When I woke up, I could see my breath. Rain was falling lightly on my tent. I didnt want to get out of my sleeping bag, but the thought of a warm cup of coffee was motivation enough. I wiggled out of the down bag, shivered, and immediately reached for my REI Co-op Trailmade jacket. Slipping into that soft, cozy fleece felt like swaddling myself in a blanket.

　　I sat with my dog, willing my internal temperature to rise. With help from the Trailmade jacket, it did. I was warm enough to unzip the tent and face that cold April morning in about 10 minutes. I wore that jacket most of the morning as I chopped wood, cleaned my campsite, and made breakfast, until the sun had burned off the clouds and started radiating heat.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) That was the first time Id used this fleece in the wild. Since then, its become a permanent part of my camping ensemble, and one Ive used many times, even into the summer. Its simple, no-frills, and well-made.

　　I wouldnt call it a perfect fleece jacket (there is at least one feature I really wish it had), but its a solid budget option for hiking, camping, and anywhere you might get chilly.

　　In short:The REI Co-op Trailmade Fleece Jacket is a midweight fleece with a classic, relaxed fit. Its best use is listed as casual hiking, but I found it to be great for camping, traveling, backyard hangouts, and any other situation where you might find yourself getting a little chilly. Plus, its budget-friendly at only $60 and made from recycled polyester.

　　Compare the REI Trailmade fleece with our other top picks in GearJunkies guide to the Best Fleece Jackets.

　　REI Co-op Trailmade Fleece Jacket $60 at REI Mens$60 at REI Womens

　　7.1 How we rate products Specifications Weight: 12.7 oz. Fit: Casual Fabric: 100% recycled polyester fleece Density: Medium Weather resistance: No weather treatment Pros Extremely low price Lightweight Cozy, loose fit Plethora of colors to choose from Cons Doesn’t shield wind, rain, or snow While it’s soft, not everyone loves polyester against the skin Will Brendza REI Trailmade Fleece Jacket Review

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Budget-Friendly Benefits When you start perusing the aisles of an outdoor gear store (people still do that, right?), youll find many fleece jackets priced at $100 and up. The Best Overall fleece jacket in GearJunkies guide to the Best Fleece Jackets is the Patagonia R1 Air Hoody, which retails for $180. Arcteryxs Kyanite Hoody is $200.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Comparatively, the Trailmade Fleece Jacket is just $60 (and as low as $40 when its on sale). Thats competitive for just about any piece of outdoor apparel (except maybe socks). It isnt windproof, it isnt water-resistant, and it isnt necessarily a premium fleece jacket with all the bells and whistles.

　　But as a basic fleece, the Trailmade serves its purpose. It will warm you up or keep you warm on chilly and mildly cold days. Its also great for camping, which can be really hard on fleece jackets.

　　And on that note, the Trailmade has held up well to my outdoor abuse. Despite coming on numerous camping trips and hikes, its not showing much wear and tear so far.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Fit Style The Trailmade jacket is a relaxed-fit fleece, so its a little baggy. It might even verge on boxy territory. If you like tapered fleeces or slim fits, you might want to check out some of the others on GearJunkies guide to the Best Fleece Jackets.

　　Despite the baggier fit, the Trailmade could still be worn under an outer layer like arain jacketor adown jacketif it were really cold. You could alsowear it over a flannel or sweater for extra warmth.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Personally, I like the relaxed style of a fleece like this. Its got a kind of retro vibe, like some REI and Patagonias more vintage fleeces. The colorful paracord zipper pull tab complements that aesthetic.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Recycled Polyester REI used recycled polyester for the fleece in the Trailmade. That doesnt affect the performance of this jacket at all, but its peace of mind if youre a sustainability-minded person who wants to reduce waste.

　　Overall, the polyester fleece is warm. Its a midweight jacket, so I used it most on chilly mornings and evenings. But I also took it on a couple of airplanes and was grateful for the blanket-like extra layer.

　　I thought the soft feeling of the polyester fleece used for the Trailmade felt nice against my skin. But I know that some people dont like that feeling —if thats you, this jacket probably wont be your cup of tea.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Features (And Lack Thereof) The Trailmade includes some nice features and lacks others. REI added a wind flap along the front zipper to help better shield you on blustery days. I love a good wind flap, and this one helped reduce the amount of air penetrating the jacket when I was in windy conditions. Again, it isnt a windproof jacket, but it would be a lot less resistant to wind without this feature.

　　The collar, hem, and cuffs all use Lycra spandex binding. Some people dont like the look that adds (especially on a looser, relaxed jacket), but its pretty standard and doesnt bother me. Its designed to help snug up the fit around those areas so less heat escapes as youre wearing it and moving around. It also helps keep out cool breezes.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) The only thing I really wish this jacket included was a hood. For something designed specifically for hiking and camping, I am surprised REI didnt put one on this fleece. For the niche it fills — budget-friendly, non-technical, midweight fleece jacket — it seems like this piece would benefit from having a hood.

　　Some people prefer hoodless midlayers for layering so as not to have a stack of hoods under a shell, so that may have been the intent of REI designers. But I found myself wishing for a hood every time I wore this piece.

　　REI Co-op Trailmade Fleece Jacket: Who Is It For?

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Hikers and campers looking for a basic, do-all, midweight fleece jacket that wont cost an arm and a leg will love the Trailmade. As a cherry on top, its made with 100% recycled polyester. For the price, its hard to beat a standard fleece like this one.

　　The Trailmade is now a fixture of my camping kit. Not just because its a low-cost piece that I dont mind getting dirty or putting through hard use, but because its a solid fleece jacket. Even for its lack of a hood, Ive come to appreciate it as a dependable layer for chilly days and nights.

　　Can't Get a Melanzana? Try These Instead: Sambob Fleece Apparel ReviewWhether you're looking for a techy backcountry layer or cozy pants for the coffee shop, Sambob's customizable offerings deserve a serious look. Read more