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Montbell's Four Fleeces Compared | Why CLIMAAIR Is the One I Move In

2026.01.16

"Aren't all fleeces basically the same thing?"

Stand in front of the fleece wall at Montbell — the Japanese outdoor brand — and the number of options is genuinely overwhelming. But that range isn't there to confuse anyone. To Montbell, a fleece isn't just "a warm layer." It's a tool for managing your body temperature.

Here I'll compare Montbell's four main fleeces from the point of view of someone who works as a model and walks in the mountains, and explain why CLIMAAIR is the one I keep coming back to.

Four fleeces, four jobs

Chameece: lets heat escape so you don't get clammy

One of the thinnest, lightest fleeces Montbell makes. The pile is short and the fabric is barely there, so it passes body heat and moisture straight through. On its own it isn't especially warm and it does nothing against wind — but that's the point. It doesn't trap sweat. It feels good against the skin and you can wear it all day without noticing it. A layer designed not to disturb your temperature.

CLIMAPLUS: reassuringly fleece-like

The closest thing to what most people picture when they hear "fleece." It comes in standard weights labelled 100 and 200, and you feel the warmth the moment you put it on. The trade-off is that it gets a bit humid inside if you keep moving, so it suits short trips out or throwing on over something.

CLIMAAIR: surprisingly light, and warm while you move

The one this post is really about. The defining feature is its long pile. Montbell deliberately knits the fibers at a lower density so there's more still air trapped between them — dead air — which releases your body heat slowly. The result is remarkably light for how warm it is. It has almost no wind resistance, but that's a deliberate choice, made so you don't overheat while you're moving.

Windproof fleece: built to stop wind, full stop

A mid-weight fleece with a nylon backing, prioritising wind blocking above everything. You stay warm standing still, and it's reassuring somewhere exposed. Breathability is low, though, so the assumption is that you take it off once you warm up.

How to choose: how much will you move today?

• Mostly indoors or commuting → the thin Chameece
• A short trip out → the standard CLIMAPLUS
• A day of walking and moving → CLIMAAIR
• Windy, and a lot of standing around → windproof fleece

How much will you move today? That's the simplest way I know to pick a Montbell fleece.

A closer look at my CLIMAAIR Jacket

The one I settled on is the CLIMAAIR Jacket. It weighs about 331 g, which feels impossibly light for how much loft it has. Here are the details that struck me as genuinely well thought out, in the mountains and in town.

Stretch panels at the underarms and cuffs — the high-stretch fabric means nothing pulls when you reach. At the underarm, where heat builds up, it doubles as ventilation.

Thumb holes — the cuffs have holes for your thumbs, which keeps cold air from running up your sleeves. Warming the back of the hand, where the blood vessels run close to the surface, makes you feel warmer overall, and there's the practical benefit that your sleeves stay put under another layer.

Slanted cuff (Slantec) — Montbell's patented construction, which runs the cuff seam in a diagonal spiral. The seam doesn't fight the muscles in your forearm, so nothing binds and pushing the sleeves up is easy.

Pocket placement — the chest pocket sits clear of a pack's hip belt and is the right size for a phone. Being close to your body heat, it also keeps the battery from draining in the cold. The hand pockets at the hip are lined with fleece, so they work as hand warmers.

Flap chin guard — the front zipper never touches your chin, so you avoid both the cold metal and the scratch.

Looking after it so it lasts

A long-pile fleece takes a little care.

Some fibers will shed from the cut edges when it's new; a few washes sorts that out. Over time the pile flattens and mats where a pack's straps rub, but don't write it off at that point. Montbell's own advice is to brush it with a pet slicker brush or a nylon brush. Gently lifting the flattened pile restores the air layer, and both the soft hand and a good deal of the warmth come back.

Washing is just a home machine with the jacket in a mesh bag. Fabric softener is actually recommended, to reduce static and stop fibers matting. Polyester doesn't like heat, so use a low setting if you tumble dry. Better still, spin it and hang it in the shade — it dries astonishingly fast.

Layering is what makes winter comfortable

Layering gets treated as a mountaineering skill, but it earns its keep in ordinary winter life, where the temperature swings hardest. CLIMAAIR isn't a jacket that solves everything on its own. Its job is the middle — holding your temperature steady.

• While you're moving, CLIMAAIR alone, breathing freely
• When the wind picks up or you stop, add a shell over it

On the train, into a building, back outside — a winter day is one temperature change after another. Rather than hunting for a single jacket that's warm enough on its own, putting something adjustable like CLIMAAIR in the middle feels like the smarter approach.

What I've settled on

After comparing a lot of fleeces, my conclusion is that CLIMAAIR is the best tool I've found for moving in winter.

• Exceptionally warm for its weight
• Vents moisture, so it stays comfortable while you keep going
• Brushing brings the warmth back, so it lasts

I also like that it blends into everyday clothes without shouting "outdoor gear." If you want a day of moving around to be comfortable, this is the one I'd recommend without hesitation.

🛒 See the gear from the video as a list → Montbell staples: light and dependable

※As an Amazon Associate, Yoshimi Iwasaki earns from qualifying purchases.

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This post contains affiliate links. Prices and specifications are as of the video's publication date. Most items are sold in Japan.

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