REASONS TO BUY
Stylish
Thick and warm
Soft interior
Sleeve pocket is uniquely useful
REASONS TO AVOID
Barely any stretch
Lacks coverage
Lowered mobility
Fit isn't overly accommodating of diverse body types
Patagonia Better Sweater 1/4 Zip - Women's Review
Best worn just like your favorite sweater, this thick warm fleece looks and feels great - if it fits
Credit: Patagonia
Our Verdict
The Patagonia Better Sweater is a thick, warm fleece pullover with a sweater-like pattern that looks far more classy than just about any other fleece we tested. The inside of this stylish top is very soft, with a classic fleece lining. A zippered pocket on the left sleeve is a unique and surprisingly useful addition to this polished piece. With very little stretch and limited mobility and coverage, we like wearing the Better Sweater most in situations where we would normally wear just a sweater. It's not quite a technical performance piece, but it still offers a vibe and comfort we enjoy.
Editor's Note: We updated this review on December 9, 2023, to adjust our testing metrics and offer additional recommendations for other fleeces.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Patagonia Better Sweater 1/4 Zip - Women's | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | | | |
| Price | $76.45 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $179.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $53.37 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $60 List $29.83 at REI | $65 List $44.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Made to be worn just like a sweater, this fleece is thick and warm, but not the right fit for everyone | A very versatile fleece that offers lightweight comfort and breathability but midweight warmth | If you seek a lightweight fleece that thermoregulates well at a great price, take a gander | A simple budget polyester fleece boasting soft fabrics and a cozy design | A classic pullover with a simple design offering a relaxed fit, cozy vibe, and much to love for a lower price |
| Rating Categories | Patagonia Better Sw... | Patagonia R1 Air Fu... | Outdoor Research Vi... | REI Co-op Trailmade | Columbia Benton Spr... |
| Warmth (25%) | |||||
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Breathability (20%) | |||||
| Layering Ability (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Patagonia Better Sw... | Patagonia R1 Air Fu... | Outdoor Research Vi... | REI Co-op Trailmade | Columbia Benton Spr... |
| Measured Weight | 13.1 oz (Size S) | 10.7 oz (Size S) | 9.8 oz (Size M) | 10.1 oz (Size S) | 11.4 oz (Size M) |
| Type | Midweight | Lightweight | Lightweight | Midweight | Midweight |
| Main Material | 100% recycled polyester | 100% recycled polyester | 94% polyester, 6% Spandex | 100% recycled polyester | 100% polyester |
| Hood Option | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Number of Pockets | 1 arm | 2 hand, 1 chest | 1 chest | 2 hand, 2 interior | None |
| Features | Flat seams, extended collar, off-shoulder seams | Off-shoulder seams, no armpit seams, moisture-wicking | Thumbholes, UPF 30, moisture-wicking, off-shoulder seams, no armpit seams, chin guard | Relaxed fit, double-layer collar, large pockets | Comfort stretch, extended collar |
| Cuff Construction | Micropolyester jersey trim | Quick-drying woven binding | Elastic cuff | LYCRA spandex binding | Elastic cuff |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Patagonia Better Sweater is a midweight hoodless fleece with a quarter zip. It's made of recycled polyester and has a single zippered pocket on the left bicep. It features flat seams, off-shoulder seams, and an extended collar.
Performance Comparison
The Better Sweater is a more stylish-looking fleece that we like as a standalone layer.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Warmth
The Better Sweater is impressively thick, with a fleece lining inside that adds that feeling of instant warmth to your outfit. It's quite warm inside and a joy to wear at family gatherings and around the house. Where it loses points on warmth is for its lack of coverage and mobility. This pullover has fairly short sleeves and a short torso compared to the more performance-based models we tested. It also has limited stretch, which is noticeable particularly across the shoulders and during movement.
A thick, fluffy interior but limited mobility in the shoulders results in shorter arm lengths.
So much thickness does wonders for resisting the elements. Even though it doesn't repel precipitation (nearly no fleece does), water takes a long time to soak through this bulky fleece. The substantially cut fabric also offers reasonable protection from chilly breezes.
Comfort
This is one of the least accommodating fits of any fleece we tested. It has minimal stretch and is designed to fit like a slim sweater rather than a midlayer for adventuring. We found ourselves wanting to size up from our usual size to get a little more space inside, and we recommend trying the Better Sweater on to ensure you like how it feels before you buy it. But our testers who like the fit also enjoy the soft interior of the sweater. It also has a single zippered pocket on the outside of the left bicep, which is ideal for holding lip balm, some cash, and a few cards — as long as you don't put a coat on over it.
The extended collar of the Better Sweater is comfortable to wear fully zipped up.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Breathability
The fabric of the Better Sweater isn't particularly breathable, so any breathability comes from the fit on your body. A looser fit allows for freedom of air movement — great for breathability but the enemy of warmth. The quarter zip allows for effectively venting your chest on the go. The sleeves can be pulled up, but the sweater is so bulky that it feels pretty strange to wear like that.
The zippered sleeve pocket is actually quite handy!
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Layering Ability
The Better Sweater is best worn as a standalone layer. Its slim fit struggles to be comfortable when worn over anything other than a next-to-skin baselayer or simple t-shirt (and even then, we fought to arrange our sleeves underneath). Once donned, the substantial bulk of the sweater doesn't make for a comfortable midlayer. Additionally, those shorter sleeves and torso leave us more exposed than we want when we're adventuring.
The Better Sweater is bulky AND slim fitting, making it difficult to layer.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Weight
The size Small we tested weighs 13.1 ounces. The Better Sweater is heavy and bulky; not ideal for packing light. This sweater is much better suited for lounging around the house or hanging around a campfire than it is trying to stuff into a backpack.
Though it lacks mobility and some technical detail, we love the look and warmth of the Better Sweater.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Should You Buy the Patagonia Better Sweater?
If you're after an adventure-ready fleece with high mobility and versatility, that's not the Better Sweater. But if you dig this classy quarter zip vibe and slim fit with a soft interior, the Better Sweater is an upscale way to wear fleece at every family holiday dinner.
What Other Fleece Jacket Should You Consider?
If you're here to level up your sweater game and add warmth to your outdoor chic wardrobe, no other fleece we tested offers the level of style of the Patagonia Better Sweater. If you like the pullover-with-a-collar vibe but want something a little more adventure-ready and budget-friendly, the Columbia Benton Springs is a great choice. For a hooded option, check out the Arc'teryx Kyanite, that's a warm, comfortable, classy hoody full of thoughtful technical details.
—
Maggie Nichols
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