Women's Fleece Tops

Women's fleeces for walks, weekends and everything in between

A good fleece is the layer you keep coming back to. Pulled on over a T-shirt on a fresh morning, zipped up under a waterproof jacket on a wet day in the hills or worn on its own on a crisp walk by the sea, it adds warmth without fuss. This collection brings together women's fleece jackets, half zip and quarter zip fleeces, sherpa and pile fleeces and technical midlayers from Patagonia, The North Face, Columbia, Arc'teryx, Berghaus, Craghoppers and Portwest.

Light, midweight or cosy

The weight of a fleece decides how warm it is and when you will wear it.

Microfleece is light, breathable and easy to layer. It is ideal for walking and for wearing under a waterproof jacket. The Columbia Fast Trek II Fleece Jacket uses soft 250g microfleece in a regular, true-to-size fit with three zipped pockets. The Portwest Tara Quarter Zip Fleece uses 160gsm microfleece made from 100% recycled materials. See more in our women's micro fleeces.

Midweight fleece adds more warmth while still breathing well, so it works as a winter midlayer or on its own on a cool, dry day. The Arc'teryx Covert Cardigan is a midweight Alpenex II fleece designed for hiking that is just as easy to wear every day. The Berghaus Prism InterActive Polartec Jacket uses Polartec Classic fleece and zips into compatible Berghaus waterproof jackets, so your layers stay together. Browse more in our women's midweight fleeces.

Sherpa and pile fleeces are the softest and cosiest of all. The Patagonia Retro Pile Jacket uses recycled Polartec double-sided shearling fleece, and the Patagonia Synch Jacket uses double-sided Synchilla fleece with an anti-pilling finish. For a shorter, more fashion-led shape, the Columbia Helvetia II Cropped Half Snap Fleece pairs plush sherpa with a durable nylon overlay.

Full zip, half zip or quarter zip

A full zip fleece jacket is the easiest to vent and to take on and off, and it works well as an outer layer. A half zip or quarter zip fleece sits more neatly under a waterproof jacket and still lets you open the neck as you warm up. The North Face Glacier Fleece 1/4 Zip Jacket uses 165 g/m² recycled polyester and is built with Circular Design, so it can be taken apart for recycling at the end of its life. For full zip styles, see our women's fleece jackets.

Technical fleeces for active days

On a steep climb or a fast walk, you want a fleece that lets heat and sweat escape. The Patagonia R1 Air Full Zip Hooded Jacket uses hollow-core recycled polyester in a zigzag knit that keeps you warm while releasing heat, with offset shoulder seams that sit comfortably under rucksack straps. The North Face Meteora Polartec Power Stretch Full-Zip Jacket has four-way stretch for scrambling and big steps, with a close, efficient fit under a shell.

Fleeces for every day

Plenty of the fleeces here are made to be worn well beyond the trail. A soft sherpa or pile fleece is the one you reach for on a cold Saturday morning, on the school run or on a winter walk to the shops, and a clean quarter zip looks just as right at your desk as it does on a hill. The Patagonia Retro Pile brings the deep, soft feel of the brand's outdoor heritage to a jacket you can wear every day, the relaxed Synch is an easy layer for cool walks and travel, while the Arc'teryx Covert Cardigan works as a warm everyday layer as easily as a hiking midlayer.

Where a fleece sits in your layers

A fleece is your warm middle layer. Underneath, a base layer moves sweat away from your skin. On top, a waterproof jacket keeps out the wind and rain, which most fleeces are not designed to do on their own. Choose a fleece that is close enough to trap warmth but leaves you room to move, and check that it fits under your waterproof jacket. Our guide on how to layer clothing explains it all, and you will find the rest of your layers in our women's baselayers and women's waterproof jackets collections.