Falling in Love with Fens Fleece: Tracksmith’s Ultimate Cold-Weather Companion

Tracksmith recently released their 2023 Fall Collection and we are here for it. One great option for those cooler temperatures, is the new Fells Fleece – an item I have fell (pun intended) in love with.

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Not to be confused with the Fells Collection by Tracksmith, a collection of performance-oriented apparel inspired by the rugged landscapes of New England, the Fens Fleece is a new release this winter.

Tracksmith tested this product, not in the Northeast, but in one of the most biting and frigid locations in the US – America’s Heartland. While some spots in the US receive more snow, or stay colder longer, the Midwest – with its wide-open plains and winds – can be tooooough in the winter months. And if something can hold up to that, then I think we are ready here in Oregon.

Tracksmith Fens Fleece

In the PNW, having solid and reliable cold weather running gear is paramount. As winter temperatures set in, maintaining optimal body temperature becomes a critical factor in performance and overall comfort during runs. There’s nothing like the biting chill of a 34-degree morning that will keep me in bed rather than out putting in some miles.

The Tracksmith Fens Fleece is a remarkable piece of athletic apparel that seamlessly combines functionality with style. Constructed from 100% Polyester Kore-Techno Fleece, this jacket offers superior warmth, moisture-wicking properties, and breathability. It has a few unique qualities for a running jacket such being full-zip, having a “baseball-style collar” which makes for less irritation when layering, as well as a few solid sized pockets on the front and a zipped hip pocket as well.

It’s also warm. The fleece panels are dual-sided, meaning double the warmth. However, the entirety of the jacket is also not completely fleece. This is important, as it is great to be warm, but once your body gets up and running, it can be almost equally obnoxious to feel like you are overheating on a run. Thus, this jacket not only provides that more robust fleeced construction, but also has strategically fleece-void locations to promote ventilation and mobility where the runner needs it most.

It looks as good on when tackling the frigid roads outside or wearing out on a date night. I have worn on both and it does the job in both surprisingly well. At almost $200, this is pretty important as that sort of price tag (at least to me) needs to be for something I wear consistently and not just here and there. And this top ABSOLUTELY does that.

The Fens Fleece not only expects to be an indispensable component of my winter wardrobe but will also play heavily into my Spring wardrobe as well. This is basically a 9-month/year top – and I’m here for that.