Best winter layers for Delhi and North India (2026)

By Shivaan Seth, Founder

A Delhi winter rarely needs a heavy coat. Mornings and nights get cold, afternoons can be mild, and you move between heated offices, cars and the open air. The answer is layers you can add and remove. Here is the system, and how the options in India compare for each layer.

Full disclosure: we make Better Basics, so read our own entries with that in mind. Everything about other brands below comes from their own India websites, checked on 2 November 2026. Prices and stock change, so check the brand's site before you buy.

The three-layer system

Layer	Job	What works
Base	Holds warmth next to the skin	A thermal, or a heavyweight cotton long sleeve tee
Mid	The layer you wear all day	A sweatshirt, hoodie or quarter zip
Outer	Blocks cold air on mornings and nights	A fleece jacket or fleece gilet

Our layering guide has outfits for each kind of day.

Base layers compared

Brand and piece	Fabric (as the brand states)	Price	Sizes	Good for
Uniqlo, HEATTECH Crew Neck Long Sleeve	Polyester, acrylic and viscose with stretch fibre	Rs 1,290	S to 3XL	A thin warm layer under everything
Marks & Spencer, Heatgen Medium Thermal Top	50% cotton, 26% polyester, 24% viscose	Rs 1,999	S to XL	Medium warmth, brushed inside
Jockey, Extra Warmth Thermal Undershirt (2401)	Cotton, viscose and polyester	From Rs 779	S to XXL	The lowest-price thermal
Better Basics, Heavy Long Sleeve Tee	100% 16-count cotton, 250 GSM	Rs 1,790	XS to 3XL, three lengths	A base layer that also looks finished on its own

Mid layers compared: sweatshirts, hoodies and quarter zips

Brand and piece	Fabric (as the brand states)	Price	Sizes	Good for
Uniqlo, Sweatshirt	100% cotton body	Rs 2,490	S to XL	A classic cotton crew
Marks & Spencer, Cotton Rich Brushback Sweatshirt	75% cotton, 25% polyester	Rs 2,499	S to XXL	Brushed inside for warmth
Uniqlo, Sweat Oversized Pullover Hoodie	67% polyester, 33% cotton	Rs 2,990	S to XXL	A relaxed, oversized hoodie
Marks & Spencer, Cotton Rich Hoodie	79% cotton, 21% polyester	Rs 3,160	S to XXL	A relaxed hoodie with kangaroo pocket
Decathlon, Warm Cotton Hoodie	79% Fairtrade cotton (rest not stated), 420 g/m²	Rs 3,599	S to 2XL	A very heavy cotton hoodie
Better Basics, Crew Neck Sweatshirt	Cotton fleece, 80% cotton, 20% polyester, 350 GSM	Rs 2,990	XS to 3XL (women XXS to 3XL)	A plain, dense crew for work and weekends
Better Basics, Classic Hoodie	Cotton fleece, 350 GSM	Rs 3,590	XS to 3XL (women XXS to 3XL)	A structured, plain hoodie
Better Basics, Quarter Zip Sweatshirt	Cotton fleece, 350 GSM, fleece-lined	Rs 3,190	XS to 3XL	The smart mid layer for the office

Quarter zips from other brands are compared in our quarter zip guide.

Outer layers compared: fleece jackets and gilets

Brand and piece	Fabric (as the brand states)	Price	Sizes	Good for
Uniqlo, Fleece Full-Zip Jacket	100% polyester fleece	Rs 2,490	S to 3XL, unisex	A classic fleece in many colours
Decathlon, Quechua MH100 Fleece Jacket	Recycled polyester, 200 g/m²	Rs 799 (MRP Rs 1,049)	S to 2XL	Budget warmth; brand rates it for 7 to 10°C
Marks & Spencer, Polar Fleece Zip Up Jacket	100% polyester	Rs 4,499	S to XXL	A heavier polar fleece
Jockey, Cotton Rich Fleece Jacket (UM55)	Cotton and polyester fleece	From Rs 2,399	S to XL	A cotton-fleece zip-up rather than polar fleece
Decathlon, Quechua MH100 Fleece Gilet	Polyester fleece, 200 g/m²	Rs 799 (MRP Rs 1,299)	S to 2XL	Budget sleeveless warmth
Better Basics, Polar Fleece Zip-up Jacket	100% polyester polar fleece, 280 GSM	Rs 3,190	XS to 3XL (women XXS to 3XL)	A dense, soft polar fleece for cold mornings
Better Basics, Polar Fleece Sleeveless Jacket	100% polyester polar fleece, 280 GSM	Rs 2,590	XS to 3XL (women XXS to 3XL)	Warm core, free arms; over a sweatshirt or shirt
Better Basics, Polar Fleece Hoodie	100% polyester polar fleece, 280 GSM	Rs 2,990	XS to 3XL	Fleece warmth with a hood

As listed on each brand's India site on 2 November 2026. Where a brand shows a sale price, we list the price shown that day.

Which should you choose?

• Lowest cost for real warmth: Decathlon's MH100 fleece jacket or gilet over any sweatshirt.
• Thin warmth under office clothes: Uniqlo HEATTECH.
• Layers that look good on their own: our Heavy Long Sleeve Tee, Quarter Zip and fleece gilet, all plain, with no logos.
• For women: our Crew Neck Sweatshirt, Crew Neck Long Sweatshirt, Classic Hoodie and Polar Fleece Zip-up, from XXS to 3XL.

Everything is in our men's winterwear and women's winterwear. What fabric weight means for warmth is explained in what GSM means.

Frequently asked questions

What should I wear in a Delhi winter?

Layers rather than one heavy jacket: a warm base (a thermal or heavy long sleeve tee), a mid layer (a sweatshirt, hoodie or quarter zip) and a light outer layer (a fleece jacket or gilet) for mornings and nights. Delhi days are often mild while mornings and nights get cold, so layers you can take off work best.

Is fleece or a sweatshirt warmer?

Polar fleece traps more warm air for its weight and blocks a light breeze, so it works as an outer layer. A cotton-fleece sweatshirt is softer and breathes better indoors, so it works as a mid layer you can wear all day.

Do I need thermals for a North India winter?

For long outdoor hours in December and January, a thermal base layer helps. For office days and evenings, a heavyweight cotton long sleeve tee under a sweatshirt is usually enough and looks better on its own.

Related guides: Layering for a Delhi winter · Quarter zip sweaters for men · What GSM means · Polar fleece vs cotton fleece: how warm is each?

Shivaan