Arc’teryx Fortrez Hooded Fleece Jacket – Men’s

We’ve read the reviews across the web for the Arc’teryx Fortrez Hooded Fleece Jacket – Men’s and summarize the results below:

Universal Ranking

PeakScore: 85 (out of 100)
User Rating: 4.3 stars 
Expert Rating: 4.2 stars

Number of Ratings Reviewed: 126

Pros & Cons

Reasons to buy:

User Reviews

  • Neck gaiter acts as a wind blocker.
  • Well-constructed and functional jacket/hood.
  • Great choice for stand-alone jacket in the shoulder seasons, and as a layer in the winter.
  • The permeability allows for the ability to wear during activities, but makes this jacket not the warmest option.
  • Lightweight, durable, and warm.
  • Not waterproof, but more water-resistant than much of the fleece jacket competition.
  • The hood is slim-fitting to keep warmth in, and works well under a ski helmet.

Expert Reviews

  • The ‘Hardface’ treatment makes the face fabric smooth, yet durable, helping it to repel weather and wick moisture, while keeping your face warm and soft.
  • This jacket has more wind-resistance than much of the fleece competition due to the smooth face material.
  • Able to comfortably fit a base-layer underneath, and still wear under an outer shell.
  • The stretchy fleece is sewn into the collar, and can be pulled over your head for a pop-up face mask.
  • Features 3 pockets, with two regular hand pockets above the hip-belt level, and one larger chest pocket for ample storage.
  • The zippers work smoothly and are snag-free.
  • The full zipper provides extra ventilation.
  • The athletic but trim fit allows for a streamlined look, with enough room for layering underneath.

Reasons NOT to buy:

User Reviews

  • The fit may not work for some body types.
  • When the jacket is zipped up to the chest, and undergoes any stretching motion, the zipper can slide down and become undone.
  • The hood would not be sufficient in strong winds, but is suitable for most conditions.
  • The sleeves do not have built-in thumb holes.
  • Some reports of the length being too long.

Expert Reviews

  • Only considered a ‘moderately warm’ fleece, so may not be suitable for all conditions.
  • The zippers can be difficult to pull with gloves on.
  • Even though this is a highly-technical and active fleece, there are no thumb holes present.
  • No two-way main zip, which would have aided in functionality.

Summary:

The Arc’teryx Fortrez Hooded Fleece Jacket for men is a great option for a more technical fleece that provides moisture-wicking qualities, ventilation, and weather protection. The moderate warmth makes this fleece a good choice for a stand-alone layer during shoulder seasons, or as a layer under a tougher shell during alpine adventures.

Multimedia:

Note: User and expert rankings were reviewed across the web, including here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.