Montane Viper fleece hoodie review: a comfortable and robust fleece hoodie

The Montane Viper fleece hoodie is a technical, midweight, stretch fleece that works well as a low-bulk layer, made from a performance fabric that feels luxuriously soft

Montane Viper Fleece Hoodie
(Image: © Montane)

Advnture Verdict

Super comfortable to wear thanks to the Polartec Thermal Pro fabric’s soft handle, the Montane Viper fleece is nevertheless a technical layer that puts performance first, balancing warmth with good wicking ability.

Pros

  • +

    Super soft fabric for superb comfort

  • +

    Balances warmth and wicking ability

  • +

    Elastic-bound hood

  • +

    Full zip with inner baffle

Cons

  • -

    Only one zipped pocket

  • -

    Lacks thumb loops

You can trust Advnture Our expert reviewers spend days testing and comparing gear so you know how it will perform out in the real world. Find out more about how we test and compare products.

First impressions

The Montane Viper hoodie is a midweight stretch fleece made from Polartec Thermal Pro fabric. It is a polyester blend, which offers the proven performance of a synthetic fabric in terms of being quick-drying, with good warmth for weight. There is some elastane content too to provide added flexibility, which aids comfort and articulation, especially when climbing or scrambling.

Unusually, however, the fabric also contains soft Lyocell yarns – a sustainable alternative to cotton that is made from plant fibres. It is more absorbent and faster-drying than cotton, but just as soft when worn close to the skin. It is ideal for a trim-fitting midlayer such as this. Other details similarly aid comfort, like the micro-flatlocked sewn seams throughout, the snug lycra bound hood and cuffs as well as the brushed microfleece lined hand pockets. It all adds up to create a technical layer that feels more like a favourite casual fleece.

Specifications

RRP: £80 (UK)
Fabric: Polartec Thermal Pro (80% polyester, 12% lyocell, 8% elastane)
Sizes: Men's: S–XXL; Women's: UK 8–16
Weight (men’s size L): 358g/12.62oz
Colours: Men’s: Shadow / Redwood / Inca Gold / Narwhal blue; Women’s: Blue ridge / Shadow / Redwood / Inca Gold / Narwhal blue

In the field

There’s lots to like about the Montane Viper fleece, and our favourable initial impression was confirmed when we tested it in Snowdonia, heading out for various summit-bagging trips and low-key bouldering sessions. It looks great and feels even better, thanks to an attractive heather finish in the fabric, and the unusual blend of fibres that make this hoodie feel not just soft and comfortable, but positively luxurious – not a word we normally associate with technical mid layers. It fits great, making it ideal for active wear.

The midweight fabric offers more warmth than a microgrid fleece, but has a similarly trim-fitting profile, with only marginally reduced breathability. It excels in chilly conditions when worn over a wicking base layer and underneath a shell if it’s wet out, or beneath a puffer in cool but dry conditions. The only things we missed were the lack of thumb loops at the cuffs and a dearth of zipped pockets to stick bits and pieces in. There is a single concealed zipped stash pocket, which is great for a phone, but then you run out of places to store car keys, wallet (and, in these Covid-afflicted times, a mask).

On the other hand, Montane Viper fleece has added a couple of good features that other fleeces lack – namely, a full-length baffle behind the main zip, which aids comfort, and a hanging loop at the collar, which adds practicality (especially if you’ve got a little sweaty and need to let your fleece dry out somewhere warm).

Matthew Jones

An outdoors writer and editor, Matt Jones has been testing kit in the field for nearly a decade. Having worked for both the Ramblers and the Scouts, he knows one or two things about walking and camping, and loves all things adventure, particularly long-distance backpacking, wild camping and climbing mountains – especially in Wales. He’s based in Snowdonia and last year thru-hiked the Cambrian Way, which runs for 298 miles from Cardiff to Conwy, with a total ascent of 73,700 feet – that’s nearly 2½ times the height of Everest. Follow Matt on Instagram and Twitter.