Smartwool Active Fleece 1/2 Zip Pullover Review

The Smartwool Active Fleece 1/2 Zip Pullover is a great mid-layer garment for colder weather and winter hiking. It’s made with a four-way stretch knit fabric that puts soft-brushed Merino wool next to your skin and recycled synthetic materials on the exterior to protect against the elements, balancing comfort and protection. It’s also easy to launder and doesn’t shrink in the wash, which is important to me because I can’t be bothered with wool garments that require special care.

• Gender: Men’s (Women’s also available)
• Materials:
• Four-way stretch knit fabric puts soft-brushed Merino next to skin and recycled synthetic material against the elements to help balance comfort and protection
• Fit: True to size

I’ve avoided Smartwool clothing because I assumed it was all made from wool, which requires more care when washing and drying. But if you look at the Smartwool catalog, their Intraknit and Active Fleece product lines are made with a blend of merino wool and synthetic materials that combine the benefits of both. Wool feels good against the skin and stinks up less than polyester and elastane, while these synthetic materials wick better and dry faster when you’re perspiring and working hard.

Intrigued, I’ve been using the Smartwool Active Fleece 1/2 Zip Pullover as a mid-layer and outer layer for hiking sections of the North Country Trail in Vermont this autumn. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much I like this pullover, and it’s become a go-to mid-layer garment on hikes and nights out on the town because it’s so sharp-looking.

The brushed interior feels great to wear. The pullover has thumb loops on the sleeves, which make it easy to use with a wind shirt or shell since the arms don’t bunch up when I put them on. The neck is lined with soft wool and comfortable when I zip it up, which is frequently the case when I hike for miles across windy farmers’ fields. The pullover is warm without being too warm, and it’s also surprisingly wind-resistant, so I can often wear it as an outer layer by itself. There’s also reflective piping in the chest pocket, although I’m not sure I’ll ever need that.

In terms of care, I wash this pullover in cold water with the rest of my colored clothing, but I hang it to dry, (which helps humidify my apartment in winter) instead of throwing it in the dryer with my other synthetics. I treat my Polartec Alpha Fleeces similarly, so that’s not a big deal.

If you prefer the feel of a wool midlayer but wish it were more breathable, like fleece, I suggest trying the Smartwool Active Fleece 1/2 Zip Pullover. It’s changed my mind about Smartwool products and their role as baselayer and mid-layer clothing components.

Disclosure: Smartwool donated an active fleece for review.