The Outdoor Research Vigour Half-zip boasts a thermoregulating polymer and grid pattern which helps keep you ventilated but warm.
A grid fleece is an essential piece of kit if you are looking for something more breathable or lightweight than a traditional fleece layer. The Outdoor Research Vigour Half-zip is a mid-price option that performs well and has a really inclusive and wide size offering.
Steph Wetherell recommends
It isn’t the most lightweight offering on the market, but offers a greater degree of warmth than some competitors, and a decent stretch.- inclusive size range
- excellent temperature management
- breathability
- boxy fit
| Quick Specs | |
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| Price: £95 Weight: 356g (Size 2X) Materials: 94% Polyester, 6% Spandex Features: Half zip, thumb holes, chest pocket Sizes: Regular: XS – XL, Plus size: 1X – 4X Women/men’s version: Yes outdoorresearch.com / outdooraction.co.uk / vampireoutdoorgear.com |
As someone who runs hot when on the move – especially when hills are involved – I struggle with traditional fleeces and overheat quickly. Grid fleeces have become my saviour and I’ve tried out a wide range over the past few years, but this Outdoor Research offering has quickly become one of my go-to choices.
The Outdoor Research Vigour Half-zip fleece is in a small square grid pattern on the inside of the fabric, and like other grid fleeces, this offers great breathability whilst still being able to offer a surprising amount of warmth. It also uses a trademarked technology called ActiveTemp, which is a thermoregulating polymer that dynamically reacts to your temperature. It’s difficult to precisely test this, but I did find I got less sweaty than normal (or dried quicker), even when tackling some sizeable hills.
Like other grid fleeces, it offers less wind resistance than a traditional fleece, but I found it worked really well in my layering system, over a base layer and under a waterproof or insulating layer. On warmer days I found it comfortable to wear just over a base layer and didn’t find myself having to switch or take off layers even when going uphill. It isn’t the most lightweight offering on the market, but it also offers a greater degree of warmth than some competitors.
It’s got some stretch to the fabric – not as much as some other fleeces, but enough to make it comfortable to wear and move in. The sleeves have great articulation – I got a full range of arm movement without the fleece moving or riding up, and I found that I didn’t need to adjust it even during longer days of walking.
It’s got a half zip to help with ventilation, and a small chest pocket for valuables (it even fits a phone). The zip to this pocket tucks under a fabric pouch at the top of the zipper – a nice detail that stops layers on top from snagging. There are thumb holes on the sleeves which are well placed and comfortable to wear, but don’t get in the way if you opt not to use them.
The extended size range of this fleece is a huge bonus. The plus size range goes from a 1X (18-20) up to a 4X (28-30) making a technical fleece option available to a much wider audience. I did find it quite a boxy fit (and have found this with Outdoor Research clothes generally), and this may also be due to the limited stretch of the fabric. I’m moderately pear shaped and found it a perfect fit on my hips but a little baggy around my chest, so it may not be the best option if you are very pear shaped.
Testing conditions
Steph tested this fleece across many hills and mountains in the Brecon Beacons and south west of England. She wore it though the autumn, winter and spring months of 2024 and into 2025 in a variety of temperatures and weather.
