“If it weren’t so expensive, I’d order a fleece.” A real comment from under one of our ads. Fair question. Here is exactly where the money goes.
Most cheap fleeces trap sweat on a climb, then chill you when you stop. Ours is Polartec Power Grid, the grid fleece Polartec says the US Army’s ECWCS Gen III Level II layer, nicknamed “the waffle”, is made from.
Raised squares hold warmth, the channels between them let sweat and heat out. You climb, you stay dry, you stay warm.
Stretch nylon on the forearms, where rock and pack straps wear through a fleece first. It costs more to cut and sew. It is why the sleeves still look like sleeves next year.
Stand collar that zips up when the wind hits the ridge. An angled zip pocket set into the nylon. A cut that layers under a shell or the Ninja Hoodie without bunching. That takes rounds of prototypes to get right.
Not the cheapest factory we could find. It is cut and sewn in Ukraine, by teams who keep working through blackouts.
“We ship the Polartec material into Ukraine and we just manufacture it there.”Christian Borys, founder
We took it five days and 55 km off-trail in the Yukon backcountry, with nights down to −10 °C. If it was going to fail, we wanted it to fail there, not on you.
List prices and specs from each brand’s own website. Ours is live for your country.
| Quarter-ZipSaint Javelin | R1 PulloverPatagonia | Delta 1/2 Zip NeckArc'teryx | Peloton 200 Zip-TKUIU | Bergtagen Midlayer Half ZipFjällräven | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $200 | US$149* | US$180 | US$99 | US$170 |
| Fabric | Polartec Power Grid | Polartec Power Grid | Octa fleece (not Polartec) | Toray fleece (not Polartec) | Recycled poly / wool, grid inside |
| Abrasion panels | Forearms | None | None | None listed | None |
| Face cover / hood | Stand collar | Zip neck | Zip neck | Zip neck | Zip neck |
| Pockets | 1 zip | 1 zip chest | 1 chest | Not listed | 1 zip chest |
| Made in | Ukraine | Not listed | Vietnam | Not listed | Not listed |
Swipe to compare →
Competitor list prices and specs from each brand’s own website, 28 October 2026. * Patagonia prices from US retailers. Shown in your currency; ≈ means converted.
You can find a cheaper fleece. But if it holds up out here, it will hold up for you.
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.”
“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.”
“Sizing is spot on. Very warm in winter, and breathable when inside. … Best mid layer I’ve ever bought.”
“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.”
“Better than any fleece hoodie I have purchased from name brand s in the past.”
“Washes very well - no sign of pilling or bobbling, even after numerous washes…comes up like new.”
Store-wide: 4.89★ from 5,469 reviews (Judge.me, 28 October 2026).
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.
We move production into Ukraine. Military-inspired gear first, then a Defender collection every winter, each one pushing further outdoors.
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.
The fabric is Polartec Power Grid, the panels are stretch nylon, the design took a lot of work, and it is cut and sewn in Ukraine rather than wherever is cheapest. You can find a cheaper fleece. We think this one earns its price by lasting.
High-output days: fast hiking, approaches, running in the cold, the walk in before dawn. Wear it next to skin or over a base layer, under a warmer layer when you stop.
On the move in cool weather, yes. When you stop in real cold, add an insulating layer such as the Ninja Hoodie or the High Loft Jacket.
Polartec Power Grid (90% polyester, 10% elastane) with stretch nylon panels. Label composition: 70% polyester, 20% nylon, 10% elastane.
Cut and sewn in ukraine, by teams who keep working through blackouts.
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