When the US Army redesigned how soldiers stay warm, Polartec says High Loft became the fleece in the system’s insulating jacket. Ours is cut from Polartec High Loft too, made in Ukraine and proven in the Yukon. Seven reasons it is the warmest thing we make.
The cold gets you when you stop: a long sit before first light, glassing a ridge, waiting out the wind on a summit, standing round at camp.
High Loft’s tall, airy pile traps more warm air for its weight than dense fleece, which makes this the warmest layer in Defender 2026.
This is Polartec High Loft, the fleece Polartec says the US Army’s ECWCS Gen III Level III jacket, “the smoking jacket”, is made from. Our design is military-inspired, the fabric is Polartec, and it is made in Ukraine.
A full-length, two-way zip goes on over your other layers without a fight, and opens from the bottom when you sit. The stand collar zips up to seal your neck.
Stretch nylon across the shoulders, upper back, forearms and lower sides takes the pack straps, hip belt and elbows, so the loft does not get crushed and worn away.
Heavy jackets trap sweat on the hike in, then freeze you when you sit. High Loft breathes and dries fast, so you arrive warm and stay warm.
It compresses into a corner of the pack until the temperature drops, then it is the first thing out.
We wore it for five days and 55 km off-trail in the Yukon backcountry, with nights down to −10 °C. It was the layer that came out at every stop.
The High Loft Jacket is new for 2026. Here is what customers say about the Defender fleeces before it.
“The polartec fleece is as warm as it can get for a fleece. I am renovating and wanted some cosy and real warm fleece. This one delivers.”
“This is a very well rounded fleece that is good for having a coffee at home or going for a rigourous long hike or multi day outdoor trip.”
“I love the length and how warm it is without being heavy.”
“Very warm fleece. Good sizing and so comfortable. With a windproof shell it is unbeatable.”
“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.”
“Better than any fleece hoodie I have purchased from name brand s in the past.”
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.
It is the warmest piece in Defender 2026: the layer you put on when you stop moving. Under a shell in real cold, on its own on dry, still days.
No. It is fleece: it breathes and dries fast, but in rain or wet snow wear it under a shell.
Cut to go over a base layer and a light mid-layer. Size guide on the product page.
Cut and sewn in ukraine, by teams who keep working through blackouts.
Polartec High Loft (97% polyester, 3% spandex). Abrasion panels are stretch nylon (91% nylon, 9% elastane).
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