Berghaus Spitzer Fleece Jacket
Price: £60
Weight: 393g
The Spitzer Fleece Jacket from Berghaus bridges the gap between a traditional fleece and something slightly more technical. With this, Berghaus claim that they’ve made a midlayer that’s designed for the coolest climates. Whilst we wouldn’t agree that this is the warmest in this roundup, Berghaus has certainly achieved an impressive amount of warmth for its weight.
The outer of the Spitzer consists of a tighter and denser weave compared to many of the other more lightweight offerings in this roundup. This not only gives the fleece a simple, traditional look, but also slightly improves wind resistance.
You’ve got a pair of handwarmer pockets on the Spitzer, which are nicely lined with a soft material to warm your digits whilst you’re keeping them tucked away from the elements. There’s also a basic hood option that will fit comfortably underneath a helmet.
Berghaus’s description that this fleece is ‘cut for comfort’ is spot on. I found the Spitzer offered a much roomier fit than some of the other fleeces in the roundup. That’s not to say it’s too baggy, and it’s by no means a complaint. I sometimes appreciate having a fleece that doesn’t feel like some sort of lycra catsuit, particularly when popping down to the pub for the post climb/walk beers.
Full Specification
S – XXL / two neat hand pockets / close-fitting hood / 90% bluesign approved fabrics / under helmet hood option.
Buy The Berghaus Spitzer Half Zip Fleece Jacket: £60 at Berghaus.com
The North Face 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip
Price: £60
Weight: approx. 302g
While not the most technical on the list, The North Face 100 Glacier 1/4 zip jacket is a bit of a staple on the midlayer market. You’ll have no doubt passed a skier or three rocking it out and about on the mountains at the après ski, I’m sure.
It’s made from a polyester microfleece that uses an effective, lofted structure to create both a warm and lightweight jacket overall. Like many temperature-controlling technologies out there, the Glacier utilises air pockets in the fabric to trap air and heat in the garment, while at the same time allowing for breathability.
Impressively, this fleece is also part of TNF’s Circular Design initiative, a collection designed to minimise waste and pollution by recycling garments and producing highly durable gear, amongst other things.
Full Specifications
1/4 zip microfleece / 100% polyester / sleeve opening and bottom hem binding / no shoulder seams / lofted structure / nine colour options / XS to XL / part of TNF’s Circular Design initiative / standard fit.
Buy The North Face 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip Fleece: £60 at Ellis-brigham.com
Rab Alpha Flash Jacket
Price: £120
Weight: 273g
The first thing that you’ll notice when you pick the Flash Jacket up, is the weight (or lack of). At just 273g and packing a fair bit of warmth, Rab have introduced a few nifty features and fabrics to the classic fleece design.
First and foremost, they’ve used Polartec’s Alpha Direct fabric. If you’re not yet familiar with this, it’s rather extraordinary stuff. It has a very traditional feel, almost like pile fleece, but there’s way more to it than that. The temperature regulation it provides is truly excellent, and then there’s the warmth-to-weight. If you hold this up to a light, you can really see how thin the Polartec Alpha Direct fabric is, but then there’s also that lovely warm and cosy feel to it.
Stretch panels flank the sides of the fleece to further improve breathability and ensure there’s no restriction of you’re movement when you’re reaching upwards for a hold or at full stride while running. There’s also that useful zipped pocket for stashing away, say, your phone or GPS.
The one slight niggle that I had with the Alpha Flash Jacket was that it seemed to have excess fabric around the wrists, just before the cuff elastic pulls it all in. That’s it though.
Full Specification
S – XXL / Polartec Alpha 178g m² / Polartec Alpha Direct 120 insulation / Polygiene Stays Fresh Technology / slim fit / Half hem drawcord.
Read our full Rab Alpha Flash jacket review.
Buy The Rab Alpha Flash Jacket: £120 at Rab.equipment
Alpkit Griffon
Price: £54.99
Weight: 290g (size-dependant)
Another extremely lightweight fleece, the Griffon by Alpkit utilises a similar (but lower bulk) grid design to Polartec’s Power Air. This pattern creates pockets of warmth while also expelling any sweat vapour through small channels.
Alpkit have designed the Griffon with a close-to-skin fit, which means that it can also be used as a warm base layer, if you don’t mind the feeling of a full length zip next to your skin.
At only 290g (size-dependant) and with a £54.99 price tag, this is a hard to beat fleece with great value for money. Whilst it’s never going to be as warm as many of the other fleeces in this roundup, it will make a great summertime companion.
Full Specification
S – XXL / Alpkit’s 3 year alpine bond / full length Vislon zip / snug fitting lycra bound hood / external chest zip for valuables / two-tone smooth face.
Buy The Alpkit Griffon Microfleece Jacket: £54.99 at Alpkit.com
Houdini Power Houdi
Price: €240
Weight: 478g
Houdini are known for creating clean looking, sustainable clothing and the Swedish company continue this trend with their Powder Houdi.
At 478g, it’s on the heavier side but makes up for it by using that powerful Polartec® Power Stretch® Pro™ fabric. Incidentally, this fabric is also Bluesign® approved. Not bad, not bad at all.
The design is slick too, including a two-way zipper on the full length zip, a shaped collar with a snug hood, extended sleeves with thumb loops, and a hidden draw cord in the bottom hem.
Full Specification
XS – XXL / high collar hood / Bluesign certified fabric / full length zip / visor on hood / Polartec® Power Stretch® Pro™ / high collar hood.
Buy The Houdini Power Air Houdi: €240 at Houdinisportswear.com
Mammut Aconcagua Hooded Fleece Jacket
Price: £94.96
Weight: 433g
The Aconcagua fleece from Swiss manufacturer Mammut utilises high-quality fleece materials strategically designed to help your body manage its climate effectively. In short, the name of the game here is top-level temperature regulation.
It uses Polartec’s classic Power Stretch Pro fabric, an ingredient that has become a mainstay in the midlayer market. In short, it’s a 4-way stretch, shape retaining fabric that is engineered to be both moisture wicking and highly breathable. Work hard and this stuff breathes with you. Integrated into this is the abrasion-resistant nylon finish, further ensuring the jacket holds up against the wear and tear of mountain life.
The Aconcagua has also been designed with a classically European slim fit. I found this to be the closest fitting of all the fleeces that I tested in this roundup, so I’d suggest to size up if you usually prefer a more traditional fit.
Full Specification
S – XXL / YKK Vislon front zip / Polartec Power Stretch Pro / abrasion-proof nylon surface / under helmet hood / flat chin guard and zipper underlay / back-pack compatible side zipper pockets / Raglans sleeves / thumb loops.
Buy The Mammut Aconcagua Hooded Fleece Jacket: £94.96 at Alpinetrek.co.uk
The original version of this article was written by Jordan Tiernan. Recent updates have been made by Will Renwick and the OM team.
