If, after seeing supermodels clad in low-rise leather trousers or baggy jeans and cozy packable jackets, you thought you’d traveled through time, we’d understand it. Like with slip dresses and combat boots, lately, we’ve been seeing ’90s and Y2K retro-style inspiration everywhere — and this season’s fleece trend resurgence is further evidence of just that.
The sporty-snug-style hybrid is no longer exclusive to hikers, rock climbers, or your middle-school closet. Considering the lasting effects of Patagonia, L.L.Bean, and The North Face, the fleece’s nostalgic appeal isn’t going to fade off the fashion scene any time soon — especially when cabincore is still all the rage. Fall is here with winter following in its footsteps, so we sourced the best fleece outerwear options, as ranked and rated by very outdoorsy, nature-loving folks. We hunted down a number of classic to reimagined fleece styles ahead — from extra-fluffy iterations to retro jackets lined with the shearling stuff.
Welcome to Hype Machine, our hit-list of the top reviewed products across the web — according to a crowd of die-hard shoppers. Call this your 4-star & up only club, with entry granted by our devoted-to-the-goods shop editors.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Free People Hit The Slopes Printed Pullover
The Vintage-Inspired Fleece Pullover
Slouchy and cropped to the waist, this colorful pullover is as snazzy for your local gym as it is for getting lost in faraway woods.
The Hype: 4.8 out of 5 stars and 5 reviews on freepeople.com
What They’re Saying: “Perfect mix of vintagey and modern. Super comfy w[ith]an oversized fit. Love it!”
Free People Hit The Slopes Printed Pullover, $, available at Free People
COTOPAXI Abrazo Half Zip Fleece Jacket
The Sustainable Fleece Pullover
Made from recycled fabric, this sustainably made pullover in berry-toned colorblocks is a cute, environmentally-friendly option.
The Hype: 4.7 out of 5 stars and 53 reviews on nordstrom.com
What They’re Saying: “Wanted something lightweight for a recent hike in the changing seasons. This worked perfectly. Kept me warm in the shade, but not too hot while hiking in the sun. Fits true to size.”
Cotopaxi Abrazo Half Zip Fleece Jacket, $, available at Nordstrom
Anthropologie Pilcro Fleece Shirt Jacket
The Smooth-Finish Fleece Shacket
Fleece often shows up in the form of fluffy shearling, but we know that not everyone wants to go full-on gorpcore. If you much prefer a warm fleece jacket that looks and feels more like a sweatshirt, this shacket is your best bet.
The Hype: 4 out of 4 stars and 4 reviews on anthropologie.com
What They’re Saying: “I love shirt jackets, and this one is my new favorite one. It is so comfortable and the fit is perfect. Some shirt jackets make me look bigger than I am, not this one. Love the side shirttail detail…really flattering. Fabric is that perfect sweatshirt fabric. I bought the rose. Wished it came in Olive, Natural, or a cool Brown. I would buy another one if it did. I am a XL…it fits me perfectly. Wouldn’t change anything about it. Buy this, it will be your go to for every virtual meeting.”
Anthropologie Pilcro Fleece Shirt Jacket, $, available at Anthropologie
REI Co-op Wallace Lake Fleece Pullover – Women’s
The Organic Button-Up Fleece Pullover
Half-zips might be all the rage, but the half-button fleece pullover will ensure that you’ll never have weird fabric snags or a layer underneath catching on the zip.
The Hype: 4.8 out of 5 stars and 4 reviews on rei.com
What They’re Saying: “I wanted a warm top for my upcoming trip to Iceland. It’s going to be cozy addition for going out and about. I plan on wearing a turtleneck underneath as the weather will be chiily. Love the collar, the Sea Olive color, and nice buttons.”
REI Co-op Wallace Lake Fleece Pullover – Women’s, $, available at REI
Columbia Women’s Benton Springs 1/2 Snap Pullover
The Classic Fleece Pullover
Absolutely timeless and still cozy as ever, this Columbia fleece pullover is an iconic gorpcore classic.
The Hype: 4.7 out of 5 stars and 294 reviews on columbia.com
What They’re Saying: “Love this! I got this years ago in a different color scheme and I still wear it everywhere. I got this one in a small because my medium was a little big. Im glad i did that because this one fits perfectly and i can wear some layers under. This is my go to item out of my closet :)”
Columbia Women’s Benton Springs™ 1/2 Snap Pullover, $, available at Columbia
Alo Yoga Cargo Sherpa Jacket
The Luxury Fleece Jacket
At over $200, this fleece jacket is certainly pricey — but not only are you paying for the super warmth, but you’re also getting a chic oversized fit, massive cargo pockets (including one on the backside!), and a very snug hood.
The Hype: 4 out of 5 stars and 46 reviews on aloyoga.com
What They’re Saying: “I can’t get enough of this jacket! So warm, it will take me right through the fall and maybe into early winter with more layers underneath. I love all the pockets — style and super functional. It is perfectly oversized. I absolutely love it.”
Alo Yoga Cargo Sherpa Jacket, $, available at Alo Yoga
Summersalt The Cozy High Pile Eco Fleece Half-Zip
The Perfectly Cropped Fleece Pullover
This fleece pullover is croppier than the other styles in this shopping roundup, making it particularly easy to layer over high-rise bottoms.
The Hype: 5 out of 5 stars and 46 review on summersalt.com
What They’re Saying: “I love this fleece! It’s so easy to put on and take off, and the long zipper makes it easy to regulate the temperature a little bit. At first I was taken aback that it’s so short, but that wound up being an advantage since it makes it more comfortable to wear when I’m sitting. I wear this several times a week! Oh, and it looks good too.”
Summersalt The Cozy High Pile Eco Fleece Half-Zip, $, available at Summersalt
The North Face Women’s Cragmont Fleece Jacket
The Deceptively Warm Fleece Jacket
Don’t be fooled by the sleek construction here — the Cragmont is built to keep you extra toasty in extra cold weather.
The Hype: 5 out of 5 stars and 11 reviews on thenorthface.com
What They’re Saying: “Love this jacket! Can pair with jeans for casual look but is also extremely warm. Even during windy and cold conditions (in the 50s on a boat) I did not feel the wind thru the fleece which happens so often with other brands. Highly recommend.”
The North Face Women’s Cragmont Fleece Jacket, $, available at The North Face
Athleta Tugga Sherpa Jacket
The Size-Expansive Fleece Jacket
Available in sizes XXS through 3X, this fleecey favorite from Athleta (with over 270 reviews!) is offered in regular, petite, and tall fits.
The Hype: 4.75 out of 5 stars and 272 reviews on athleta.gap.com
What They’re Saying: “Wearing this jacket is like giving yourself a warm hug! Great quality and fit.”
Athleta Tugga Sherpa Jacket, $, available at Athleta
Urban Outfitters Olivia Printed Sherpa Jacket
The Statement Fleece Jacket
Available in five trippy prints and five funky colorways, this oversized UO fleece jacket is sure to catch some street-style cred.
The Hype: 4.7 out of 5 stars and 121 reviews on urbanoutfitters.com
What They’re Saying: “in luv with this one. the pattern and the fabric are everything!!”
Urban Outfitters Olivia Printed Sherpa Jacket, $, available at Urban Outfitters
Girlfriend Collective Ice Half-Zip Fleece
The Cool-Girl Recycled Fleece Pullover
Girlfriend Collective continues to rule every aspect of performance wear and this cropped fleece half-zip derived from 50 water bottles is not only sustainable but extremely trend-forward.
The Hype: 5 out of 5 stars and 712 reviews on girlfriend.com
What They’re Saying: “OBSESSED WITH THIS SHERPA FLEECE! Perfectly cropped, and surprisingly warm. I sized down to an XS because it’s an oversized boxy fit.”
Girlfriend Collective Ice Half-Zip Fleece, $, available at Girlfriend Collective
Vuori Womens Alpine Sherpa Jacket
The Non-Pilling Full-Zip Fleece Jacket
Sherpa is infamous for accumulating pills on its fabric, but this style from Vuori is made to avoid such annoyance.
The Hype: 4.8 out of 5 stars and 91 reviews on vuoriclothing.com
What They’re Saying: “Such a warm jacket but very lightweight for its look. The length is to hips so it’s not bulky. Big pockets for everything;) I’m never disappointed. The oregano color is what caught me.”
Vuori Womens Alpine Sherpa Jacket, $, available at Vuori
L.L.Bean Women’s Katahdin Fleece Half-Zip Hoodie
The Half-Zip Fleece Hoodie
The attached hood is an MVP feature that is sure to come in handy when you’re unexpectedly caught in inclement winter weather.
The Hype: 4.5 out of 5 stars and 42 reviews on llbean.com
What They’re Saying: “This fleece pullover will be my new winter staple! It fits perfectly. It’s not too bulky and has a nice shape. It’s super warm and cozy too! I want to buy it in another color because is so good. The hidden phone pocket within the front pouch was a nice surprise. I had no idea that was there. Great feature! Highly recommend this pullover.”
L.L. Bean Women’s Katahdin Fleece Half-Zip Hoodie, $, available at L.L. Bean
Acelitt Womens Oversized Fuzzy Fleece Sweatshirts with Pockets
The Amazon-Fave Fleece Sweatshirt
Both fleece and cow prints are getting a boost from the Y2K style resurgence, and this hoodie from Amazon cleverly (and cozily) combines both. If you’re looking for more “traditional” colors, rest assured that this sweatshirt comes in every shade imaginable.
The Hype: 4.4 out of 5 stars and 5,261 reviews on amazon.com
What They’re Saying: “Product is great! Will order again in different colors! Fits great, oversized so if you want a tighter fit I’d suggest a size down. I’m 5’5” and 190lbs and large was a good fit for me. The price is great! Not very thick fabric but it is very plush if that makes sense.”
Acelitt Womens Oversized Fuzzy Fleece Sweatshirts with Pockets, $, available at Amazon
Lululemon Long Textured Fleece Jacket
The Over-The-Butt Fleece Jacket
None of that cropped business here! This fleece full-zip jacket is particularly long, made to provide full coverage over the butt and hips.
The Hype: 4.4 out of 5 stars and 8 reviews on lululemon.cm
What They’re Saying: “AAaaaamazing!!!!
This is a PIECE! So soft, oversized, stylish, well made. I don’t want to take it off! You need this jacket! I will be living in it!”
Lululemon Long Textured Fleece Jacket, $, available at Lululemon
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