Buying guide
Buying a Bodywarmer: The Complete Guide
A bodywarmer is one of the most useful pieces of clothing for autumn and winter: light, warm around your torso, and easy to combine with other layers. But which material suits you, and which fit? This guide helps you choose.
Materials: fleece, softshell and quilted
Most bodywarmers are made from fleece, softshell or a quilted (padded) outer fabric. Each material has its own strengths.
Fleece
Soft, light and breathable. Great as an inner layer or for mild weather, but offers little wind protection and isn't water-resistant.
Softshell
A flexible fabric that blocks wind and light rain better than fleece. Popular for active use such as hiking or cycling.
Quilted
An outer layer with padding, usually polyester, that traps air and insulates. Warmer when standing still, and ideal for cold, calm days.
Which material suits you?
Lots of movement and mild weather: choose fleece or softshell. Mostly standing still in the cold: choose quilted, or consider the heated version further down this page.
Fit: men's and women's
A bodywarmer works best when it fits closely without feeling tight. Too loose and warmth escapes at the sides; too tight and you can't wear another layer underneath.
Women's styles are often tailored at the waist and slightly shorter, while men's styles are cut straighter with more room in the shoulders. Stuck between two sizes? Go for the larger one if you plan to wear a jumper or fleece underneath. For size guidance per style, see our women's bodywarmer and men's bodywarmer overviews.
Bodywarmer or coat: which do you need?
A bodywarmer is ideal when you mainly want to keep your torso warm while keeping your arms free to move, for example during chores, sports, cycling or working outdoors. A coat is the better choice for prolonged exposure to wind, rain or snow, where your arms need protection too.
Many people wear a bodywarmer under or over a coat: that adds extra insulation on the torso without giving up freedom of movement.
A quick note on layering
Build your outfit from thin, breathable layers: a moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating mid-layer such as fleece or a thin jumper, and the bodywarmer as the finishing layer over your torso. That way you can easily add or remove a layer per weather type, instead of relying on one thick coat.
Want warmth too? Consider a heated bodywarmer
A regular bodywarmer traps your body heat but doesn't generate any of its own. If you still get cold on long, chilly days outside, a heated bodywarmer is a logical next step: it actively warms several zones and lets you adjust the heat setting. Read the full comparison in our guide bodywarmer vs. heated bodywarmer.
