Best Fleeces for Walking: Regatta vs Trespass vs Craghoppers (Compared)
Ask a room full of walkers which fleece brand they swear by, and you'll get a lively debate on your hands!
Regatta fans will tell you nothing beats the value. Trespass devotees love the sporty, no-fuss style. Team Craghoppers will point you straight to the sustainability credentials and technical features.
The truth is, all three make a brilliant case for being home to the best fleece for walking. And that's exactly what we're here to explore.
Key Takeaways
- All three brands (Regatta, Trespass, and Craghoppers) offer reliable fleeces well-suited to walking and hiking in the UK
- Craghoppers leads on sustainability and tech-driven features; Regatta and Trespass offer great value at very accessible prices
- You can choose from half zip or full zip fleeces; with fleece gilets as an alternative option
- A good walking fleece should offer an insulating layer of warmth for the outdoors, alongside helping with your general comfort and movement when you're active
What Makes a Good Fleece for Walking?
If you think about the 3-layer system of outdoor clothing, you’ve got:
- Base layer
- Mid layer
- Outer layer
A fleece is usually your mid layer, fitting neatly over your t-shirt and under your waterproof jacket.
It’s there primarily to add insulation, keeping your body warm when you’re out in cold temperatures. Alongside this, it needs to contribute to moisture management, helping to draw sweat away from the body and keep you cool as you’re active.
When you’re walking, particularly uphill, your body generates a significant amount of heat and moisture. So a good fleece for walking should prioritise comfort across a range of exertion levels rather than simply maximising warmth.
With that in mind, this is where you start to think about the weight and construction of your fleece.
- Lighter, more open-knit fabrics breathe more freely and tend to perform better on active walks
- Denser, heavier fleeces are better suited to static warmth (for example, when you’re at your kids’ sports matches or having a brew in your tent at the campsite)
So when you're shopping for a new fleece for walking, look for those which are lightweight; and keep your thick, woolly fleeces for more downtime activities.
What Are the Different Types of Walking Fleeces?
You’ll spot three types of fleeces across our walking clothes collections:
- Half zip walking fleeces
- Full zip walking fleeces
- Walking fleece gilet
Each style has its own merits and offers the wearer plenty of benefits. You might favour a full zip fleece if you like having more control over how you wear it, whereas others love the half zip style because it slips on easily under a waterproof jacket. Then you’ve got your gilet, with its sleeveless design that is great if you just need core warmth.
The three brands in our comparison here, Regatta, Trespass, and Craghoppers, have a good mix of types of walking fleeces as part of their line-ups. So to help you make your decision, let’s take a look at just exactly who these brands are in the world of outdoor clothing.
Walking Fleece Brand Overview: Regatta vs Trespass vs Craghoppers
Regatta Fleeces
Regatta is a British outdoor brand founded in Manchester in 1982.
Built around the idea of making quality outdoor clothing accessible to everyone, they've spent over forty years refining their range for the everyday person: the weekend hiker, the dog walker, the family on a camping trip.
Their fleece collection is one of the most extensive on the market, with plenty of colour, styles, and size ranges to pick from.
The Regatta Thompson is a popular lightweight half zip fleece for walking, that sits easily under your outer layer, with a soft anti-pill finish that holds up well across plenty of miles.
Light, soft, and easy to layer, the Regatta Sweethart half zip is a go-to walking fleece for cooler days out, with ten colour options to pick from and an anti-pill finish that keeps it looking good walk after walk.
Styling-wise, you've also got plenty to pick from. Half zips like those above, or full zips and fleece gilets too. You can go for something bright and bold, something athletic and outdoorsy in character, or keep it really simple and straightforward.
The Regatta Womens Highton IV Full Zip Fleece and the Regatta Professional Mens Classic Full Zip Fleece show this in action; and these are just a couple of examples of what awaits you if you go for Regatta!
A firm favourite with walkers, the Regatta Highton IV features stretchy fabric panels for comfortable movement on the hills and a full zip for easy on and off when the temperature changes.
Practical and quick-drying, the Regatta Classic Full Zip is a well-rounded walking fleece that you can rely on as your mid-layer during the colder months and use as an outer layer in milder temperatures.
Trespass Fleeces
Trespass has been making outdoor clothing since 1938, starting life in Glasgow as a small manufacturer of uniforms before moving into waterproofs and technical outdoor wear.
Their Scottish roots and long history in weatherproof clothing give their range a particular focus on practical, reliable performance, and their walking fleeces reflect that.
Clean lines and sporty aesthetics are the main draw here, such as with the Trespass Womens Meadows 1/2 Zip Pullover Fleece and the Trespass Mens Arranfore Full Zip Fleece.
Smart contrast trims and a practical chin guard make the Trespass Meadows a good looking and comfortable womens half zip fleece, great for layering up on cooler hikes.
With its inner storm flap, three zipped pockets, and stretch fabric blend, the Trespass Arranfore is a feature-packed full zip fleece that really earns its keep on longer walks.
To help walkers keep cool and comfy as they hike up the hills, the brand also introduces fabric technologies like Airtrap microfleece, as seen in the Trespass Mens Blackford Half Zip Pullover Fleece.
The Blackford features Trespass' Airtrap microfleece technology for that all-important breathability on the move, with a high neck collar and anti-pill finish that makes it a popular choice for walkers who love getting outdoors every weekend!
Plus, alongside this, you can pick up slightly upgraded fleece options that come with grown-on hoods and make for fantastic outer layers in the spring/summer months. The Trespass Womens Tara Full Zip Fleece is a great example of this styling.
A full zip fleece with a built-in hood and thumbhole cuffs, the Trespass Tara is a fantastic choice for walkers who want that extra bit of warmth and coverage when the wind picks up.
What pulls walkers towards Trespass time and time again is the brand's keen sense of outdoorsy style, plus the features that step up the designs; all while remaining very reasonably priced. Simply put, a great outdoor brand offering great outdoor fleeces.
Craghoppers Fleeces
Craghoppers, a UK brand headquartered in Manchester, is perhaps the most walking-specific of the three brands in this comparison.Where Regatta and Trespass both cover a wide range of outdoor activities, Craghoppers has always had a particular focus on hiking, trekking, and exploration; and that shows in the detail and technical thinking behind their fleeces and beyond.
For example, you will see their insect-repellent technology often used, such as in the Craghoppers Mens NosiLife SolarShield+ Half Zip Fleece.
Lightweight, insect-repellent, and built with UV-reflecting fabric, the Craghoppers NosiLife SolarShield+ is a technical half zip fleece for walkers who head into warmer or more challenging environments.
Plus, their sustainability efforts remain at the core of what they do. Recycled materials feature heavily throughout their fleeces, like in two of their most popular options: Craghoppers Mens Corey VI Half Zip Pullover Fleece and Craghoppers Womens Miska VI Half Zip Pullover Fleece.
Bestseller year on year! The Craghoppers Corey is a lightweight half zip fleece great for walking; made from recycled materials, and offered in a huge colour range from neutral shades to brighter reds and greens.
And what Craghoppers also do well is they have dedicated collections, such as their collaboration with The National Trust and their Duke of Edinburgh Award range, like the Craghoppers Womens Tarvos Full Zip Fleece.
Quick-drying, slim-fitting, and finished with reflective details, the Tarvos full zip is a well-rounded walking fleece from Craghoppers' popular Duke of Edinburgh's Award Collection.
The brand clearly loves the outdoors as much as their customers do, and their eco-credentials, collaborations, and impressive tech are all signs of that. So it's no surprise that lots of walkers opt to add a Craghoppers fleece to their walking wardrobe!
Your Complete Guide to What to Wear Hiking
Once you've found your fleece, the next step is putting together the full kit.
Our practical hiking guide walks you through every layer, from baselayers to waterproofs, plus what to bring along in your backpack.
Read the Guide →
Best Half-Zip Walking Fleeces Compared
Now we've seen what each brand is bringing to the game with their fleeces, it's time to see how they stack up against each other.
|
Regatta Thompson |
Trespass Blackford |
Craghoppers Corey VI |
|
|
Fabric |
170gsm Symmetry fleece |
Airtrap microfleece |
Recycled microfleece |
|
Features |
1 side brushed, 1 side anti-pill |
Anti-pilling fabric |
Quick drying |
|
Zip Style |
Half zip |
Half zip |
Half zip |
|
Size Range |
S to 5XL |
2XS to 3XL |
S to 4XL |
|
Colours |
11 |
10 |
15 |
|
RRP |
£26.00 |
£27.99 |
£45.00 |
Put side by side, the Regatta and Trespass are closely matched on spec and price, with Trespass's Airtrap technology being the main point of differentiation between the two. Craghoppers steps up on colour range and sustainability credentials, and carries a higher price that reflects both.
All three will serve you well as a walking fleece mid-layer.
Women's half zip walking fleeces. Pictured (L-R): Regatta Womens Sweethart, Trespass Womens Meadows, Craghoppers Womens Miska VI
|
Regatta Sweethart |
Trespass Meadows |
Craghoppers Miska VI |
|
|
Fabric |
170gsm Symmetry fleece | Knitted | Microfleece |
|
Features |
1 side brushed, 1 side anti-pill |
Anti-pilling fabric, brushed back |
Quick drying |
|
Zip Style |
Half zip | Half zip | Half zip |
|
Size Range |
8-26 | 2XS - 3XL | 8-24 |
|
Colours |
10 | 11 | 13 |
|
RRP |
£26.00 | £29.99 | £45.00 |
With these women's fleeces, there are a few differences to spot across the fabric, so this may tip the scales in one direction depending on your personal preference. The size range is fairly consistent across the board, and then it's Craghoppers who edge ahead a little with their colour choices.
All in all, any one of these would be a well-chosen addition to your walking gear.
Discover Top Picks From Our Walking Gear Sale!
Our walking gear sale is now live, with picks from Regatta, Craghoppers, Trespass and many more.
We've rounded up some of our best deals in this guide, so you can easily shop fantastic discounts on fleeces, boots, jackets, and everything you need to enjoy the outdoors.
Find Top Bargains →
FAQ: Fleeces for Walking
Before we start to wrap up, here are the answers to a few burning questions we tend to get about shopping for walking fleeces.
What is the best fleece for walking in the UK?
For most walkers, a lightweight half zip fleece is a reliable choice. It gives you easy temperature regulation on the move, works well as a mid-layer under a waterproof jacket, and is comfortable across a range of conditions that we get here in the UK.
Regatta, Trespass, and Craghoppers all make excellent fleeces for walking.
Do Trespass, Regatta, and Craghoppers offer kids walking fleeces?
All three brands carry fantastic kids fleece ranges.
Regatta in particular has one of the most comprehensive children's outdoor clothing ranges available, with kids fleeces in a wide range of ages, sizes, and colours. Trespass and Craghoppers both follow suit with lots of options for younger walkers.
Can I wear a fleece as an outer layer when walking?
In mild, dry conditions (like in the Spring and Summer months), a fleece is a popular choice for a lightweight outer layer.
But it's worth remembering that a fleece alone offers no meaningful protection from rain or wind, so bringing a packable waterproof jacket is always a good shout.
Should I size up in a walking fleece?
As your fleece will sit over your base layer and under your waterproof jacket when you're out walking, you need enough room to layer comfortably without restricting movement.
As a general rule, go for your usual size if you're layering lightly, or size up if you tend to wear a thicker base layer or want more freedom of movement.
We offer a 60-day return policy here at Avenue 85, so if you do find you need to swap out for a different size, we've made the process nice and easy for you!
Which Walking Fleece Brand Is Right for You?
Ok, we've talked about what fleeces the brands all offer, shown you a couple of examples in motion, and now we're at the pointy end. Which one should you go for?
To help steer you, let's quickly recap where you potentially might be sitting:
- Choose Regatta if you want maximum colour choice at the most accessible price point
- Choose Trespass if you prefer a clean, sporty look and appreciate great value for money
- Choose Craghoppers if sustainability credentials are a priority, or if you want to explore more technical options like the NosiLife SolarShield.
Like with most outdoor clothing choices, there's often no right or wrong. It mostly comes down to what makes the most sense for you and the type of walking you do, plus what you find the most comfortable.
Find Your Best Walking Fleece at Avenue 85
All three of the brands compared here know a thing or two about what makes the best fleece for walking, and all three have loyal fans who swear by them. So which one have you decided is right for you?
Whether you're leaning towards Regatta, Trespass, or Craghoppers, you'll find their full fleece ranges right here at Avenue 85 - and your new favourite among them.
Happy shopping (and happy walking)!
About the Author
A dad to two energetic boys, James spends his weekends juggling football matches, skate parks, and Sunday afternoons at Disley’s very own Lyme Park. While he might not get to hit the golf course as often as he used to, he’s all in for family adventures in the great outdoors - coffee in hand and his favourite Ecco walking shoes on his feet. On the Avenue 85 blog, James loves to help other families make the most of their time outside by sharing his tried and tested tips, whether it’s finding the best waterproof jacket for a rainy day or discovering the best local walks that are perfect for little legs to explore!