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Guide
Hoodies & Sweaters
For hiking, choose a hoodie or sweater in fleece or wool. It keeps you warm as a mid-layer and dries faster than cotton.
Key points
- For hiking: fleece or wool, not cotton.
- As a layer: close fit, with a zip to vent.
- Wool stays warm even after you sweat.
Which hoodie for which day?
| Use | Choose | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Hiking, climbing, ski touring | ChooseFleece hoodie | ReasonBreathable, dries fast. Lets the wind through |
| Hut-to-hut trips, autumn, winter | ChooseWool sweater | ReasonWarm when damp. Dries more slowly |
| Every day, travel, camping | ChooseCotton hoodie | ReasonComfortable, soft. Stays wet |
| Town, hut, evenings | ChooseKnitted sweater | ReasonWarm, wool or blend. Too thick for sport |
Types compared
Fleece hoodie
Warm, breathable and quick-drying.
- Advantage: For hiking and climbing
- Drawback: Lets the wind through
Wool sweater
Warm when damp, smells less.
- Advantage: Warm even after sweating
- Drawback: Dries more slowly
What to look for when buying
| Question | In brief | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fleece, wool or cotton? | In briefFor hiking: fleece | WhyFleece is warm, breathable and dries fast. Wool stays warm when damp and smells less. |
| With or without a hood? | In briefDepends on use | WhyA close-fitting hood keeps you warm under a helmet or jacket hood. |
| Close or loose fit? | In briefClose as a layer | WhyAs a mid-layer under a jacket, the hoodie should fit close to the body, otherwise it bunches under the arms. |
Frequently asked questions
Is a hoodie a good mid-layer?
Yes, if it is fleece or wool and fits close to the body.
Does fleece shed fibres in the wash?
New fleece loses fibres in the first few washes. A wash bag catches some of them. Wash at 30 °C without fabric softener and let the fleece air-dry.
Is a wool sweater itchy?
Coarse wool can itch, fine merino hardly at all. If your skin is sensitive, wear a long-sleeve top underneath or choose a blend with synthetic fibre.
What size should I choose?
As a mid-layer, the size in which the hoodie fits close and the sleeves cover your wrists when you stretch. For every day, it can be one size larger.
Read more in the magazine
Merino wool: benefits and limitsMerino wool turns up in lots of outdoor clothing. We look at its properties, its strengths and its limits across different activities.
Houdini Aero: which midlayer suits you?Houdini builds its Aero line from Polartec Power Air Active: more breathability and, according to Polartec, less microfibre shedding during wear and washing. Here is who the Aero Houdi and the Aero Jacket are right for.
Last updated: October 2026
What do you need it for?
Hiking
For hiking, choose a fleece or wool hoodie as a mid-layer. It is warm, breathable and fits under a rain jacket.
- Fleece or wool
- Close fit
- Zip to vent
Climbing
For climbing, a close-fitting fleece hoodie works. It leaves your arms free and the hood fits under a helmet.
- Close fit
- Stretchy
- Hood fits under a helmet
Running
For runs on cool days, choose a thin, quick-drying hoodie. Thumb loops keep the sleeves over your hands.
- Thin
- Quick-drying
- Thumb loops
Every day
For every day and travel, a cotton hoodie is comfortable. It does not suit sweaty hikes because cotton stays wet.
- Cotton
- Comfortable
- Loose cut
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