Fleece

ARC’TERYX Rho AR Top Men’s (£80)

ARC’TERYX Rho AR Top Men’s (£80)

TGO Rating: 4

Power Stretch boasts a figure-hugging four-way stretch and a highly wind-resistant outer weave, which helps dissipate wicked-away sweat.

BERGHAUS Spectrum Microgrid HZ (£40)

BERGHAUS Spectrum Microgrid HZ (£40)

TGO Rating: 4

Berghaus has packed plenty of features into the Spectrum Microgrid, which features two versions of the proprietary AWL 100 fleece. The main garment is in standard 100-weight, with a two-way stretch.

CRAGHOPPERS Corey (£30)

CRAGHOPPERS Corey (£30)

TGO Rating: 3.5

The material looks vaguely like Power Stretch, thanks to the dense-looking outer weave, but the stretch is two-way, wind-resistance is average and the price is much more down-to-Earth.

CRAGHOPPERS Fusion Microfleece (£40)

CRAGHOPPERS Fusion Microfleece (£40)

TGO Rating: 3

Made in the same proprietary polyester microfleece and cut to the same “Original” style, it’s hard to detect any major differences between this and the Corey.

KATHMANDU Microgrid Top V2 (£49.99)

KATHMANDU Microgrid Top V2 (£49.99)

TGO Rating: 4

If you’ve been fortunate enough to have hiked in New Zealand, you’re probably already familiar with Kathmandu, one of the biggest Kiwi outdoor brands. On the strength of this garment, I’d say the company’s arrival here is welcome.

LOWE ALPINE Ecrin Top (£40)

LOWE ALPINE Ecrin Top (£40)

TGO Rating: 4

The Ecrin’s Classic Micro fabric – Lowe Alpine gets an extra half-point for using the recycled variety, which performs just as well, with the same warmth-to-weight ratio and fast-drying properties, as virgin fleece – together with its minimal features, make it a good lightweight product with a relaxed cut.

MAMMUT Aconcagua (£75)

MAMMUT Aconcagua (£75)

TGO Rating: 3

The Aconcagua arrived when this feature was already in the hands of TGO’s designer, leaving insufficient testing time. However, it’s unlikely that my wardrobe manager (aka Steph) would have allowed me through the front door in the Aconcagua anyway.

MONTANE Pulse Shirt (£60)

MONTANE Pulse Shirt (£60)

TGO Rating: 5

Neither the lightest nor the cheapest garment tested but the Pulse ticks almost every box.

MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT Jorasses Microfleece (£65)

MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT Jorasses Microfleece (£65)

TGO Rating: 4.5

The Jorasses offers a fine bodymapping-style blend of warming fabrics – Polartec’s 100 Micro fabric and more expensive Power Stretch – in a garment which I’ve found suitable for backpacking and day walks alike.

MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Micro Grid Zip T (£50)

MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Micro Grid Zip T (£50)

TGO Rating: 4

The Micro Grid Zip T is (on my frame) a fairly snug fit, a fact reflected by sleeves which roll up easily for venting but don’t then sit too comfortably hunched at the elbows, and by the fact that the collar’s just a tad tight when fully zipped up.

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