Hyper breathable and ultralight weight define Janji Auras UltraFleece
This review is sponsored by REI Co-op, but the views expressed are my own
Grid fleece is OUT and ultralight fuzz is IN, as demonstrated by the new-for-2025 Janji Auras Ultrafleece. This hoodie is hyper breathable, ultra quick-drying, weighs just 4.7 ounces, and bats well above its weight class in terms of warmth. Despite our grumbles about the wonky fit, it’s a premier option for runners and hikers looking to pack lighter, more efficient gear for layering on the move.
- Price: $120
- Weight: 4.7 oz (Manufacturer’s measurement, men’s medium)
- Material: 71 gsm Astra fleece. Mesh outer, brushed inner
- Peers: Mountain Hardwear Airmesh, TNF FutureFleece, Alpha Direct
- Supplement with: Patagonia Houdini, Guppyfriend Washing Bag
- Pros: Super ultralight. Hyper breathable. Very quick drying. High warmth-to-weight ratio. Mechanical venting. 100% recycled. Pairs well with windbreakers. Flip inside out for decreased insulation.
- Cons: Not very stretchy. Sloppy fit. Zero wind resistance. Unnecessary side zip pocket. Sheds fuzz. Not great for static warmth.
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Flipped inside out to show fuzzy, brushed interior
Expanded Pros of Janji Auras Ultrafleece
Ultralight: I class any fleece under eight ounces as ultralight, with the bullseye being six ounces. So 4.7 oz is a grand slam, and considered super ultralight.
Hyper breathable: The Janji Auras Ultrafleece is like wearing a warm cloud around your body. The mesh exterior and brushed exterior are significantly more breathable than your most breathable base layer, and far more than any traditional grid fleece. You can literally feel air flowing through it just by walking around inside, in zero wind. The exceptionally high breathability is what makes this layer so great for running and other high exertion activities.
Very quick drying: The Astra fleece fabric holds very little water. If you put it in the washing machine, it will come out practically dry. Low absorption is the key to quick drying, and quick drying is great for sweaty activities like running and hiking.
High warmth-to-weight ratio: As mid-layers go, this one is less warm than average. However, because it’s so incredibly light, the end result is an above average warmth-to-weight ratio. The warmth is generated by the interior brushed fuzz, which traps dead air.
Mechanical venting: If you want breathability, which runners and hikers almost always do, a quarter zip furthers your agenda. Between the fabric’s natural breathability and the quarter zip bonus, Janji Auras Ultrafleece dumps more heat than nearly any other mid-layer.
100% recycled: Janji Auras Ultrafleece checks the sustainability box with 100% recycled polyester fabric.
Pairs well with windbreakers: One of the primary drawbacks of this type of fleece is that it has virtually no wind resistance. Adding a ~3 oz windbreaker massively increases warmth potential, as more air is trapped and none blows away. I’ve had great successes using modular fuzz fleece and windbreaker systems.
Reversible for less warmth if desired: Wear the Janji Auras Ultrafleece inside out and it will trap less dead air, keeping you cooler. It’s not designed for this, but good to know about when your base layer is not enough, but only by a small margin. That kind of optionality is valuable.
Transparency approximates breathability
Expanded Cons of Janji Auras UltraFleece
Not very stretchy: One of the biggest downsides to Janji Auras Ultrafleece (and others like it) is that the mesh outer fabric has very little stretch. This is important to hold the garment’s structure, and boost durability, but makes it less desirable for activities involving arm movement. Consider lack of stretch as you choose your size.
Sloppy fit: I typically land in between L and XL, and ordered an XL to be safe. I found that the arms ran longer and looser than average, while the torso is shorter and boxier than average. This paradoxical mismatch could create issues if you have a long torso and short arms. The lack of stretch makes it hard to size down, but the loose sleeves and long arms make it hard to size up. It also has loose cuffs, which leads to the sleeves falling down over your hands. In short, Janji did not do a good job of fitting this garment, but the performance is great and I still recommend it despite that. And it will still fit some people just fine.
Unnecessary side zip pocket: This is not a major issue, but if I were designing the Janji Auras Ultrafleece, I would not have included the side zip. It adds weight, manufacturing cost, failure potential, a potential chaffing point with pack/vest straps. And ultimately, there is a zero percent chance I ever use it for anything. As an interesting aside, I used to work for an outdoor apparel company, and they loved adding these pockets because it changed import classifications, and sometimes decreased tariffs.
Sheds fuzz: All fleece sheds fuzz, but the exposed brushed interior has a higher potential for shedding than other fabrics. As such, I recommend washing in a Guppyfriend Bag, to keep microplastics out of the water.
Who Should Choose It
Do Choose the Janji Auras Ultrafleece Hoodie if…
- You want the most breathable mid-layer possible to run or hike in
- You’re an ultralight backpacker and want an ultralight fleece
- You want something that can be stashed in a running vest or pack without adding much bulk or weighing you down
- You value high warmth-to-weight ratio
- You love a quarter zip
Do not choose the Janji Auras Ultrafleece Hoodie if…
- You want a warm, cozy fleece for hanging out at camp (despite its high warmth-to-weight ratio, this fleece is not very warm by itself for static use)
- You require a perfect fit (the torso is short and boxy, the sleeves are long and loose)
- You require a high degree of stretch (this has some, but less than the average fleece)
- You shop based on longevity and durability (ultralight products are never the most durability, heavier duty mid-layers will last longer)
- You want the best possible option within a category (I think Alpha Direct fleece is slightly better)
Vs the competition
Vs Mountain Hardwear Airmesh Hoodie: These two are nearly identical, and there is little consequential difference in terms of design. But between them, I do slightly prefer Mountain Hardwear Airmesh. Primarily, that’s because it boasts the Octa advantage – hollow core yarn to trap additional dead air without weight. Airmesh also uses a heavier duty version of the brushed mesh (115 gsm), so it’s slightly warmer for that reason too. But mainly, I’ll take Airmesh because it’s also been around longer, which means it’s more proven and has more dialed in fit. That said, the Janji is an ounce lighter and has a quarter zip. That alone might make it worth choosing, since we aren’t aware of a quarter zip versions of Airmesh at this time. See more in our Mountain Hardwear Airmesh Review.
Vs The North Face Future Fleece Hoodie: Between these two, we prefer The North Face FutureFleece. It’s a bit less breathable, but the fabric is both warmer, and has a higher warmth-to-weigh ratio, and has a better fit. That advantage of Janji Auras Ultrafleece is that it’s lighter weight, more breathable, and less expensive. For hikers, the TNF FutureFleece is much better. For runners, I’ll give it to the Janji. See more in our North Face Future Fleece Review.
Vs an Alpha Direct Hoodie: Polartec Alpha Direct is the original ultralight fuzz fleece, and still the best option today. Compared to Janji’s Astra fleece, Alpha is warmer, higher warmth-to-weight, stretchier, and even slightly more breathable and quick drying. Downsides are that Alpha Direct is less wind resistant and more prone to snagging/less durable. Read more in our guide to Alpha Direct Hoodies.
Janji Auras UltraFleece Review Conclusion
The Janji Auras Ultrafleece is an incredibly effective mid-layer to carry in your pack or running vest, and even more effective to wear while active without overheating. It’s ultralight, hyper breathable, quick-drying and far superior to the average grid fleece. That being said, I’m not impressed by the fit (long loose arms, short boxy torso), and acknowledge that it competes with multiple extremely similar, better fitting options. Thanks for reading and happy trails!
