I use a NorthFace poly-fill jacket (for about $60 at an outlet). It's a bit warmer than a fleece, really durable (wore it nearly every day last winter), water repellent for a short period, zips into their shells. Cons: no hood, not water proof.

In comparison, it's warmer than my NF 300 fleece jacket (not the windbreaker fleece, and it's also about 6 yrs old), but not quite as warm as my NF down jacket. Packs to about a small/teen size football.

In fact, I just started wearing my NF fleece this week, to/from the gym, after essentially replacing it with this jacket. Tried to find a link, but got tired after looking through 9 pages.

The comments about pullovers being harder to get off when injured makes a lot of sense. I guess I was just thinking that no zipper = less to break. I already carry a pair of thermal underwear in my bag, along with thick hiking socks, gloves, a fleece cap, and a boonie hat. I'm leaning now towards a jacket like the REI Spruce or something similar.

no zipper also = warmer. Definitely air leaks thru the zipper. On the other hand it's easier to cool down if it gets warm and you want to unzip rather than completely remove the fleece.

a zip up hoodie with zip pockets is a real chore to find.i ended up have zippers put into the one i take on canoe trips.
all i could find in a mid weight poly fluff was a zip up with no hood or a hood but no pockets or hood but no zips and so on.
i just about live in the thing in all but the warmest weather and it works perfect under a light gor-tex rain jacket.zip pockets are a must for any real outdoor living.i keep a SAK,TP packs from MRE's,Bic's,candy bars,small flashlights,you name it--

Old Navy has some decent zip-up ones. I have one of these too. http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/category.do?cid=13984

The one with the Old Navy logo across the front is the one I have. It's pretty darned warm and it's only $11.80 right now. I love mine, I guess I just need a stuff sack to pack my clothing in my BOB.

Was looking for something else and happened onto the REI web site and it had these on sale:
http://www.rei.com/product/770235

At 12$ they aren't too bad. I have had good results making minor modifications to inexpensive gear. Fleece tops often benefit from some upgrades. In this case I would add a zipper from the neckline to just above the kangaroo pocket. Also a drawstrings and cord locked at the bottom and on the hood. Perhaps some way to close up the sleeves cuffs. Elastic is easiest but velcro or button flaps allow more adjustment. Pit zips are a possibility but they can be difficult to do right and allow ventilation without losing heat when closed.

Drawstrings and cord locks are easy. A bit of good 3mm accessory cord and locks you can buy at most sewing shops. While your there get the over sized needle that makes threading the cord through the seams easy. A quick snip in the seam and overcasting to keep the material from raveling, thread the cord, slip on a cord lock, tie a knot and either whip or melt the ends of the cord after they are trimmed.

Being able to close off the bottom hem and sleeves makes the jackets and pullovers a lot warmer. Also allows them to be used as a field expedient backpack with the sleeves as shoulder straps and the body, closed off by the pull cord, as the bag. Handy when the morning is cold and the day warm and you end up doffing a closet load of clothing but don't have a pack.

This is the same product with a full-length zip:
http://www.rei.com/product/778607

Not bad but a little pricier at $50.

A lot has to do with how you drive your equipment. A pullover can't be unzipped down the front but sleeves can be pulled up above the elbows. Bare forearms allow a lot of heat to escape. The top can be loosened. One of the good things about non-windproof fleeces is that the windproof layer is in the layer on top of it. So if you loosen the shell the fleece ventilates quickly.

You can buy cord locks in bulk on ebay cheap. I've been converting a mess of things to cord locks in the last year!

I saved up my Christmas money and splurged on version 4.0.

It came today.

Wow! i have a new favorite jacket! is all can say

Another option is the Under Armour coldwear hoodie. I have one that I wear fishing in the late fall on the Gulf of Maine. Its very warm and has an external surface that is smoother than most fleece so it doesn't snag and/or pull.

If you watch for clearances they can be had reasonably cheap--especially if you don't care about what color

I just got a couple St John's Bay fleece pullovers from JC Penny this weekend. 70% off...cost me $12 each. They seem to be well made, and are nice and warm. I wore one while shoveling the driveway (again!!) this afternoon.