15 Best Fleece Jackets for Staying Warm Without the Bulk

25.09.2024 - 14:49 / cntraveler.com

To survive cold weather at home, you likely have a favored Big Coat. But whether it’s a flowy wool trench that grazes that ground or a bulbous puffer that makes you a dead-ringer for the Michelin Man, it’s probably unsuited for life in transit. When you’re traveling on a plane, a truly big coat can make getting yourself through security and squeezing yourself into ever-shrinking basic economy plane seats a real hassle.

Your savior: a fleece jacket. These jackets, usually constructed out of polyester or wool, can offer the warmth of other coat styles without as much bulk. They tend to be cut with a boxy, accommodating fit, making them as easy to layer over the thick sweater and jeans you plan to wear as you survey art galleries in Paris, the ski bib you don as you shred Whistler, or the sweatshirt and joggers that’ll keep you comfortable in the airport. And importantly, all 15 of these have pockets that can hold your phone, wallet, and keys as you make your way through security. Below, our top picks for the best fleece jackets to wear this season.

A fan of fleece? Thank Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard’s wife, Malinda. She found a roll of polyester in a Los Angeles fashion district warehouse that she thought might work if cut like a sweater. (It was destined to become a toilet seat cover.) Before long, the company’s Pile fleece jackets had become a staple of its product line, and inspired imitators everywhere. It’s still a great option, but we think the company’s chunky, textured Retro-X fleece feels more of the moment.

It’s the worst kept secret in fashion: Uniqlo is where the best-dressed go for simple wardrobe staples like shirts and socks. But there is heat in its outerwear section, too. In this case, that’s meant literally. Though they’re constructed of a relatively thin polyester, Uniqlo’s fleece jackets are designed to keep you plenty warm. When you pull it on, you’ll notice piping at the cuffs and hem, which keeps the openings from flapping in the chilly wind.

There are a few key details that make the Filson sherpa fleece an ideal companion for trips that involve hiking or camping. It starts with the fleece itself—high-pile, but light and quick-drying. The main differentiator though, is the jacket’s many nylon-reinforced stretches. These are not just spread out for aesthetics, but rather to up the jacket’s durability along parts that might rub against itself, your bag, or the side of a mountain. As a nice add, especially for colder trips, the hems are rib-knit to fully seal in warmth.

Gramicci is the rare label that has both the buy-in of the fashionable and the outdoorsy, given its history making clothing for climbers, mainly thanks to its pants with its easy-adjust belts. Its light fleece