Standard vs Grid vs Alpha vs Octa Fleece for Backpacking: Real-World Pros and Cons

For years, a 100 wt fleece has been my go-to layer in all four seasons.

The versatility, durability, breathability, price, and functionality of this humble piece of clothing make it a crucial part of my kit. For $20 or less, and often found at thrift stores, I have a light, trail-proven layer I can’t imagine being outdoors without.

Other products gaining traction seem to perform better than the basic fleece pullover in some ways, at least in lab settings. But at a much higher cost.

I also question their long-term durability compared to the humble fleece pullover I’ve bushwhacked, ski-toured, scrambled, and rough-camped in for many seasons. Oils, sweat, and salt are harder to remove from these newer garments. Beyond compromising breathability and loft, that buildup affects long-term durability for real-world backcountry use, where frequent washing isn’t an option.

 

Now that I’ve praised the fleece pullover, the astute reader may notice other fleece types popular with backpackers: standard (solid) fleece, grid fleece, Alpha, and Octa fleece.

Revised Feb 2026 to feature Octa fleece

What are the differences between solid, grid, Alpha, and Octa fleeces?

Solid (classic or standard) fleece shows up in almost every discount, thrift, and outdoor store. You know the type: fuzzy, fluffy, and comfy—the modern equivalent of everyone’s favorite sweater.

A solid fleece breathes reasonably well, is moderately wind-resistant, dries quickly, stays durable, and is warm for its weight compared to a traditional sweater or sweatshirt. I size mine a bit large so it ventilates well. A typical generic fleece of this type usually runs about 10 oz / 300g.

Grid fleece is more mainstream at this point, but newer than solid fleece, and it feels reminiscent of old “waffle weave” long johns. A grid pattern with elastane stitching (spandex) is woven into the fabric. The main selling point is improved breathability compared to standard fleece. It is also less bulky.

Grid fleece does not dry as well as solid fleece because of the elastane stitching. It does not block wind as well, and it is not quite as warm for its weight. However, it shines under a shell because of its breathability.

Like any base layer, grid fleece works best when worn more form-fitting.

At this point, grid fleece pricing is comparable to standard fleece.

ECWCS pullovers and similar military items sell at competitive prices.

And grid fleece has reached the commoditization stage. You can pick up a functional grid fleece hoodie with a more casual fit for under $20.

You can buy higher-end options like the popular Melanzana fleece or more technical pieces like the Patagonia R1. Joan and I like our Squak fleece for active use during colder months.

The grid fleece and windbreaker combo works well since I started biking regularly around town on colder mornings (below 20°F / -7 °C). A solid fleece lets in too much wind while biking at a brisk clip, but it gets too hot under my wind shell. A grid fleece with a windbreaker strikes the balance.

A sub-type of grid fleece is the “microgrid hoodies.” Best for quick breaks or light insulation while moving in colder weather, they land somewhere between a base layer and a mid-layer. They work well for three-season use when on the go and weigh roughly half as much as a full grid fleece.

I received a Montane Allez Hoodie as a thank-you gift from my good friend Cam Honan (aka Swami of The Hiking Life) for some webwork I did.

This ~6oz / 170 g layer (men’s UK Large, roughly a men’s US Medium) became a favorite piece for active three-season hiking and an adjunct for cold-weather use. It’s a bit like the famous Patagonia R1 but lighter, more versatile, and more backcountry-oriented, in my opinion.

The Allez is highly breathable, surprisingly warm for its weight, and more durable than popular Alpha fleeces. Alas, it is no longer made, but other companies also make similar pieces.

I initially felt skeptical about its use, but it quickly became a favorite for three-season hiking.

Alpha Fleece

Polartec Alpha Direct has become increasingly popular since its introduction in 2017.

A successor to a similar design made for the US military in 2012, Alpha Direct is highly breathable, quick-drying, low-bulk, and fast-wicking, with an outstanding warmth-to-weight ratio. It is not wind-resistant, but it works exceptionally well under a shell, whether a windshirt or a rain jacket.

The major downside is the weave. It snags easily and sheds. It also does not work well as a standalone garment in brushy or technical conditions. Alpha Direct has found a niche in on-trail and wide-open areas such as alpine terrain.

Alpha Direct fleeces come in four general “flavors,” each with varying degrees of breathability, warmth, and durability, rated in grams per square meter of fabric (GSM).

This chart, initially available on Garage Grown Gear in a different form, sums up the options well (notes and rough equivalent use are mine):

 

	Alpha Direct Types
GSM Type	Weight for a medium, approx.	Rough traditional fleece equivalent use	Notes
190gsm	9.5 oz / 270g	300 wt	Heaviest and most durable, less breathable
120gsm	8 oz / 227g	200 wt	Comparable in weight to grid fleece but warmer and more breathable
90gsm	5 oz / 156g	100 wt	Not quite as warm as above, more breathable, somewhat less durable
60gsm	4 oz / 113g	Heavy thermal top	Lightest, least warm, least wind-resistant, least durable

What does all this mean?

From an outdoor perspective, 120gsm makes a solid all-purpose layer, with a weight-to-warmth balance that works well for different uses. It can also pass for casual wear. Think of it as the 200wt fleece for camping, deeper cold weather activity, and around-town use.

If breathability and weight matter more, 90gsm works well without sacrificing as much durability and warmth as 60gsm, with only a small weight penalty. It’s the classic 100wt fleece layer in terms of functionality. The look is more technical but not as “Muppet-looking” as 60gsm with little difference in weight.

Many people pair Alpha with a windshell for versatility and light bushwhacking, but you add weight, add futz factor, and reduce breathability.

I find Alpha works best for my use as a layer for breaks, camp, or sleeping. In other words, it’s more of a static insulation piece than an active insulation piece for my use. It does not work as well for active hiking unless conditions are colder and not brushy. For most active Utah hiking, Alpha would get torn to shreds if used on its own.

You can pair it with a windshirt for more abrasion and wind resistance, but that adds weight and cuts into the breathability that makes Alpha appealing in the first place.

Joan likes her Lightheart Gear (LHG) Alpha Fleece hoodie for trips to the mountains in late spring through early fall. LHG tends to make clothing that fits women better than most companies, and they offer many size options.

I’ve started using Alpha fleece in similar conditions as a lightweight replacement for a three-season puffy when temps stay moderate. But again, I find Alpha suboptimal for active use compared to static use, and it’s more prone to damage when worn alone.

Jan from Nunatak summed it up in a way that mirrors my thoughts:

“Clothing: Alpha Direct and 7d based garments are FKT stuff, imo. With that I mean occasional use for very special trips only. Alpha sheds, thins, and rips readily. Besides environmental impacts, the degradation lowers the performance faster than any other base layer I’ve owned.”

For specific scenarios, Joan and I use Alpha fleece, and it works nicely in the right conditions. But for prolonged, active use? We stick with more durable options. When I start adding more gear, I add more futz factor. And no matter how breathable a windshirt is, I sweat in all but the coldest conditions.

Octa Fleece (updated Feb 2026)

Octa Fleece has been around since 2011, but it started appearing in more and more gear in 2024/2025.

Its weight, bulk, and warmth are similar to those of Alpha fleece, but its outer surface makes it more durable. I would not do full-on willow-bashing (as we sometimes do), but it seems more suited to how I generally use fleece. I’d also feel more confident wearing it with a pack for extended use than I would with Alpha fabric.

 

The Zpacks Octa Fleece Hoody also features a quarter-length zip, which makes it excellent for mechanical ventilation.

On my initial use on a blustery day, it does not breathe quite as well as Alpha, but it blocks the wind a little better. In other words, for my use, it’s a more well-rounded piece.

Though it’s somewhat pricey, this may become my go-to layer going forward for nearly all my uses.

I’ll do a full update at some point this year.

A word about mechanical ventilation

Though other fleeces breathe better than solid fleece, you can make solid fleece breathe more efficiently with a deep zipper and a slightly oversized cut, like a classic anorak.

The military grid fleece has a substantial zipper that improves breathability, though it still runs warm overall.

On the other hand, Joan runs colder than I do, wears her fleece often during the day, suffers from Raynaud’s, and prefers a more breathable garment than a solid fleece.

The hood and drawstring closure help her adjust ventilation. The kangaroo pocket lets her easily access warm items, too.

Overall, many people conflate “grid fleece = hoodie” with “solid fleece = quarter zip” in the outdoor world, and that’s not always the case.

So, which layer to wear?

Solid (standard) fleece remains the best all-around “jack of all trades” layer, especially on a budget.

The classic 100 wt fleece pullover offers the best combination of weight, price, durability, and versatility (on its own, rather than when paired with a windshirt). A $10 thrift-store fleece can last for years of hard use before it gets retired. I keep one stashed in my daypack at all times and often use it for trailwork.

Some UL zealots with narrow experience claim that old-school fleece (often under 300 g/10 oz) is not ultralight. I think that assertion is incorrect. There are lighter, more expensive options, but old-school fleece still has its place in an ultralight kit, especially for someone starting out or with limited discretionary income.

You can easily wear it as a light jacket. Standard fleece also seems to do better in windy, drizzly conditions. Size it up slightly for maximum ventilation and versatility. For me, it’s moderate wind-blocking works well when I get too hot under a shell, in all but the coldest or windiest conditions.

My own use has shifted toward more specialized fleece for specific roles, but that doesn’t change the generalist strengths of classic fleece. In an alternate world where I backpack only a handful of times a year, camp with family more often, and just want something that fits a “Jack of All Trades” philosophy, I’d have no trouble suggesting and using this classic piece.

However, if you wear fleece as a base layer under a shell, grid fleece will likely perform better due to its breathability.

Another point: Joan loves her grid fleece hoodie. She tends to wear it constantly in the cold, dry conditions of the Colorado Plateau and likes the inherent ventilation properties of grid fleece. It’s been her mainstay piece of clothing for over a decade.

However, Alpha fleece is the reigning champ in prime three-season conditions for many, especially if they do not wear it while hiking.

Many thru-hikers, in particular, pair it with a windshirt for more versatility, but that comes with a weight and futzing penalty. If you want a warm, lightweight garment that pairs well with your light puffy, and you don’t need to wear it in rough conditions, Alpha can work well.

Over the years, I’ve found it too hot to wear a windshirt except in ski touring conditions.

I recently found that micro-grid fleece works well for active use, while Alpha works well as a replacement for my three-season puffy in prime conditions. Again, this is a static insulation replacement, not an active insulation replacement.

As mentioned, Alpha became a favorite for Joan when we headed into alpine terrain with little bushwhacking (or even trail) at certain times of the year.

If you hike more than you camp and want lighter insulation while staying warm, microgrid fleece hoodies make an excellent piece of kit. They’re highly breathable, about half the weight of full grid fleece garments, and less bulky.

This isn’t a piece for hanging around camp. It’s an adjunct to a static insulation layer and works well with your quilt at night. It replaced solid fleece as my main three-season backpacking piece overall.

As written above, I’m cautiously optimistic about Octa fleece and expect it to fit my use cases in all four seasons about 80% of the time. I’ll have a longer-term update later this year. While not quite as durable as classic or grid fleece, it’s roughly half the weight and bulk, more durable than Alpha, and a bit more wind-resistant. For me, it’s a refined “Jack of All Trades” piece that fits well into my layering system.

In summary

Classic fleece remains the budget jack-of-all-trades and the price-to-performance champ. It offers moderate wind resistance, reasonable breathability, quick drying, durability, and low cost. It will always have a place in my kit.

Grid fleece trades some wind resistance and all-around versatility for better breathability. I find it ideal for active cold-weather hiking when I want to wear the same layer all day. Durable options now exist across a wide price range.

Microgrid fleece fills a lighter three-season niche. Its low bulk, breathability, and reasonable durability make it useful for hikers who run warm, stay in motion most of the day, and transition quickly to their quilt or puffy once stopped.

Alpha fleece works best when paired with a windshirt or as static insulation. Its very low weight and bulk come with durability and versatility penalties when not used with adjunct layers; it pairs well with a shell and often replaces a three-season puffy in mild static conditions. It excels on trail or in less brushy terrain. Joan finds it particularly useful for our summer alpine trips.

Octa fleece shows promise as a refined all-around layer. It approaches Alpha’s breathability with slightly better wind resistance and far less bulk than grid or classic fleece. It will not match their durability, but it may cover most of my use cases with less weight and fewer layers. I’ll update after more field time.

More succinctly:

Classic fleece – Budget jack-of-all-trades. Warm, durable, moderately wind-resistant, and the best price-to-performance layer.
Grid fleece – More breathable and less wind-resistant than classic fleece. Good for active cold-weather use. Durable and now widely affordable.
Microgrid fleece – Very light three-season “on-the-move” layer for warm hikers or as an adjunct to colder-weather activity.
Alpha fleece – Extremely light with high warmth-to-weight. Least durable. Best paired with a windshirt for full utility. Often replaces a puffy in mild conditions.
Octa fleece – Refined jack-of-all trades. Near-Alpha breathability with better wind resistance. Less durable than classic or grid, but likely covers most use.

In the end, it does not matter all that much.

Wear what works for you; your needs, availability, budget, and aesthetic. It’s all just polyester insulation. Go out, have fun! Your hiking won’t change functionally when you’re out there enjoying wild places.