Gear Review: Montane Men’s Protium Full Zip Hooded Fleece

When I hear the word fleece it reminds me of being about 12 years old and the Sprayway or Berghaus fleece jackets that most kids my age wore as a bit of a fashion statement. Fast forward a ‘small’ number of years and I find myself reaching 40 years old and having a completely different understanding of what a fleece is. And more to the point why I need one.
These days there is so much choice when thinking about the various different layers to keep you comfortable on a hike in the mountains. The Montane Men’s Protium Hooded Fleece is certainly one of my go-to items when heading out. And not only in the hills – I often utilise my fleece when heading out to the pub or just to the shops.
Technical Details
- Weight: 390g
- Thermo Grid Technology
- Tech Hood for snug fit under a helmet
- Full length YKK Natulon Vislon Recycled Zip
- 93% Recycled materials
What we thought
I bought my Protium fleece about 10 months ago now and have worn it as both part of a layering system and as an outer layer. It is relatively light weight and has a Thermo Grid brushed back on the inside of the fabric, which is designed to manage moisture and regulate heat.
As with all Montane gear there are a number of different colours to choose from when picking out your perfect fleece. Having already purchased the Montane Minimus Lite Waterproof in a Neptune Blue I opted for the same in the Protium Fleece.
Having purchased the fleece in large – and as I’ve said wearing it as both part of a layering system and an outer layer I would definitely size up next time and go for the XL version. The shoulders and arms are fairly tight fitting (which I do actually like) but with my body shape I just feel I need the additional room around the mid-riff.

Over the past 10 months this fleece has been tested in various weather conditions as well as different environments. In cooler weather it has come in really handy as an outer layer doing walks in the Peak District – and as the weather got warmer was easy to stash in my rucksack. In colder wetter weather I’ve used it as a part of a layering system (combined with the Montane Minimus Lite Waterproof jacket) and it has done a terrific job.
Conclusions
As with any piece of kit these days there is also the advantage of having multiple options within the same range. If the full zip isn’t for you, there is a half zip pull over version, or if you don’t want multiple hoods causing you issues Montane have a version with no hood so the choice really is yours on what suits you best.
This fleece has performed really well over a variety of different weather conditions. From walks in the Peak District to hiking the Scottish mountains and pretty much everything in between. I’ve also been impressed with the durability of the fleece – it has washed really well and has not started to bobble. It also dries fairly quickly which is a bonus.