Fleece is a staple in my outdoor gear and has been for decades. Tough, durable, warm even when wet, relatively lightweight (albeit bulky), what is there not to like about it. I almost always slip a windproof shell over the fleece when it gets breezy. I prefer that approach to the "windproof" varieties.

Be aware that fleece comes in a variety of weights and grades, and not all of it is sewn all that well. Like a lot of other things, bargains are available if you shop carefully - something you won;t have to do all that often. I have one jacket that is more than thirty years old, and several that are going beyond their second decade.

All in all, fleece is a very fine example of the many benefits of civilization.....