Every hiker should own a decent fleece mid-layer or base layer for two main reasons: durability and warmth. They are thin enough to be breathable, light enough to not add that much extra weight and warm enough for chilly summits and cooler nights camping.
A fleece layer offers a full range of motion, which makes them best for heavy activity in cooler weather. Fleece also absorbs less than 1% of its weight in water, which means it dries very fast AND is more resistant to water.
You’ll see us wearing a fleece layer out on a trail run, mountain biking, under a puffy in the snow, curling up in our sleeping bag, on a boat or hanging by a windy body of water. In our opinion, it’s an all-season layer and in this gear review we’ll dive into our top 6 Micro Grid Fleece options out there. Every piece we reviewed is a great alternative to the coveted, but overhyped (unpopular opinion) Melanzana Micro Grid Fleece Hoodie.
Now for the best part: the reviews.
Full Disclosure: we absolutely LOVE all of these pullovers and have worn each of them on numerous occasions. It was very challenging to not give them all a 10/10.
You could also tweak the order based on what you’re looking for…activewear, loungewear, ultralight, ultra warmth, etc. That being said, you’ll see some pros, cons and preferred activities that we’ve used each hoodie for highlighted below.
1. Best Hybrid – On and Off Trail
Brand: Fayettechill
MSRP: $98
Weight: 10.6oz – Women’s XS
Materials: Polyester, Spandex and Polartec Power Grid
Pros: Thumb holes, hoodie drawstring, built in neck gaiter, semi-wind resistant outer material, colors offered on website are awesome, warm and well constructed.
Cons: Not the warmest out of all the options but comes in at a close 2nd. Less fitted than other options.
Activities: Mountain biking, running, hiking, cross-country skiing.
Seasons / Weather: Fall, Winter, Spring (semi-wind and rain resistant)
Overall Score: 9.5/10
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