Engearment

Kate Agathon

New this season, the Smartwool Active Fleece ½ Zip Top is a cold weather work horse.

I live in a mountain town where mid layers are essential for everyday living seven months out of the year. In the winter, I need something functional and versatile that can take on even the coldest conditions.

Thankfully, the Smartwool Active Fleece ½ Zip Top easily meets that criteria for its considerable warmth.

Its thicker material provides incredible insulation that traps enough heat to the point where I frequently use it alone, or with a base layer underneath. So far, I have only grabbed an outer layer to pair with it only when it was dumping snow or windy outside.

Suitable for Every Environment

My favorite mid layer top this season, I have worn the Smartwool Active Fleece ½ Zip Top both indoors (the warehouse where I work on weekends is absurdly cold- everyone layers up to work inside) and outdoors.

Constructed from a four-way stretch knit fabric that is a blend of recycled synthetic material and merino wool, the regular fit top slips over a long sleeved base layer and underneath an outer layer with ease.

I have had no issue with durability, even in a warehouse environment where I’m constantly in contact with sharp edges.

Until I wore the Smartwool Active Fleece ½ Zip Top at my warehouse job, I had not considered how it would perform inside- only how it would function outside. But after wearing it a full day of actively moving product around in the coldest place in the building, I intentionally wear it indoors for that purpose.

As a workwear top that kept me warm, it functioned just fine and was MUCH better than the heavy cotton hooded sweatshirt I wore the day before (bulky, sweaty, and didn’t keep me as warm as I needed).

Note that I get cold easily, so depending on the environment you’re in, the mid layer might be too warm for some. For example, I can wear it indoors (albeit a warehouse) with no problem. But others might feel uncomfortable; especially if they tend to get warm easier than others.

Features

My two favorite features were the center-front zipper (helped to pull away moisture from my neck and also allowed me to regulate temperature) and the elongated cuffs with thumb holes to ensure no areas of my wrists were exposed (definitely a plus when walking the dogs).

The merino wool lining felt soft against my skin and did not itch.

Other features include:

• Secure chest pocket

• Reflective elements

I honestly didn’t use that chest pocket that much, except to keep my ID and some chapstick secure. But, it was well placed and spacious enough to hold just enough.

One thing to take into consideration while wearing this top is sweat and speed. How active do you plan to be? Is it a high-output activity? Do you sweat a lot?

While I’ve been fairly active wearing this top, I have not yet worn it for nordic skiing this season. I am fairly slow and don’t sweat much, so I think it will perform fine. However, if you’re a fast nordic skier or a trail runner, you might find it a tad too warm and reserve it for the coldest of days.

Overall, my impression of the Smartwool Active Fleece ½ Zip Top is quite favorable (I mentioned earlier it is my favorite midlayer of the season) for its functionality and versatility. I wore a size small and it was not too tight.

Like most Smartwool products, it can be mixed and matched with other collections that Smartwool has. It pairs well with leggings, pants, and winter skirts like Smartwool’s Smartloft Zip Skirt.

Regardless of my environment, I am a person constantly on the move when I’m wearing this top.

The Smartwool Active Fleece ½ Zip Top is a great midlayer for mountain living and keeps me warm in pretty much every environment (outdoor and indoor) in my day to day life.

Whether I am moving goods from pallets or packing skis, taking the dogs out for a winter hike, or doing errands around town, the Smartwool Active Fleece ½ Zip Top keeps me warm in all environments.

The Smartwool Active Fleece ½ Zip Top is available in three colors (Arctic Green, Black and Currant) and five sizes (XS to XL).

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbaby, Sansa.

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, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers.

 

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.