiking, lightweight adventures
Breathability Rating: 5/5
Warmth Rating: 3.5/5
The Ayla fleece from Passenger features 100% recycled Micro Polartec fleece in a relaxed, pullover fit. Combined with a ½ zip for easy heat regulation and elastication at the cuffs and hem to retain the heat, this fleece has an impressive warmth-to-weight ratio.
The Micro Polartec is a big plus for me here. I’ve found it to be super breathable on some particularly sweat-inducing hikes. While I wouldn’t opt for it in particularly cold weather, for three-season hiking, it does just the job.
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It’s also really comfy and I’ve had no problems with friction or rubbing when out on the move. Though I’ve primarily used the Ayla as a mid layer so far, there were a few occasions where I tried it as a standalone outer layer on some warmer days and thought it performed really well. It feels really nice against your bare skin, and wicked away any sweat swiftly and effectively.
In true Passenger fashion, there’s some great eco credentials here too including a 100% recycled polyester build. Passenger also plant a tree every time someone makes an order. Not bad, not bad at all.
Pros: effective thermoregulation, recycled materials
Cons: not the warmest from our tests
4. Helly Hansen Odin Breeze
Best Technical Hiking Fleece for Women: This came out top in terms of technical outdoor versatility.
Helly Hansen Odin Breeze
★★★★
Price: £140
Weight: approx. 180g
Best for: high output hiking and mountaineering, multi-day trekking, fast hiking
Breathability Rating: 5/5
Warmth Rating: 3.5/5
Helly Hansen’s Odin Breeze is a technical hiking fleece built for high output mountain activities. It’s not designed as a standalone fleece for stationary moments, but rather it excels when moving fast and light in the mountains.
Tipping the scales at around 180g in the women’s version (and roughly 210g for the men’s), it’s impressively light. Its standout feature is the excellent warmth-to-weight ratio, delivering welcome insulation without feeling too bulky. The soft fabric is comfortable enough to wear next to the skin, while also integrating seamlessly into a layering system. There’s enough space for a lightweight baselayer underneath, although those planning to wear thicker mid-layers may prefer sizing up.
Throughout testing, the Odin Breeze also proved impressively quick to dry. Even during strenuous climbs, moisture never lingered for long, with sweat rapidly dispersing through the fabric. “It felt like a really well-balanced system,” said OM tester Jazz. “Whenever I started overheating, I’d simply unzip the long front zip for extra airflow, and it cooled me down immediately.”
Pros: very lightweight, packable and breathable, soft against skin, secure hood, good front ventilation
Cons: not very stretchy, larger options for women would be good too
5. Patagonia R1 Fleece Jacket
Patagonia R1
★★★★
Price: from £96
Weight: 283.5g
Best for: climbing, long-distance hiking
Breathability Rating: 4/5
Warmth Rating: 3.5/5
Designed with high-output mountain pursuits in mind, the Patagonia R1 Hoody is a lightweight technical fleece that excels in cooler conditions. Its fabric combines 93% recycled polyester with 7% elastane, creating a soft, highly flexible layer that provides warmth without sacrificing breathability. The Polartec Power Grid construction plays a big role here, using a distinctive grid pattern to trap heat efficiently while allowing excess moisture and body heat to escape during intense activity.
During testing, the R1 quickly proved itself as a reliable companion for fast-paced days in the mountains. Whether covering long distances on foot or tackling steep ascents, it strikes an excellent balance between insulation and low weight. The close-fitting cut also makes it an easy mid-layer beneath a waterproof shell in colder weather, while its low bulk means it packs away neatly when temperatures rise.
One of its biggest strengths is freedom of movement. The generous stretch was especially noticeable on rocky scrambles, and it’s easy to see why the R1 has become such a popular option among climbers. If I had one criticism, it would be the limited storage. An extra pocket or two would have been useful, although that’s more of a personal preference than a major drawback.
I’ve yet to put the R1 through a full UK summer, so there’s still more testing to come. Its breathability has been excellent in cool conditions, and I’m keen to see whether it remains as comfortable on warmer hikes. I’m also interested to find out how well the HeiQ Pure odour-control treatment performs after repeated use during hotter, sweatier days on the trail.
Pros: super stretchy, wicks away sweat well
Cons: would like more useful pockets
6. Cotopaxi Abrazo Half-Zip Fleece
Best Everyday Hiking Fleece for Women: This is our favourite option for everyday use as it works well for both casual walking and ambling around-the-town.
Cotopaxi Abrazo
★★★½
Price: from £60
Weight: approx. 680g
Best for: casual adventures, everyday
Breathability Rating: 3/5
Warmth Rating: 4/5
In true Cotopaxi style, the Abrazo features some eye-catching colourways, with sustainability in mind. Specifically, it features 100% recycled polyester in the shell fabric and is made in a Fair Trade certified factory that promotes fair labour practices.
While not the warmest on this list, during my tests I found that the Abrazo worked well for three-season hiking, particularly in the summer evenings when you want a little extra cosiness around the campfire.
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Features include a stretch woven external chest pocket that’s great for some light essentials (think: phone, passport, wine gums), elastic binding at the collar and cuffs, two hand pockets and size options ranging from XS to XL.
Another great thing about this fleece is that it has a loose fit so you can easily fit some base layers underneath. I find that a lot of women’s outdoor clothing has been very slim fitted in the past, so it’s nice to see brands expanding on this and exploring a wider range of options.
Pros: comfy fit, low-impact design
Cons: a little heavy
7. 66° North Tindur Shearling Fleece
66° North Tindur Shearling
★★★½
Price: £260
Weight: 600g
Best for: cold weather hiking and camping
Breathability Rating: 4/5
Warmth Rating: 4.5/5
Icelandic brand 66° North have been using Polartec fabrics for many years now and the Tindur fleece jacket follows suit. Featuring a mixture of synthetic shearling, recycled polyester, elastane, Polartec Thermal Pro and Polartec Wind Pro Stretch; it’s a technical-performance fleece specifically built for cold weather.
Thanks to its versatile design, it’s the right level of thickness to work well as both a warming midlayer and an outer layer in the warmer months. I can see it working well for a wide range of activities too, from multi-day hiking right through to daily use around-the-town. The features are similarly versatile and include high reach sleeves, seamless shoulders, articulated elbows, elastic drawcords at the collar, and venting all throughout. There’s also a high-cut neck, two side pockets and one chest pocket that can fit an average-sized phone or a passport.
Note: the Tindur has a slim fit and the sizing runs very small, so I (and 66° North to be fair) recommend going up one or two sizes depending on how tight or loose you like your jackets.
Pros: good quality materials, recycled content, warm and stretchy
Cons: pricey, very small fit
8. Salomon Chroma Fleece
Salomon Chroma
★★★½
Price: from £84
Weight: 300g
Best for: winter adventures, campsite cosiness
Breathability Rating: 3/5
Warmth Rating: 5/5
While best known for their performance trainers and hiking boots, Salomon make some pretty darn good outdoor clothing too. In the past we’ve reviewed their women’s Elixir down jacket but most recently we’ve been testing the Chroma fleece.
Featuring a two-way stretch fabric (polyester-viscose mix with recycled fibres and elastane), an integrated drawcord adjustment at the hem, one roomy kangaroo pocket, and a classic half-zip design – this is a simple yet effective fleece.
During my tests I found it too thick to act as a midlayer for slim fitted waterproof jackets, but if you know you’ve got some extra room to spare then you’ll be right as rain. I was impressed with how stretchy it was considering its thickness. In the past, I’ve found thicker fleeces to have less stretch but that definitely wasn’t the case here.
It’s also super soft and I’ve loved using it on cold wintry hikes as well as around the campfire. If, however, you’re looking for something super breathable and more quick-drying, I’d opt for the likes of the Patagonia R1 or the Passenger Ayla instead. Otherwise, I think this is a solid option for walking in the cold.
Pros: very soft and warm, recycled fibres
Cons: a little thick for layering if your waterproof jacket is slim fit
