Rock and brush, all day
Off-trail means you are on your hands as often as your feet. The forearms and lower sides are stretch nylon, far harder-wearing than fleece, so scrambling does not grind the fleece away.
Defender 2026 · Tested, not just called toughEvery brand says tough.
Every brand says tough.
We went and checked.
“Tough” is an adjective until you take it somewhere that can prove it wrong. We took the Ninja Hoodie 55 km off-trail in the Yukon. Here is what that actually tested.
Shop the Ninja HoodiePolartec 200 · 100% Made in Ukraine
- Polartec 200 fleece
- Hood zips up into a balaclava
- 100% Made in Ukraine
A loaded pack, every day
Straps and hip belts are what wear a fleece out first. That is exactly where the nylon panels sit.
Wind on exposed passes
Zip it to the top and the hood seals around your face like a balaclava. A storm guard behind the zip stops the wind getting through it.
Creek crossings
Wet is when cheap fleece fails you. Polartec 200, Polartec’s classic midweight fleece, a fabric that has served in US military cold-weather gear, dries fast and keeps its warmth.
Nights down to −10 °C
We wore it at camp and slept in it on the coldest nights. Warm, soft at the face, and still looking like itself at the end of the week.
Worn by people who do hard things
Defender 2026 is built around three heroes. One of them, Tim, an alpinist and BASE jumper, wore the Ninja Hoodie for a helicopter exit in the Swiss Alps.
If it works for him there, it will work for your hardest days.
The factory behind it
Tough starts before the trail. Every piece is cut and sewn in Ukraine, by teams who keep working through blackouts. That is what tough means to us.
The test
That’s what tough means to us
5
Days
55 km
Off-trail
−10 °C
At night
0
Trails
Polartec 200 Midweight · Ninja Hoodie
Get the Ninja Hoodie
Polartec 200 Midweight - Ninja Hoodie
$156
Polartec 200 Midweight. 100% Made in Ukraine.
- Stay warm on long, cold stops: Polartec 200 midweight fleece that breathes on the climb and dries fast when you stop.
- Leave the balaclava at home: zip it all the way up and the hood closes around your face.
- Carry a loaded pack all day: stretch nylon panels on the forearms and lower sides take the wear.
- Keep hands warm and kit secure: 2 zip hand pockets plus a big kangaroo pocket.
- Seal out the wind: storm guard behind the zip, bungee hem you can cinch tight.
5★ reviews
People who own our earlier Defender fleeces
Defender 2026 is brand new, so here is what customers say about the Defender fleeces that came before it.
★★★★★
“What few mention is how dense it is! … it’s going to hold heat better and resist wind more than any fleece I’ve encountered, ever.”
Aj Rez
★★★★★
“I wore it while hiking the alps in summer, going out with friends on a fall evening and now in the winter - it always performs and keeps you warm, when you need it to.”
Niels
★★★★★
“Sizing is spot on. Very warm in winter, and breathable when inside. … Best mid layer I’ve ever bought.”
Kieran
★★★★★
“I’ve had the previous model for a year now. Great design, craftsmanship. The patch is a bit worn but everything else is still like new.”
Joel Earnest
★★★★★
“Better than any fleece hoodie I have purchased from name brand s in the past.”
Adrian Krawczeniuk
★★★★★
“Washes very well - no sign of pilling or bobbling, even after numerous washes…comes up like new.”
Jon Farmer
Store-wide: 4.89★ from 5,469 reviews (Judge.me, 28 October 2026).
Where this came from
Tougher every year
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2022A sticker
Journalist Christian Borys prints a sticker of a saint holding a Javelin, hoping to raise a few hundred dollars for Ukraine. Days later the full-scale invasion starts, and the saint goes around the world.
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2022 – 2025From meme to maker
We move production into Ukraine. Military-inspired gear first, then a Defender collection every winter, each one pushing further outdoors.
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2026Tested in the Yukon
Defender 2026: Polartec fleece made in Ukraine. Before launch we wore it 55 km off-trail through the Yukon backcountry, with nights down to −10 °C.
Questions we get
How does it fit?
A relaxed fit with room for a base layer underneath. If you are between sizes and want to wear it over a thicker layer, size up. Full measurements are on the product page.
Can it replace my shell?
No, and we will not pretend otherwise. It is a midweight fleece: warm on its own on cold, dry days, and the warm layer under a shell when it rains or snows hard.
Is it really Polartec?
Yes. Polartec 200, 100% polyester, from Polartec. The abrasion panels are stretch nylon (91% nylon, 9% elastane).
Where is it made?
In Ukraine, start to finish. Cut and sewn in ukraine, by teams who keep working through blackouts.
What colours does it come in?
Midnight Black, Olive and Ranger Green, sizes S to XXL.
