Are men's fleeces still having a moment, or have we all simply realised that comfort is king? Once a purely practical piece endorsed by hikers, climbers and National Trust membership holders, the cosy, dependable layer has been on the up since the birth of the ‘core’ trends of the mid-Tens (namely dadcore, gorpcore and normcore) that prompted mellowing millennials, like I, to sport semi-ironic, function-first ‘fits – and as the colder months roll in, the fleece quickly becomes a wardrobe essential.
Fortunately there are plenty of fuzzy offerings to choose from. In fact, there may be more than ever. Hooded ones, zip ones, light ones, thick ones, striped ones, plaid ones – you name it, it’s out there. You can even cop a true-to-the-original version of the fleece that started it all: the Patagonia Retro Pile Jacket. Prefer something a little more current? Scroll down to get acquainted with the best of the best; exceptional fleeces designed by the likes of Thrudark, This is Never That and Entire Studios.
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Columbia paints a picture of its deep-seated kinship with the natural world via a graphic take on its popular Helvetia Streetwear Fleece.
£65; columbiasportswear.co.uk
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Thanks to collaborations with the likes of New Balance and Pokemon, South Korean vendor This is Never That is on the rise. All the more reason to consider copping one of the brand’s reliable fleece jackets.
€159; overkillshop.com
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Winter layers are what Entire Studios – the label founded in 2020 by Yeezy alumni Dylan Richards and Sebastian Hunt – do best. Fleece hoodies included.
£170; ssense.com
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Founded by two former Special Forces operators, Thrudark is on a steadfast mission to provide its patrons with the sartorial weaponry required to battle harsh climates. The Polartec Phalanx Fleece, for example, is described by the brand as a ‘shield against assault’ – a layer of defence designed to trap body heat.
£235; thrudark.com
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If the unending gorpcore trend is ingrained into your pre-existing wardrobe – we’re talking to you Salomon sporters, you Arc’teryx wearers, you Nike ACG nuts – consider this Craghoppers fleece our recommendation for you.
£75; craghoppers.com
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As might be expected, shopping centre linchpin Uniqlo vends a reliable fleece jacket at a bargain price. What’s the catch? There isn’t one! Aside from the fact you may squander several hours choosing between the ten timeless colourways.
£29.90; uniqlo.com
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Occupying the largely untapped space between high-end luxury and accessible streetwear, Fear of God Essentials is working hard to provide coveted basics to those on a budget. Just look at the FOG sub-line’s super soft camo fleece zip-up.
£125; mrporter.com
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Rowing Blazers’ sporadic collabs typically sell out in a flash. Ergo, it makes sense that the brand’s latest collaborative capsule centres on everyone’s favourite speedster, Sonic the Hedgehog. Luckily for us fleece lovers, a polar fleece zip-up is one of the standout pieces from the collaboration.
£310; rowingblazers.com
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Purple is having a moment, which is why this super snuggly Joe Browns’ fleece made from recycled yarns is high up on our shopping list.
£30; joebrowns.co.uk
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Axel Arigato welds a green shell textile with a beige textured fleece to fashion a farmer-vibes funnel neck jacket suitable for all – even the city-dwellers.
£230; brownsfashion.com
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Dare 2b’s On Watch Borg Fleece comes in three colourways – 'burnt brick’, ‘black’ and ‘orion grey’ – each of which is well-priced, well-made and well easy to style with traditional menswear staples.
£34.95; dare2b.com
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Trust Kapital to come up with a quirky take on a function-first must-have. The Japanese outfit has reimagined the humble half-placket fleece by plastering it with a playful, vibrant print patently inspired by the brand's denim roots.
£290; mrporter.com
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