The midlayer does most of the work on a stalking day. The shell keeps the weather out and the base keeps you dry; the fleece is what you actually adjust as the hill gets steeper or the wind gets up.
Bonded or plain? A bonded fleece — the Hoggs King II quarter-zip is the obvious example — has a membrane laminated inside it, so it shrugs off wind and light rain and can be worn as an outer on a dry day. Plain fleece breathes better and packs smaller, but wind goes straight through it. If you only buy one, buy bonded; if you are layering under a hard shell anyway, plain is the better choice.
Quarter-zip and half-zip exist so you can dump heat without stopping to strip off. On a long climb that matters more than the fabric weight.
Gilets and vests — the Sitka Microdown and Jetstream, Beretta's BinoStash anorak — keep the core warm while leaving the arms free for the rifle. For a stalker sitting in a high seat and then moving quickly, they are often more useful than a full jacket.
Noise. Fleece is quiet, which is why it belongs in stalking kit at all. Check zips and hardware rather than the fabric — that is where the noise usually comes from.
Brands here include Beretta, Seeland, Deerhunter, Sitka, Hoggs of Fife and Helly Hansen.
Related: Waterproof Jackets · Vests & Waistcoats · All Clothing
