Free Fly Men's Bamboo Fleece Hoodie Review: Perfect Cozy Layer

Most fleece products are bulky: that’s just the way fleece tends to work.

But this year, I found the Free Fly lightweight bamboo fleece hoodie and it’s the first time I’ve owned a hoodie that acts as a lightweight layer. Man, it is comfy, yet satisfyingly thin.

I’ve been testing it across different scenarios, and my first impressions are really positive. It’s already showing the kind of versatility I look for in travel gear, as well as clothes I want to own that I can throw on for video meetings right at home.

Let’s take a look at the specifics.

Why this lightweight hoodie works for travel and more

I tend to like oversized hoodies, but not for every occasion. An oversized hoodie looks more atheltic on me, and I try to steer away from wearing them out of the house, just because they look more like pajamas, or something I’d wear to the gym.

There’s a new hoodie in town from Free Fly, though: the Free Fly lightweight bamboo fleece hoodie. Truly, it is lightweight. It is thin. It is also superbly cozy and soft.

What do I like? I like a mix of presentable hoodies and something to throw on after a run or around the house. The Free Fly hoodie is along the lines of the presentable one, hitting that sweet spot where it can double as work-from-home attire and daytime hiking apparel. And with the cool weather setting in, weekend hikes, day trips out to the mountains with our kids or even some travel in NYC means I need a layer that Becca will still approve for our travel photos.

The fit: it’s exactly what I want in a travel hoodie. It’s fitted without being tight, and the raglan sleeves give me substantial arm movement. I can stretch, reach up to the jungle gym at the playground with the kids, or be sure that I’m not breaking any seams by lifting my toddler into our Deuter hiking carrier to go hit the trails at our local lake.

The softness factor: brushed fleece

The softness is unmatched in Free Fly’s fleece products (it’s seriously so soft!). Becca also has the suite of products from FF’s fleece collection and her thoughts are the same: it is impressive stuff.

This lightweight hoodie is true to the claim of the uber softness: itt’s soft both on the outside and the inside, with the bamboo viscose on the outside creating that buttery soft feel. The fleece interior is perfection for cold mornings, whether I’m raking the lawn or driving out to PA to take the kids to a farm.

Sizing and fit

For the size, I’m a perfect size M in Free Fly and I find that usually their size M is quite standard. In general from Free Fly, the sleeves are not too long, the waist and hips are pretty satisfactory and the length on any of my tops from the brand isn’t over the top.

This fleece hoodie hits true to size: fitted, hitting a good spot on the hips and reasonably-sized shoulders and armpits. The hood comfortably fits my head without being too tight or weird, and the kangaroo pocket keeps my hands toasty during those chilly morning hikes. This is helpful because I’m not really a gloves person: I prefer pockets.

Packability (how thin is it?)

For a thin hoodie, it’s pretty fleecey, no doubt. So, how does it pack for ACTUALLY traveling with it?

I rolled it up into a ball, and then put it into one of our smallest packing cubes. The verdict is that it does roll up to be pretty small, like the size of a big water bottle. That’s helpful to me: I don’t think I have any other fleece products that can really roll up and condense like that.

The summary is that if you are looking for a very packable fleece item for a winter trip, this fleece hoodie checks both boxes of the winter coziness, and the compress-ability into your suitcase.

First impressions verdict

These are my first impressions of the hoodie, and I’m already impressed with how versatile it is. The lightweight construction makes it perfect for travel, and the brushed fleece warmth means it’s comfortable in a wide range of temperatures. It also is the type of thing that won’t go out of style, and it’s hard to hate. I can’t find anything wrong with it: it comes in nice colors that suit all my pants and joggers already, and it packs up small in luggage, unlike bulky fleece or teddy zip-ups I already have.

The bamboo viscose material feels premium, and that has always been what I enjoy about Free Fly products. I wear Free Fly year-round, in fact: I learned about the brand as a “wear it by the water” type of travel brand, and now that they make warm-weather apparel, I am all in.

The 4-way stretch in the Bamboo Lightweight Fleece Hoodie means it moves with me whether I’m working remotely from a hotel room or exploring a new city. The “kangaroo pocket” is a nice touch for keeping some essentials close during travel days like flights or road trips.

Shop and learn more about Free Fly

Ready to add this versatile hoodie to your travel wardrobe? Check out the Free Fly Men’s Bamboo Lightweight Fleece Hoodie and see why it’s become my go-to layer for everything from work calls to trail adventures.

If you haven’t head read by Free Fly Brand Review, check it out in order to get the background on this brand, how Becca and I got into their stuff and which kinds of other year-round clothes they make for outdoorsing.

Comparison with similar products

Here's how this product compares to similar options. Use this table to find the best of the bunch!