Columbia Steens Mountain 2.0 Review: Specs, Sizing and Verdict
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The quick verdict: A thick, warm, honest fleece at a fraction of the price of everything else in our guide. It does the job under a shell, full stop. ~$65 list, typically ~$35-50 on sale
Overview
The Steens Mountain has been Columbia's workhorse fleece for years, and the 2.0 keeps the recipe: 250-weight polyester pile, a full zip, zippered hand pockets, and a collar that stands up against a draft. That 250 weight matters, it is noticeably thicker than the fashion fleeces sold at similar prices, and thickness is warmth. Under a ski shell it insulates a resort day perfectly well, and frequent sales push the already low list price into impulse-buy territory.
What you give up against the performance picks is refinement: it is heavier, bulkier in a pack, slower to dry, and cut for comfort rather than layering trim.
Where It Shines
- Unbeatable warmth per dollar; often ~$35 to 50 on sale against a ~$65 list
- Thick 250-weight pile is warmer than most budget fleeces
- Simple, durable construction with years of positive owner feedback
- Doubles as an everyday winter layer
Tradeoffs to Know
- Bulky under a trim shell; consider your shell fit before buying
- Absorbs more sweat and dries slower than technical fleece
- No wind resistance to speak of on its own
- Roomy casual cut, not a layering cut; some skiers size down
Who It’s For
New skiers, occasional skiers, kids-outgrow-everything families, and anyone assembling a first kit on a budget. Skiers who log 20+ days a season or tour uphill will feel the difference in the R1 Air or Atom Hoody and should spend up.
Key Specs by Size
Figures are approximate and drawn from Columbia’s published men’s size chart (via columbia.com, as reproduced by Scheels) and retailer listings at Backcountry and Campmor. Columbia sells the Steens Mountain 2.0 in a standard run of S through XXL, plus separate Big and Tall versions; which extended sizes are in stock varies by retailer and colour.
| Size | Chest | Center back length |
|---|---|---|
| S | 36-37 in (91-94cm) | 28 in (71cm) |
| M | 39-41 in (99-104cm) | 28 in (71cm) |
| L | 42.5-44 in (108-112cm) | 28 in (71cm) |
| XL | 46.5-48 in (118-122cm) | 28 in (71cm) |
| XXL | 50.5-52 in (128-132cm) | 28 in (71cm) |
| 1X (Big) | 46-49 in (117-124cm) | 30 in (76cm) |
| 2X (Big) | 50-52 in (127-132cm) | 30 in (76cm) |
| 3X (Big) | 54-56 in (137-142cm) | 30 in (76cm) |
| LT (Tall) | 42.5-44 in (108-112cm) | 30 in (76cm) |
| XLT (Tall) | 46-49 in (117-124cm) | 30 in (76cm) |
| XXLT (Tall) | 50-52 in (127-132cm) | 30 in (76cm) |
Across every size the fabric is the same: 100 percent polyester MTR filament fleece at 250 g/m², which Columbia files under its lighter warmth tier even though it is the thickest pile in this guide. The details are basic and sensible: a full-length front zip, two zippered hand pockets, a stand-up collar, and an adjustable hem with an interior drawcord. There is no hood, no chest pocket and no thumb loops. Care is machine wash, tumble dry, no iron, no bleach. Backcountry lists Columbia’s limited lifetime warranty against defects. List price is about $65 for the standard sizes and roughly $70 for Big and Tall; in practice the jacket spends most of the year on sale somewhere between $35 and 50, and Amazon has dipped lower on common colours.
Sizing and Fit
Columbia calls this a regular fit, which in its own words means a universal, easy cut with room to move. Translated: it is a casual fleece, not a layering piece. Measure your chest at the fullest point and buy the size whose range you fall into; if you land between two, take the smaller one. Aggregated owner reviews lean toward “runs a little large”, with a minority reporting the opposite, which usually means the cut is roomy through the body while the sleeves and shoulders are close to true. Skiers who want a trimmer look under a shell commonly size down one step without losing sleeve length.
Under a ski shell, the fit question is about your outer layer, not the fleece. A freeride or relaxed-fit shell swallows the Steens Mountain without complaint. A slim, athletic-cut shell will feel tight across the shoulders with 250-weight pile underneath, and the drawcord hem bunches at the waist. Try the combination at home with your arms raised before cutting the tags. The 28 inch back length sits at the hip on an average build, which is the right length for sitting on chairlifts without the hem riding up.
The Tall version adds two inches of body length for anyone over about 6’2”, and the Big version widens the body at the same longer length. Women should look at Columbia’s Benton Springs Full Zip, the women’s counterpart with the same fabric and a shaped cut.
Who Should Skip It
Skip the Steens Mountain if you sweat hard and ski aggressively, because dense 250-weight polyester holds moisture and dries slowly; the Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody breathes and dries in a different league. Skip it if you tour uphill or want a midlayer that packs small, since this is the bulkiest and heaviest option in the guide and the Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid Hoody is built for exactly that job. And skip it if you want one layer that works on its own in wind on cold days: the Arc’teryx Atom Hoody blocks wind and sheds light snow where the Steens Mountain lets everything straight through.
Steens Mountain 2.0 vs. Patagonia R1 Air vs. Smartwool Active Fleece
These three are the fleeces in our guide, and the gap between them is mostly price and breathability. The Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody is about $200: a zig-zag hollow-core fleece with a hood that moves sweat better than anything here and layers trim under a shell. The Smartwool Active Fleece Jacket is roughly $180 and brings merino into the blend, so it regulates temperature over a long day and resists smelling after a weekend of use. The Steens Mountain is about $65 at list and routinely $35 to 50 on sale, which makes it a third of the price of either with more raw warmth per gram and far less finesse. Pick the R1 Air if you ski hard, sweat and want a hood. Pick the Smartwool if you want natural fibre comfort and odour control on multi-day trips. Pick the Steens Mountain if you ski a handful of resort days a season, run cold, or simply want a warm layer that costs less than a lift ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Columbia Steens Mountain warm enough for skiing?
Yes, for resort skiing under a proper shell. Its 250 g/m² pile is thicker than most technical midlayers, so with a base layer and a shell it covers typical lift-served days; aggregated reviews only flag it as insufficient in extreme cold or when worn as an outer layer in wind.
Does the Steens Mountain fleece run big?
Slightly, according to the majority of owner reviews, and it is a regular fit by design. Order your normal size for a relaxed everyday fit, or go one size down if you mainly want it as a layer under a slim ski jacket.
Is the Steens Mountain 2.0 windproof or waterproof?
No. It is plain polyester fleece with no membrane or DWR finish, so wind passes through and snow soaks in. It is meant to go under a shell, not replace one.
What is the difference between the Steens Mountain 2.0 and the Benton Springs?
Same 250-weight MTR fleece, same full zip and zippered hand pockets. The Steens Mountain 2.0 is the men’s cut; the Benton Springs is the women’s version with a shaped body.
How It Compares
See how it stacks up in our full guide: The Best Ski Midlayers of 2026-27. Other picks from that list: Arc'teryx Atom Hoody · Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid Hoody · Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody · Smartwool Active Fleece Jacket.