Topo Designs Fleece Pants – Warm and Comfortable

Kate Agathon

The Topo Designs Fleece Pants stand out from the rest for being warm, practical, and trendy.

 

Of all the fleece pants I have tried this season, my favorite are the ones by Topo Designs.

 

Constructed from 100% recycled polyester Polartec 200 fleece, these are the warmest fleece pants I have ever worn. The thick fleece protects against wind and the reinforced DWR-coated knee patches and seat keeps those areas dry.

Topo Designs Fleece Pants review

The first thing I noticed is that the fleece is quite heavy without being bulky or shapeless. Instead, they look modern and streamlined.

 

Second, I especially like the fact that Topo Designs kept practicality in mind when designing their fleece pants.

 

Unlike any other fleece pant I’ve seen, the strategic placement of the DWR-coated nylon taslan bottom is genius- it is the area that gets worn down most quickly. Why don’t other fleece pants have this feature? It contributes to the overall longevity of the pants, and it keeps your bottom dry from the elements.

 

The practical cinched cord locks along the hem keep elements out and presents a more tailored look that fits nicely above boots.

 

Available in four colors (Burgundy/Black, Ivory/Black, Forest/Black, and Black/Black), Topo Designs fleece pants aren’t blah and something you only want to wear indoors or covered up by ski pants.

 

The  quick-release T-Lock belt, and contrasting zippers and reinforced areas provide just enough urban style to keep them from looking like the most boring of tech gear (which fleece pants often are).

Other key features:

 

• Custom logo snap and zippered pockets

• Side zippered lined hand pockets

• Zippered back pocket

Despite the Topo Designs website describing the fit as relaxed, they fit more like a slim pant and didn’t leave much room for a thin base layer underneath for the coldest of days. I suggest getting a size up from what you normally wear because of tightness in waist-butt-hip area.  Overall, the Topo Designs fleece pants are fantastic. Far from being your every day fleece pants, they stand out from the rest for overall warmth, practicality, and urban style.

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Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbaby, Utah the Adventure Dog.

 

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing. Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, fat biking, snowshoeing, camping, peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers, road cycling, and Nordic skiing. After suffering two major knee injuries within four years, Kate hopes to return to alpine skiing next season.

 

Kate earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.

We also heard she has a (slight) obsession for blue heelers.