The 7 Best Fleece Midlayers for Sailing
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When it comes to sailing, there’s nothing quite like pulling out a cosy fleece when the temperature drops and you get that shivery feeling to hunker down and stay warm. Even on a sunny day, when the wind picks up it can get cold on the water, and you’ll need the right layers of clothes.
A good fleece mid-layer will keep you warmer (and happier) onboard while you’re active, and when you’re sitting around the cockpit yarning about the weather, and making plans for tomorrow.
Fleece mid-layers are essential for layering under your wet weather gear (like these best sailing jackets) to keep you warm and dry. Since we’re all about multi-use clothing onboard, you also want a fleece you can wear about on it’s own too. Since you’re on the hunt for the best fleecy options, I’ve researched the best there is, and picked the top 7 to cover a range of sailing adventures — from lighter warmer days, through to rocking full on foulies in winter.
You’ll see I’ve also added in a couple of non-sailing brands (like Zorali) which produce some of the best technical outdoor gear on the market, since after all, we’re sailors who love land adventures too right?!
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What exactly is a mid-layer?
What’s the best material for my mid-layer — wool or fleece?
What is fleece fabric?
Review — The 7 Best Fleeces to Keep You Toasty
1. Helly Hansen Daybreaker Fleece Jacket
2. Zorali Air Grid Fleece
3. Gill Marine Pursuit 1/4 Zip Thermal Pullover Fleece
4. Helly Hansen Rig Fleece ½ Zip
5. Patagonia R1 Fleece Pullover
6. Musto Corsica Polartec® 200gm Fleece 2.0
7. The North Face Osito Full Zip Fleece Jacket
First up, what exactly is a midlayer?
Think of a midlayer as the peanut butter in your outdoor gear sandwich. It’s that crucial element that holds everything together. Just like peanut butter stops your bread from getting soggy (uuugh), a good midlayer keeps you toasty warm and allows moisture to escape when you’re sweaty (thinking about wet armpits and sandwiches together is gross but I’m running with it…).
Just like you can choose smooth or chunky PB, midlayers come in various materials and styles to match your vibe on the water! And I’ve curated a selection just for you. But you also need to know what they’re made from.
What’s the best material for my midlayer — wool or fleece?
Great question! Wool and fleece are both excellent midlayer materials, and choosing between the two really depends on your specific needs. Wool, particularly merino wool (from one of Aussie’s finest sheep), offers excellent moisture-wicking and temperature regulation but can become heavy, and slow to dry when totally soaked (although it’s still going to keep you fairly warm).
Wool’s a brilliant base layer in very lightweight merino fabrics (150-200gsm) and it’s a favourite of mine for undies, thermal layers, t-shirts, and long-sleeve tops.
Fleece, on the other hand (such as Polartec fleece) is lightweight, super warm, and dries much more quickly than wool, making it a popular choice for active use in sailing. Fleece is also popular as it’s easy to wash and maintain, and soft (it won’t make your skin itch like woollen school jerseys!). Although, wool has excellent odour resistance (more so than fleece).
Ultimately, it’s about finding the right balance for your adventures, and it often just comes down to pure preference.
What is fleece fabric?
Fleece is a soft sythetic fabric made from polyester fibres that provides warmth without weight and is hydrophobic (absorbs less than 1% of water), making it ideal for use in the outdoors.
You’ll see fleece fabric, such as Polartec fleece (also known as polarfleece) used across a number of the 7 fleece products reviewed below. Fleece can be made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, and recycled fleece fabric. In the Polartec® Classic range the 100 weight fabrics are the lightest fleece in the series, and are an excellent choice for a warm first layer. Polartec® 200 provides optimal warmth and versatility in a midweight soft fleece.
Some brands such as Zorali and Gill Marine use 100% recycled polyester from discarded plastics to create a super soft and durable low pile fleece.
Review — The 7 Best Fleeces to Keep You Toasty
1. Helly Hansen Daybreaker Fleece Jacket
Helly Hansen Daybreaker Fleece is budget-friendly
The Helly Hansen Daybreaker Fleece is a lightweight, versatile midlayer for your sailing adventures. If you want a full zip jacket that’s affordable and reliable, this one’s a great choice. There are two zip side pockets to keep your essentials with you onboard (for me that’s my phone and lipbalm…). It’s made from Polartec® fleece, known for being both warm and quick-drying, which is perfect for sailing or exploring onshore. Wear it on its own, or layer under your windbreaker jacket on blustery days.
Best for: Budget-friendly, go-anywhere fleece
2. Zorali Air Grid Fleece
Zorali’s Air-Grid fleece is really soft, super light and very warm
I’m obsessed with my zip-free Air-Grid—it’s the softest fleece I own!
Love the deep hood
The Zorali Air-Grid Fleece is rapidly becoming a go-to for outdoor adventurers, and it’s easy to see why this brand is gaining a cult following. Founded in Australia with a mission to create sustainable, high-performance gear, Zorali uses 100% recycled microgrid fleece for this super lightweight midlayer. The grid pattern traps warmth while allowing moisture to escape, and is really (like reeealllly) soft, with no zippers or bits to dig into you (important when you layer this up under your wet weather gear). I love the deep hood, pockets and handy thumbholes (which I think you’ll give a thumbs up to as well). Bonus points — it’s the most compact fleece of them all! I wear a size 16 and it’s true to size.
Best for: Outdoor adventures where you need a super lightweight, super comfy midlayer
3. Gill Marine Pursuit 1/4 Zip Thermal Pullover Fleece
Gill Marine Pursuit 1/4 zip fleece is warm with good freedom of movement
Gill Marine’s Pursuit 1/4 Zip Fleece is designed as a super warm, no fuss, slimline fleece for sailors. It offers great thermal protection while being quick to dry, and the 100% recycled polyester fabric is pill resistant to keep the fleece looking fresh. I really like the stretch binding at the collar, cuffs and hem for improved fit. Plus, the cut of this design is for ease of movement, so you won’t feel restricted while handling lines or moving around the boat. Gill offer this fleece in a great size range too.
Note: There’s no pockets on this jacket.
Best for: When flexibility and freedom of movement is important around the boat
4. Helly Hansen Rig Fleece ½ Zip
Add a pop of colour onboard and get breezy with plenty of ventilation
If you’re not a fan of squeezing into tight jersey necks but don’t want a full-zip fleece either, the Helly Hansen Rig Fleece ½ Zip is your perfect match. With flatlock seams to prevent chafing, the high neck will keep you cosy, while the half-zip makes it easy to slip on and off. And you’ll get easy ventilation (handy if you’re a quick-to-heat-up kinda person!).
As a big pocket lover, I’m sold — the snap-button pockets are perfect for burrowing your hands into keeping cosy between action. Although it lacks high wind and water resistance, the Rig is ideal as a midlayer for mild conditions. Plus, who can resist a pop of colour to brighten the day!
Best for: Enjoying ventilation without a full zip style jacket
5. Patagonia R1 Fleece Pullover
The R1 Fleece Pullover by Patagonia is perfect for technical adventures
Patagonia’s R1 Fleece Pullover is a favourite of hikers all over, for good reason. It’s a versatile, technical midlayer pullover that wicks moisture, traps heat, and offers fantastic breathability. Its grid fleece design manages to keep you warm while allowing excess heat and moisture to escape, making it ideal for more active sailing or if you’re in variable conditions. Features include a deep front zip for extra ventilation/warmth options, and a chest pocket for small essentials. And it’s made from 93% recycled materials, so it’s a solid choice if sustainability is on your radar.
Best for: Being super active where you need a highly breathable and moisture-wicking fleece
6. Musto Corsica Polartec® 200gm Fleece 2.0
Musto’s Corsica Polartec® 200gm Fleece 2.0 will keep you seriously warm
Musto’s Corsica Polartec® 200gm Fleece 2.0 is a dependable heavy weight option for colder conditions, offering a bit more heft than their lighter Polartec 100. It’s the kind of cosy fleece you pull on when you know it’s going to be an icy day out on the water. It’s durable, warm, and the perfect lifestyle fleece to keep you dry and comfortable in all your adventures. The Corsica 200 layers well under Musto’s waterproof jackets, making it a favourite for long coastal sails.
Best for: Colder conditions where you need a warmer, heavier, more durable fleece
7. The North Face Osito Full Zip Fleece Jacket
One word for the North Face Osito: Plush
The North Face Osito Full Zip is known for its ultra-soft, plush feel, making it a perfect comfort layer. Constructed from hi-loft raschel fleece, it offers a cosy, mid-to-heavyweight warmth that holds heat impressively well. Its high collar and zippered pockets, lined with microfleece, add extra warmth, though breathability is limited due to the thick fleece (this isn’t the jacket you want to be getting hot and sweaty in). While it layers well over a base layer, it’s not very slimline for wearing under a wet weather jacket, so the North Face Osito is best for cosy evenings onboard or cruisy walks ashore when comfort is key. The Osito comes in a fun variety of colours too (pictured above in White Dune).
Best for: Snuggling up on deck in something soft and stay warm
In Summary
Fleece midlayers are an absolute essential when you’re out at sea or exploring ashore. The beauty of fleece is how well it layers with other pieces, letting you customise your warmth depending on the conditions. Whether you’re looking for something lightweight and breathable or more robust and insulated, there’s a fleece here to suit any adventure.
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