Women's Fleece Hoody 26/27

The Fleece Hoody is the hooded version of Ortovox's all-rounder merino fleece, built for cold winter days in the mountains. A special knit puts soft merino wool on the inside and recycled polyester on the outside: 64% recycled polyester, 30% merino and 6% elastane, with pure merino inserts. It weighs 436 g and is made in Europe.

The knit gives a matte, sporty finish and the blend balances durability with breathability, so it stands up to wear and still vents when you are working. The honest trade-off is that a full hooded fleece at this weight is a warm piece, so on milder days you may find yourself unzipping or stowing it.

It earns top ratings from Ortovox for ski touring and mountaineering and a strong score for freeride. Choose it if you want a warm, protective midlayer with a hood that works under a shell or on its own around town. If you run hot on the uptrack, a lighter grid fleece may suit you better.

Regular fit with plenty of stretch, a full zip, protective hood, two front pockets and thumb loops. The model is 1.74 m tall and wears a size M.

This is the hoody we reach for on cold bluebird days, from the first skin of the morning to après by the woodstove.