Marmot AirFleece Performance Full-Zip Hoody
Review by Erin Trail
The Marmot AirFleece Performance Full-Zip Hoody is a lighter weight do-it all full-zipper fleece hoody, purpose built for active wear.
Details
- 100% recycled polyester jacquard fleece (177g/sqm)
- Unique checkerboard grid fleece pattern that creates airflow grooves for breathability
- Athletic fit
- Low-profile, three-piece scuba hood with elastic binding fits snugly under your climbing or ski helmet
- Zippered chest pocket with stretch woven fabric provides pack- and harness-accessible storage for small items
- Zippered hand pockets
- Elastic-bound cuffs with built-in thumbholes
- Flatlock seams
Fit
I wear am a women’s medium on the Marmot size guide and found that the Marmot AirFleece Performance Full-Zip Hoody fit true to size. The athletic fit is a slim fit, intended for layering and being used as active wear.
The sleeves have thin elastic cuffs and thumbholes. At full length, the sleeves go to my knuckles, but comfortably bunch at my wrist. The elastic is slightly snug when pulling the sleeve up past my Garmin watch or Whoop wristband, but once in position above the device, the sleeve fits comfortably.
The three-piece scuba hood also fits nicely, without gaping or feeling too tight.
The bottom hem is a traditional length (i.e. not cropped), hitting me at the widest part of my hips.
Function
I love fleece jackets. So much that one might say I collect them. When I saw the Marmot AirFleece Performance Full-Zip Hoody, I knew that I needed to try it out.
What you notice immediately is how amazingly soft the Marmot AirFleece Performance Full-Zip Hoody is. The 100% recycled polyester jacquard fleece has an almost chenille quality to it. It just feels GOOD against the skin.
The performance feature that stands out to me most is how breathable, but still warm, the Marmot AirFleece Performance Full-Zip Hoody is. The knit of the pattern is a checkerboard one, with small boxes of pile and non-pile polyester. The result is that you can feel air move through the sleeves of the hoody. This is especially noticeable as you move into a cooler area or as you’re moving around and warming up.
The front of the Marmot AirFleece Performance Full-Zip Hoody is fully lined with a non-fleece polyester. This provides a little extra warmth and has the bonus of being the backing for the zippered hand pockets. The hand pockets are enormous, extending along the entire vertical front of the hoody.
The front chest pocket is small and will NOT fit a phone (or at least my phone), but it is plenty large enough to fit snacks, lip balm, or ID cards.
I’ve been wearing the Marmot AirFleece Performance Full-Zip Hoody for the past several weeks, across a variety of spring-like weather conditions. I’ve mainly been wearing it as an outer layer when going places (to the gym, to work, to the trail). My office is also freezing, and I’ve been wearing the hoody nearly daily indoors.
The Marmot AirFleece Performance Full-Zip Hoody washes and wears wonderfully. I haven’t noticed any areas of wear or pilling, even in high contact areas like the underarms or sides.
I think the Marmot AirFleece Performance Full-Zip Hoody is best as jacket for cool weather (50s and 60s), due to how breathable it is and how light the fleece is. I haven’t been able to test it as active insulation (due to winter ending early), but I can see the hoody being a great layer under a rain jacket or even a ski shell for spring skiing.
Closing Thoughts
The Marmot AirFleece Performance Full-Zip Hoody has quickly risen to the top of my “favorite” fleece list, mainly because of how soft it is and how great it wears as a spring layer. As weather gets warmer, I’m certain this jacket will be brought along on airplane trips and for van camping trips, as a reliable, lightweight layer.
The AirFleece line is available for both men and women in three cuts: Performance Full-Zip Hoody, Full-Zip Jacket, and a Half-Zip Pullover.
Erin Trail
Trail Boss of Stoke
Erin is a former Montana park ranger with a degree in environmental engineering. She loves getting into technical details while putting her gear (and herself) through the paces. She shares her home in Colorado with her husband, Will, and her 3 cats (Zipper, Brewtus, and Simcoe).
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