I’m planning for a trip next year, and found a great jacket. It’s lightweight, but warm. Has a hood and zippered pockets. Plus, the pockets are designed in such a way that the seams form interior pockets large enough for a cell phone. It has princess seams, so it’s not big and boxy.
Amazon Essentials Women's... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CJ2SVDW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
That comes in some good colors too! I've got a 20+ year old LLBean fleece jacket that is coming to the end of it's life, lol and I'll be looking for a replacement next winter although I'll probably not go with one with a hood.
I bought an identical one from Columbia and I love it. Like being wrapped in a blanket but more flattering - lol.
I bought a similar quarter zip pullover Amazon basics and liked it so much I bought another in a different color. Similar lines with the pockets and princess seams. Flattering and nice quality material.
Please be careful and think twice before buying anything from Amazon's own brands. Amazon Basics products are of low quality. For examples, some of their batteries actually caught fire and melted.
For fleece, I still like LL Bean, Eddie Bauer, and Columbia. No need to spend more for the Marmot's and other European fancy brands. Land's End used to be good, but not anymore. Not all fleece fabrics are alike--some shed badly after a few washes and cause problems for the washer down the road.
I travel with an LL Bean down sweater/jacket which folds up into its interior pocket and an LL Bean rain shell which also folds up into itself. If it is windy or raining I may wear just the shell or the shell and the jacket if it is cooler.
My husband does the same thing.
Jacket: https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/122698?page=womens-ultralight-850-down-sweater-jacket-misses
Shell: mine isn't available but this looks close, https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/91008?page=womens-stowaway-jacket-misses&bc=12-27-610-504728-506593&feat=506593-GN3&csp=a&pos=11
Thanks so much for mentioning these Amazon Essentials fleece jackets. I just received the ivory and charcoal heather hooded ones I ordered using Prime Wardrobe. They fit perfectly and are just the right weight.
I've never ordered anything labeled as Amazon Basics so I can't comment on its quality.
I can say that I'm very pleased with 3 Amazon Essentials 100% polyester puffer jackets I also recently used Prime Wardrobe to sort out. I found that I had to go up to size XL for the two hooded ones in bright yellow and olive. It's something about the way they are cut. But size L is perfect for the red non-hooded one I got. I never wear anything new without washing it first and they all washed up great. And they all have interior pockets like the fleeces.
Below are links to the puffer jackets I got. Note that they say they're water-resistant and packable. (They come with a stuff sack.) I haven't tested them for those features yet.
Amazon Essentials Women's Lightweight Long-Sleeve Full-Zip Water-Resistant Packable Hooded Puffer Jacket:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0861YZJQX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Amazon Essentials Women's Lightweight Long-Sleeve Full-Zip Water-Resistant Packable Puffer Jacket:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C8VJP74/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Being a decades long consumer of Eddie Bauer, Land's End and LL Bean products, so far I find the puffer jackets equal in quality to those brands. I've worn the red and yellow ones multiple times. I'm saving the olive one for my trip to Ireland, whenever that happens. Oddly, it's not what I'd call olive. It's more like the Eddie Bauer colors called dark loden or dark thyme.
That's a very attractive silhouette and price, for basic thermal fleece. There's a lot of options out there, you can get nicer and more durable fleece from technical outdoor brands using Polartec fleece or, inexpensive price-sensitive textiles like what Amazon Essentials offers. CVS and Grocery Outlet even carry fleece now!
Keep in mind that basic thermal fleece has ZERO wind-resistant properties and packability is not one of fleece's positive aspects. While soft to the touch and cozy indoors, once the wind blows, a cotton sweatshirt has more wind resistance than any fleece, a light rain jacket or, wind breaker over the fleece helps to complete the system. As long as you know how you'll use the garment and its limitations, enjoy and don't put it in the drier!
I recently ordered the Vermont Country Store’s women’s sweater fleece full-zip jacket. Very nice quality and has an arm pocket. As a tall person, the sleeves and length are long enough. Happy with the purchase. I have an REI Co-op fleece that I love, but the elbows are starting to thin I’ve had it so many years!
Thanks travel4fun - I love that shade of green!
In 2019, I bought a fleece jacket at a museum in Bastogne out of necessity. It turned out to be a nearly perfect garment - just the right amount of warmth and not too heavy, albeit with only 2 pockets. Plus, I get to remember my last pre-Covid trip whenever I wear it.
Two random thoughts
Last year I ordered an Amazon basics mattress pad that is actually of amazing quality
This winter I've been sleeping in an old Merona brand zip up fleece with tiny stand up collar on top of a t shirt. This has been a game changer for my arthritic shoulder and clavicle, I've actually lowered the thermostat a few degrees and slept great!!
