Fleece will never have the same warmth-to-weight of down but there are many upsides which still make this material a great outdoor option.
The EDZ microfleece is a simple but effective fast-wicking and quick-drying mid-layer. The 165gm microfleece weight provides warmth without too much bulk as well as being comfortable next to skin and light to wear.
Although the two front pockets don't have zips for securely storing bits and pieces in they're still useful and work well as hand-warmers.
Flat seam construction helps to reduce potential irritation and chaffage on the shoulders from backpack shoulder straps as well as in other areas.
There are no bells and whistles on the EDZ fleece but it still works very well for its intended purpose, can be worn day-in day-out and washed as many times as necessary without a reduction in performance.
This basic, no-nonsense approach means that the EDZ microfleece commands a fraction of the price of some of the other layers on test, retailing at only £30, which represents fantastic value for money.