High-pile warmth reinforced where it counts
Regular fleece tends to give up the moment it meets a rucksack strap or a rock face – the High Pile Utility Fleece doesn't have that problem. Polartec Thermal Pro delivers genuine high-pile warmth, while Cordura panels are stitched in exactly where the wear happens: shoulders, forearms, anywhere a strap or a scramble would otherwise shred a normal fleece. The two zippered front pockets and chest pocket do double duty as ventilation when you overheat halfway up a hill, and raglan sleeves with gusseted underarms mean you're not fighting the jacket every time you reach for a handhold. It's built for people who use their gear hard – dragging kayaks, hauling firewood, or getting thoroughly stuck into a blustery autumn walk – rather than people who just want to look the part.
- Zippered chest and front pockets double as ventilation
- Raglan sleeves and gusseted underarms for full range of motion
- Polartec Thermal Pro high-pile fleece for genuine warmth
- Cordura panels reinforce high-abrasion zones like shoulders and forearms
- Polartec® Thermal ProTM: 100% Polyester (285 GSM)
- Fluorocarbon-free water repellency - Florence Marine X uses C0 DWR — a durable water-repellent coating that generates zero fluorocarbons — protecting gear from water without degrading the ozone or harming the surrounding environment.
- Recycled materials throughout - Florence Marine X uses almost-exclusively recycled materials across its entire range — from recycled polyester in boardshorts and hats to recycled organic cotton in tees — extending even to hangtags and in-store signage.
Florence was created by the legend that is John John Florence – two-time Olympian, three-time World Champion, and a man who's spent more hours in Hawaiian shorebreak than most of us have spent on dry land. "Equipment Modern" is the brand's mantra: utilitarian gear engineered for whatever conditions modern sport throws at you, tested on Oahu's North Shore but just as happy getting battered on a beach in Cornwall or a blustery dog walk along the Gower. Florence doesn't do fair-weather kit – think Cordura panelling that shrugs off rock scrambles, PFAS-free waterproofing that copes with genuine Highland dreich, and fleece built to work as hard on an Eryri ridge as it does paddling out at dawn. It's technical apparel with surf style and coast-tested practicality: nothing you don't need, everything you do.