The fleece jackets for men and women include zip-up fleeces, long-haired sherpa fleeces, technical fleeces and sleeveless fleeces.
A fleece jacket can be worn on its own in mid-season or under a waterproof jacket in winter: it keeps you warm and dries quickly. The Patagonia Retro and sherpa Superdry have a sheepskin effect.
The fleece Patagonia leads the selection: women's Patagonia Retro and Retro Pile fleece, Classic Retro-X fleece, R1 Air technical fleece and Better Sweater fleeces, zipped or sleeveless. The Better Sweater can be worn in the city like a gilet.
The sherpa hooded fleeces Superdry Vintage, Superdry Colour Block and hybrid fleeces, the hooded fleece Ragwear Longeddy and the zipped fleece Didriksons Ronja from the Swedish rainwear brand cover the women's fleece.
For men, the fleece Faguo Senonche, from the French brand, the full zip fleece Napapijri Yupik, from the Italian brand, and Patagonia Better fleeces form the men's fleece of the selection.
The zipped fleece opens like a jacket, the half zip is worn like a jumper, and the sleeveless fleece keeps the torso warm under a jacket. For hiking, a thin fleece breathes better than a thick fleece, and a sherpa fleece is reserved for cold, dry days.
In the rain, the fleece is worn under a waterproof jacket or coat; in extreme cold, puffers take over. A t-shirt, fleece and jacket: that’s the three-layer system for outdoor sports, which adapts to the temperature.
In the city, a sherpa fleece or a Better Sweater is worn with jeans and trainers, like a sweatshirt. In the mountains, a technical fleece like the R1 Air layers easily without hindering movement and dries between breaks.
Women’s fleeces are often shorter and closer fitting, with hooded or loose sherpa models; men’s fleeces, which are more straight-cut, are worn zipped under a jacket. The hooded fleece replaces a sweatshirt in mid-season, and the zipped fleece with a high collar protects the neck from the wind. A sherpa fleece can be worn open over a sweatshirt, like a light jacket. When travelling, a thin fleece rolls up to fit in the bag.
The white fleece or ecru, often in boucle sherpa, is worn in the city with jeans; the black fleece, more understated, fits under a coat without being seen. The fleece jacket, zipped all the way up, is worn like a jacket in mid-season. For skiing, a thin fleece serves as a second layer, between the thermal base layer and the jacket.
The cheap fleece can be found in the special offers and clearance, and the new arrivals showcase this season's fleeces. At the end of November, Black Friday drops the prices of Patagonia and other brands. Fast shipping and best price guarantee.
Inside out, at low temperature, without fabric softener, and air-dried rather than using a tumble dryer, which crushes the fibres. A fleece dries in a few hours.
The fleece is lighter, dries faster and retains its warmth when slightly damp; wool breathes better and holds less odour after exertion. For the city, the jumper; for hiking, the thin fleece.
Wash it inside out, with smooth textiles rather than towels, and avoid the tumble dryer. The friction from the backpack on the shoulders wears the fleece: a lint remover puts it back into shape.
The usual size for a fleece worn under a jacket, with a t-shirt or thin jumper underneath. A close-fitting fleece insulates better than a loose fleece: the right size allows for arm movement without flapping.
Alone, for dry and mild days; in extreme cold or rain, a windproof or waterproof jacket is worn over it. Layering keeps you warmer than a single thick piece.