Which men’s fleece should I choose for winter hiking?

For walking, choose a 200 g/m² fleece such as the ARTIC jacket or ADELIE sweatshirt, with a jacket over it if the wind picks up. For long stops, time in a mountain hut or a bivvy, switch to the 300 g/m² CANADA or the long-pile REFUGE. For Nordic walking and snowshoeing, the DIKLO keeps your torso warm while letting heat escape through the back and sleeves.

Which men’s fleece can I wear with a helmet?

The JORASSE is helmet-compatible and has a cold-weather face mask sewn inside. The WHYMPER and BARETTI have a close-fitting hood that works with a mountaineering or ski helmet, plus high pockets accessible when wearing a harness.

Fleece or softshell: which should I choose?

A fleece is lighter: from 202 g for the MUSAN top to 620 g for the CANADA in size M. A softshell such as the DYNAMIC (780 g in size M) blocks strong winds of 60–90 km/h thanks to its membrane, while none of our men’s fleeces is rated for more than sustained winds of 40–60 km/h. Our article fleece or softshell compares the two.

What size men’s fleece should I choose?

Choose your usual size for most styles. If you’re between sizes, size down for the ROYANS, VERCORS and ICON sweatshirt, which run slightly large. Size up for the REFUGE, WHYMPER, VERDON and ICEBERG, which run slightly small. The BLIZZARD runs small.

Men's fleece jackets

Explore our selection of men's fleece jackets and gilets — essential for thermal insulation when the cold sets in during your outdoor activities.

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The best Men's fleece jackets for enjoying the mountains

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Base layers

Which men's fleece should you choose for the cold?

At the first stop on a winter hike, a back damp with sweat from the climb cools within minutes. A fleece retains warmth, and its fabric weight is measured in grams per square metre:

200 g/m² THERMOPOLAR: the ARTIC jacket (300 g in size M) and ADELIE sweatshirt (285 g).
300 g/m² THERMOPOLAR: the CANADA (620 g), the high-neck ROYANS and the hooded VERCORS.
320 g/m² long-pile fabric: the REFUGE, 600 g, for mountain huts and severe cold.
350 g/m² CIMATHERM Stretch: WARMIT, DIKLO and ELBROUZ retain warmth during activity and block wind.
230 g/m² CIMAGRID: WHYMPER, DOLENT and CHIRAN, for high-intensity activity.

For walking at a brisk pace, 200 g/m² is enough; for long stops and bivvies, choose the CANADA or REFUGE. When you warm up on the climb, the ARTIC packs down into the bottom of your hiking backpack.

Men's technical fleece for mountain use and mountaineering

On a ridge, your fleece needs to work beneath a harness, helmet and pack straps. The ELBROUZ (515 g in size M) reinforces the shoulders and elbows against rock and positions its pockets higher so you can reach them while wearing a harness. The JORASSE, in 300 g/m² CIMAFLEX PLUS, has a cold-weather face mask sewn inside that you can pull out in one movement, plus thumb loops at the cuffs.

Lighter options, the WHYMPER (355 g) and DOLENT (285 g), in CIMAGRID, breathe on climbs; the WHYMPER's balaclava-style hood fits under a helmet. The BARETTI adds PrimaLoft Gold insulation at the front, a ventilated back and a water-repellent treatment. For mountaineering, choose a fleece with pockets you can access while wearing a harness: ELBROUZ, WHYMPER or BARETTI.

Men's hooded fleece jacket, sweatshirt or fleece gilet

The cut matters as much as the fabric. A full-zip jacket such as the ARTIC opens completely for ventilation. The ADELIE sweatshirt has a high neck and a half-zip with a chafe-preventing flap; the MUSAN top (202 g) serves the same purpose for trail running. For a hood, see the VERCORS, DIKLO, ELBROUZ or JORASSE.

A sleeveless gilet leaves your arms free. The ICEBERG, in THERMOPOLAR 300 with a pile lining, keeps your torso warm; the CINTO, in CIMATHERM Stretch, withstands a stiff breeze and has reinforced shoulders to resist pack-strap wear. Under a softshell or waterproof jacket, a gilet adds warmth without restricting your arms. For town, the ROYANS and VERCORS have a wool-look fabric, while the ARBIZON insulates the torso with merino wool.

Does a men's fleece block wind and rain?

None keeps out rain, and not all block wind. The ARTIC, ADELIE and ICEBERG gilet are not windproof; the CANADA, ROYANS, VERCORS, VERDON, WHYMPER, DOLENT and CHIRAN withstand light wind. The WARMIT, ELBROUZ, JORASSE, BREVENT, ARBIZON, CINTO and BARETTI withstand a stiff breeze of 20 to 40 km/h. The DIKLO, REFUGE and BLIZZARD withstand sustained winds of 40 to 60 km/h.

Keep a waterproof jacket in your pack : our men’s hardshell jackets keep out rain and strong wind. In dry, windy weather, a men’s windproof jacket is enough over the top. Under the fleece, our men’s thermal base layers wick away sweat.

Men's fleece sizing and repairs

Choose your usual size for most styles. The ROYANS, VERCORS and ICON sweatshirt come up slightly large: if you're between sizes, size down. The REFUGE, WHYMPER, VERDON and ICEBERG gilet come up slightly small: size up. Size up if you want to fit a thick layer under the JORASSE, too. The BLIZZARD, designed for running, comes up small: size up if you want to wear a layer underneath.

Like all Cimalp clothing, these fleeces benefit from the free repairs for life. Find the women's styles in our women’s fleeces, with the full range in our fleece jackets.

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