Updated 05/26/2026

A micro-grid fleece with excellent breathability, the Staindrop Hike Jacket adds light warmth for active hiking without trapping excess heat on trail.

The Berghaus Staindrop Hike Jacket is a lightweight technical fleece designed for active outdoor use year-round. Built with a stretchy micro-grid fleece fabric and an athletic fit, it works well as either a light standalone layer or as part of a layering system for changing trail conditions.

About Berghaus

Berghaus is a UK-based outdoor brand that has been producing technical mountain gear since 1966. The company has recently been expanding its market, with a U.S. distribution center that makes its gear easier to buy domestically than it was in the past, especially some of its more technical pieces that were once harder to find here.

Known for performance-focused outerwear, packs, and alpine gear, Berghaus has built a strong reputation for durable, practical equipment designed for real trail and mountain use. Their Free for Life repair program also helps extend the lifespan of products by offering repairs rather than replacement, though you do need to cover shipping costs.

Specs

• weight: 10 oz / 300 g
• fabric: 94% polyester / 6% elastane with four-way stretch
• two zippered hand pockets
• stretch-bound hood and cuffs
• price: $101.25

View at Berghaus   View Men's Jacket at REI

Micro-Grid Fleece Performance

The standout feature of this jacket is the technical micro-grid fleece fabric. It delivers a surprisingly good balance of warmth and breathability, making it especially well suited for active hiking in cool or damp conditions.

I’ve worn the Staindrop Hike Jacket on spring hikes in the Cascade foothills and Coast Range mountains in Oregon, including days that were cool and damp. In those conditions, I appreciated how the micro-grid structure added a light amount of warmth without making me feel overheated once I got moving uphill.

Compared to heavier mid-layers, this fleece breathes exceptionally well while still helping retain enough warmth during cooler stretches of trail.

Comfortable Active Fit

The fit is athletic and close to the body, which helps trap warmth while still layering comfortably under shells or over lighter base layers. I typically wear it over an ultralight hoodie, and the combination has worked well for active hiking without needing to constantly stop and adjust layers.

The articulated patterning helps the jacket move naturally with the body rather than against it. Combined with the four-way stretch fleece, it feels comfortable and unrestricted on trail without feeling bulky or stiff. I’ve also found the fit works especially well while wearing a backpack, since the jacket stays streamlined instead of bunching up under shoulder straps.

Trail-Friendly Features

The higher-positioned zippered hand pockets are easy to access while wearing a pack hipbelt, which makes them more practical for hiking than lower pocket placements. The shaped hood also fits close to the head without feeling restrictive, adding a little extra warmth in breezy conditions.

Another detail I noticed right away was the comfort of the seams. The merrow seam construction makes them much less noticeable than on many fleece jackets, helping the Staindrop feel smoother against the skin during longer days on trail.

Lightweight and Easy to Layer

At around 10 ounces, the Staindrop Hike Jacket is light enough that I don’t hesitate to throw it in my pack on variable-weather hikes. It also packs down fairly small, which makes it easy to stash when temperatures warm up.

Because of the fitted shape and low bulk, it layers especially well under rain shells. I paired it with the Berghaus Rain-Motion Jacket during light rain on several hikes, and the two pieces worked very well together without feeling restrictive.

Overall, this has become one of the layers I regularly bring on hikes when I want just a light amount of warmth but still need excellent breathability while moving on trail.

Disclosure: this item was donated for the purpose of a review.

Gear Reviews: My goal is to share clear, unbiased information about outdoor gear. I am not sponsored by any gear companies and I don’t accept paid posts or links. I regularly receive products from brands for review, with no expectation of a positive review and no compensation for my opinions. As an independent gear reviewer, I only review items I’ve personally used on multiple trips and that I believe are high-quality and worth recommending.

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