The Fjallraven Abisko Hooded Fleece Women's is our best for warm-weather trekking pick, and we rate it 67 out of 100.
A 354g body-mapped fleece with a structured sun brim on the hood and sleeves long enough to cover the backs of your hands.
Scored on Comfort, Warmth, Breathability, Layering and Weight, on a model built around cold-weather use, which is worth knowing before you read the warmth number.
Best for Warm-Weather Trekking
Fjallraven Abisko Hooded Fleece Women's
- Weight: 354g
- Fabric: 65% recycled polyester / 35% polyester, body mapped
- Weight class: Lightweight
- Pockets: 2 hand, 1 chest
- Hood: Yes, structured brim
- Sizing: Runs a full size small
Pros
- Genuine body-mapped construction
- Structured hood brim works as a sun visor
- Sleeves cover the backs of your hands
- Joint best layering score here
Cons
- Coldest jacket in the test
- Runs a full size small
- Fine grid is scratchy next to skin
What We Make of the Fjallraven Abisko Hooded Fleece Women's
The coldest jacket in the test, which stops being a criticism once you understand it is built for summer walking.
Across 5 metrics it landed on 67 out of 100, good enough for the best for warm-weather trekking award.
What tips it: genuine body-mapped construction.
Coldest jacket in the test.
Made for warm-weather trekking and high-output days rather than cold camps.
I wrote it off as too cold, then used it on a hot ridge walk with the hood up and understood it. The brim keeps the sun off your face and the sleeves cover your hands. It is a summer jacket that got filed under winter.
Annie, Top-Notch test team
Our Analysis, Comparisons, and Test Results
weight is where it wins. warmth is where it does not.
The scores below come from the same tests every panel here went through.
Comfort
6 out of 10, the lowest of the technical jackets here.
The grid is finer than the others and less pleasant directly against skin.
The trim Scandinavian cut runs a full size small, with tightness reported under the arms and across the chest.
| Comfort | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highest in this guide | 9/10 |
| Fjallraven Abisko Hooded Fleece Women's | 6/10 |
| Guide average | 7.1/10 |
| Lowest in this guide | 5/10 |
Warmth
5 out of 10, the lowest score in this test.
Take it to camp on a cold morning and you will be miserable in it.
That reads as a failure until you notice the sun brim and the hand-covering sleeves, which are warm-weather trekking features.
| Warmth | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highest in this guide | 9/10 |
| Fjallraven Abisko Hooded Fleece Women's | 5/10 |
| Guide average | 7.1/10 |
| Lowest in this guide | 5/10 |
Breathability
8 out of 10 and genuinely body-mapped.
Flat-knit fleece sits on the hood, shoulders and upper chest for light wind resistance.
Grid fleece covers the back, sides and lower torso, which is where you dump heat.
| Breathability | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highest in this guide | 8.5/10 |
| Fjallraven Abisko Hooded Fleece Women's | 8/10 |
| Guide average | 6.4/10 |
| Lowest in this guide | 3/10 |
Layering
8 out of 10, joint highest here.
Thin, slick and easy to get a shell over, with large zip pockets.
| Layering | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highest in this guide | 8.5/10 |
| Fjallraven Abisko Hooded Fleece Women's | 8/10 |
| Guide average | 6.4/10 |
| Lowest in this guide | 5/10 |
Weight
354g, mid-pack, and it packs down small for its size.
| Weight | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highest in this guide | 9.5/10 |
| Fjallraven Abisko Hooded Fleece Women's | 8.1/10 |
| Guide average | 7.9/10 |
| Lowest in this guide | 4.5/10 |
Who Should Buy This One?
It is best suited to warm-weather trekking and high-output days rather than cold camps.
The big win: Genuine body-mapped construction.
The main compromise: Coldest jacket in the test.
Specifications
| Weight | 354g |
| Fabric | 65% recycled polyester / 35% polyester, body mapped |
| Weight class | Lightweight |
| Pockets | 2 hand, 1 chest |
| Hood | Yes, structured brim |
| Sizing | Runs a full size small |
Three Alternatives Worth a Look
It will not suit everyone. These three came closest in the same test.
Outdoor Research Vigor Grid Quarter Zip Women's, our best for broader builds. The grid fleece that does not compress your forearms, and the one we now point broader builds at first.
Black Diamond Coefficient Hoody Women's, our best for climbing and fast hiking. The lightest jacket here and the best layering piece in the group, sold as a performance tool rather than a comfort item.
Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody Women's, our best overall. It feels like a worn-in sweatshirt and performs like technical kit, which is a combination nothing else here manages.
Final Word on the Fjallraven Abisko Hooded Fleece Women's
The Fjallraven Abisko Hooded Fleece Women's finished this test as our best for warm-weather trekking choice, scoring 67 out of 100.
It comes down to one thing: genuine body-mapped construction.
Not perfect: coldest jacket in the test.
It belongs with warm-weather trekking and high-output days rather than cold camps.
Compare it against the other nine in our 9 Best Women's Fleece Jackets, Tested and Ranked guide.
