Regatta Thompson budget fleece review: A fleece that punches well above its price tag
It’s not flashy, it’s not ultralight, and it’s certainly not groundbreaking. But what the Regatta Thompson fleece is, is everything you want from a midlayer — warm, soft, simple, and absurdly good value for money. At just £13, it’s practically theft.
Regatta Thompson fleece
Ideal for: Hiking, trekking, wildcamping
Not suitable for: Running, climbing
It’s not flashy, it’s not ultralight, and it’s certainly not groundbreaking. But what the Regatta Thompson fleece is, is everything you want from a midlayer — warm, soft, simple, and absurdly good value for money. At just £13, it’s practically theft.
The Good
Lightweight
Warm
Stuffs into its own stuff sack
Amazing value for money
Great zips
Cosy
The Bad
Heavier and not as packable as some competing (albeit pricier) lines
Regatta Thompson fleece
The Regatta Thompson fleece is a no-frills midlayer built for budget-conscious hikers, campers and backpackers. It’s made from 170gsm recycled polyester, features a quarter zip, a gusset-reinforced collar, and a pill-resistant outer. At just £13 RRP, it’s one of the cheapest midlayers on the market — but don’t let the price fool you. It delivers genuine warmth, comfort and reliability, without any of the usual downsides of bargain-basement fleece. It won’t replace your premium gear, but it will quickly become your most worn.
Our Experience with the Regatta Thompson budget fleece
Founded in Manchester in 1981, Regatta has become one of the UK’s most recognisable outdoor brands — especially at the more affordable end of the market. Known for their wallet-friendly waterproofs, practical fleeces and dependable jackets, they’ve built a reputation for delivering functional kit at prices that rarely raise an eyebrow. While Regatta might not top any ultralight enthusiast’s wishlist, the brand has carved out a clear niche: good, honest outdoor clothing for folks who just want to get outside without bankrupting themselves.
Enter the Thompson fleece. It’s Regatta’s no-nonsense midlayer, designed for everyday wear across British hills, trails, and campsites. Weighing in at a not-too-shabby 250g (size medium) and packing down to roughly the size of a loaf of bread, it’s made from 170gsm recycled polyester. No membranes, no high-tech gimmicks — just simple, effective layering for everyday use. And at £13 RRP, it’s one of the cheapest fleece midlayers we’ve ever tested.
But what makes the Thompson really interesting is how it stacks up against other budget options. The Mountain Warehouse Camber II and the Decathlon MH100 are its nearest rivals, both priced at £9.99 at the time of writing. The Camber comes up short on features, lacking the dual-sided fleece design and the Thompson’s neck gusset. The MH100, meanwhile, just doesn’t breathe as well, even though it looks nearly identical on paper. All told, the Thompson feels like the best-rounded of the three — slightly more expensive, yes, but only by a few quid, and you get a lot of extra comfort for that.
How we tested it
To see what the Thompson could really do, we took it on a variety of classic British adventures. First up: a frosty half marathon trail run through the Chiltern Hills. Worn over a long-sleeve base layer in temperatures hovering around 4°C, the fleece kept us warm without turning us into walking greenhouses. Post-run, it was damp with sweat — as you’d expect — but dried completely within an hour draped over a chair. Not bad.
We also used it throughout winter 2024/25 on a series of sub-zero hikes, layered under down jackets. On every occasion, it held its own — warm, comfortable, and breathable enough that we never once felt the need to rip it off mid-ascent.
Features and performance
There’s no denying that the Thompson fleece is basic. But here’s the thing — it nails the basics.
The 170gsm recycled polyester might be bog-standard stuff, but it’s exactly what you want in a midlayer like this. It traps warmth well enough to keep you toasty, but doesn’t turn into a sweat trap the moment you pick up the pace. It’s soft, too — especially on the inside. The brushed lining feels genuinely luxurious against the skin, making it comfortable to wear over a t-shirt or even straight onto bare skin if you’re that way inclined.
One feature we really didn’t expect to appreciate as much as we did is the inner neck gusset. It adds noticeable structure to the collar, preventing the sag and stretch that’s common in cheaper fleeces. It also creates a slightly tighter seal around the neck, adding a surprising amount of extra warmth. Small detail, big impact.
The quarter zip is another win. It’s solid, snag-free, and smooth enough to operate with one hand — even when on the move. It gives you a quick way to dump heat on climbs and trap warmth when the wind picks up.
Another standout feature is the outer fabric’s pill resistance. We’ve washed and worn this fleece more times than we can count — five or six washes and multiple outings under heavy packs — and it still looks box fresh. That’s rare at this end of the price spectrum, where pilling is almost a guarantee.
Lastly, the drying time is worth a mention. We were genuinely impressed with how quickly the Thompson bounced back after heavy use. Whether drying overnight in a cold tent or on the move thanks to body heat, it’s the sort of fleece that never stays soggy for long.
How does it perform in the UK?
Across every trip, run, and hike, the Regatta Thompson fleece kept doing the one thing a fleece needs to do: keep us warm and comfortable. It’s not breathable enough to rival high-end grid fleeces, and it’s not the lightest thing in our packs either — but those aren’t the benchmarks here. For everyday British adventure — think hillwalking in the Peaks, coastal hikes in Wales, or frosty mornings at the campsite — the Thompson does exactly what you need. It’s versatile, too. We wore it on trail runs, sub-zero hikes, and casual pub walks. At no point did it feel like it didn’t belong.
Regatta Thompson fleece FAQs
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Warm enough for most UK adventures. It’s not arctic-expedition warm, but for typical British weather — think early spring hikes, chilly autumn evenings and layering under a jacket in winter — it does the job admirably.
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It’s decently breathable for what it is. You won’t be raving about ventilation, but we wore it on long runs and hikes without ever feeling swampy. For a budget polyester fleece, breathability is better than expected.
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Absolutely. For £13, it’s hands-down one of the best value midlayers on the market. It’s warm, soft, durable and comfortable — everything you need from a fleece, at a price that’s hard to believe.
Conclusion
The Regatta Thompson fleece isn’t going to win any design awards. But then again, it’s not trying to. It’s built to do a job — and it does that job very, very well.
At £13, it’s hard to overstate just how much value this fleece offers. Sure, there are better-performing fleeces out there. But you’d need to spend at least five times the price to get them, and the gains are often marginal at best.
If you’re a weekend walker, a budget backpacker, or just want a warm, cosy fleece you won’t stress about stuffing into a rucksack or wearing by the fire, this is a no-brainer. In short: the Regatta Thompson fleece is proof that good kit doesn’t have to be expensive.
