Alpkit‌ ‌Yakutian‌ ‌fleece‌ ‌jacket‌ review: a wind-resistant fleece for outer layers

First impressions

While fleece makes a superb mid layer, its main drawbacks when used as an outer layer are its lack of resistance to both wind and rain. Although it’s difficult to do much about the latter, the Alpkit Yakutian fleece addresses the first shortcoming by using a dense-knit hardface fabric, which is much more wind resistant than standard fleece.

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It also adds durability, making the Alpkit Yakutian fleece less susceptible to pilling, as well as abrasion in the field – whether from clumsy encounters with rock or struggling on for many miles with a heavy pack on your back. But that tough exterior doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort, since the fabric is double-sided, retaining a brushed inner that offers warmth and good wicking abilities. You also get a deep half zip for venting, a zipped chest pocket and thumb loops at the cuffs.

In the field

Like many walkers, we tend to head for the hills wearing a base layer and a fleece, with a waterproof jacket and a puffer stashed in our pack in case the weather takes a turn for the worse or the temperature drops. That means we often end up walking in a fleece, which is great until the wind picks up. The Alpkit Yakutian fleece does a good job of mitigating that problem – though it isn’t windproof, it is far more wind-resistant than most fleeces. It’s also warm, soft and comfortable, thanks to elastane in the fabric that gives it plenty of stretch and flatlock seams that don’t rub. 

We also appreciated the cosy brushed inner and good articulation, with generous length and coverage. It all made for a great day out scrambling and summit-bagging when we put our Alpkit Yakutian fleece to the test in central Snowdonia. Our only real quibble was that on a few particularly testing uphill stretches, this fleece proved a bit too warm. That dense hardface construction seems to limit breathability a little, and even unzipping the neck wasn’t enough to stop us starting to overheat. So, we’d say it’s one to take off when faced with a tough ascent. 

We also weren’t too sure about the choice of a chest pocket and the absence of hand pockets – we consider the latter more useful, especially if worn as an outer layer. But those minor niggles aside, this is still a great fleece for cold and breezy conditions.