Although fleece is a relatively common material, there are many people who may not know exactly where it comes from or what goes into making it. Not only is it important to know what kind of variety fleece offers, but also what effects this material can have on the environment. Carry on for an intriguing deep dive into the details of fleece.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Fleece is most commonly made from polyester,<\/strong> but it doesn’t have to be–some fleeces are made from 100% cotton, and there are many fleeces that blend materials like wool, cotton and spandex, which adapts the resulting material to a wider variety of needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fleece is a type of fabric that has been brushed in a specific way to raise the fibers which increase the softness of the fabric as well as its insulative properties. Brushing fabric makes the fabric retain your body heat much more effectively.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This video has a before and after of brushed French Terry fabric, and you can clearly see what the difference is between a regular fabric and fleece.<\/p>\n\n\n This extra brushing and these extra air pockets can lead to more insulation and therefore a fabric that keeps you warmer. It’s often used as an inner liner to add heat to certain clothing items. Due to its added quality, sherpa fleece is commonly used by well-known brands like Columbia Sportswear. Here’s an example<\/a> on Amazon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sherpa fleece, as far as I can find, is only made from polyester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Polar fleece is actually the original name for fleece as we know it today. Polarfleece, developed by Malden Mills was marketed and sold by Patagonia starting in 1981. (source<\/a>) <\/p>\n\n\n\n So when someone says polar fleece, it’s either one of two things<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, I reached out to Columbia Sportswear and asked them how they define a polar fleece, and this is what they had to say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Polar fleece tends to be a little thicker than regular fleece, therefore, warmer<\/p>\nColumbia Sportswear rep<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n That’s not really a technical difference–it sounds like a pretty loose definition for Columbia. This means that different manufacturers will call polar fleece something different–you’ll have to ask each brand separately to find out.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Polar fleece is most often made from polyester but you can find cotton polar fleece, like here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wool is another material that is often highly recommended for hikers and campers. Learn more about the differences between wool and fleece<\/strong> in our article on the topic here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of creating plastic specifically for fleece items, Eco-Fleece like the S600 <\/a>is made from recycled materials. This type of fleece aims to reduce the effects of plastic on the environment by reusing items like plastic bottles.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a marketing video from another brand, Decathalon America, which shows a bit of their process:<\/p>\n\n\n Wool fleece is a bit easier to spot since it resembles big bunches of fabric making it seem more wooly–it’s still often made from polyester. You can see an example of it in the video<\/a> I shared earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you might expect, the weight of any fleece will play a role in how warm it is.<\/strong> Microfleece is the lightest and thinnest, allowing for the best range of movement. However, microfleece provides the least amount of warmth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight fleece is best for colder temperatures. When you need to prioritize staying warm over being able to move easily, this is the best option. Between the two is mid-weight fleece, which balances out warmth and flexibility. Choosing the weight best suited to the weather you’ll be in will help you to stay warm and comfortable outdoors.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Just like any other material, fleece comes with plenty of pros and cons. Ultimately, what that means is that there are situations that are perfect for fleece and situations in which the material should be avoided. Take these benefits and downfalls into consideration when you’re considering fleece for your outdoor activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fleece is a fantastic material for keeping your body temperature up while you’re out in the cold. Because of it’s brushed design, air pockets infiltrate the fabric which is remarkable for trapping body heat. Because of its superior insulation quality, this material is often used for blankets and outerwear. <\/strong>Fleece jackets are popular because they’re soft, lightweight, and very warm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, I use my pullover fleece whenever it’s cold outside, I’ve taken this fleece snowboarding and in sub-freezing temperatures many times. It’s my favorite mid-layer coat and it’s super warm.<\/p>\n\n\n We’re all familiar with the feeling of being unable to move efficiently when we’re all bundled up. Especially while hiking, you may not want to wear a puffy jacket for exactly that reason. As long as the weather isn’t too cold, fleece works as an alternative that provides you with warmth without restricting your movement<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can’t see my fleece in this picture, but I used my fleece as my mid-layer when I was running in very cold temperatures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to warmth, fleece also provides the wearer with breathability. Hiking in the cold can create a unique situation in which you need heat but don’t want stale air to become trapped. The breathability allows for enough airflow to keep your skin dry without letting in the cold.<\/strong> While fleece is still going to be too much in warmer weather, it offers a decent level of versatility at colder temperatures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For my fleece pullover, it’s fairly thick, and it’s too uncomfortable to wear above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. But if you have a thinner fleece you won’t experience that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Breathability is essential when it comes to regulating temperature. In the outdoors, we can often have a hard time finding a balance between warmth and dampness due to sweat<\/strong>. Discover just how breathable fleece is in our article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fleece isn’t waterproof, but it is a material that can dry quickly. Consequently, you won’t have to worry too much if you end up in the rain during a hike. It is best to avoid letting fleece get soaked, but a little dampness can dry out pretty easily.<\/strong> Make sure to take the thickness into consideration and allow the material to dry completely before using it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, we are using fleece as we potty train our son–he uses fleece blankets as the pee just passes through and absorbs into cloth diapers that we are putting underneath his blanket. The fleece still feels dry because it’s a lot of air in the fabric the pee just passes through. Incredible stuff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fleece is undoubtedly an easier choice to care for than many others out there. That said, it can still be prone to issues like pilling or becoming overly fuzzy<\/strong>. In order to prevent these issues, you may need to take special care of your fleece items. Howtosew.org<\/a> recommends using cold water without fabric softener or bleach. Lint can also be a problem for this material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/sheep-wool-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/picture>Is Fleece Always Made From Polyester?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Brush](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FgxLcn9-wiyY%2F0.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SherpaFleece-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/picture>Polar<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ChatWithColumbia.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nEco-Fleece<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"SECOND](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FCBWguWFdP98%2F0.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FinSjsEwzP0w%2F0.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/blue-polar-fleece-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/picture>Wool Fleece<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Understanding Micro, Mid, And Heavyweight Fleece<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fleece Weight Type<\/strong><\/td> GSM<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Microfleece<\/td> 200GSM or less<\/td><\/tr> Mid-Weight Fleece<\/td> 200-300GSM<\/td><\/tr> Heavyweight Fleece<\/td> Over 300GSM<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Benefits And Downfalls Of Wearing Fleece<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Benefits Of Fleece<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Warmth<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"me](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/mid-layer-edited-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>Freedom Of Movement<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"me](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/me-wearing-jacket-in-snow-1024x768.jpg\")
Breathable<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Quick-Drying<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Downfalls Of Fleece<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
May Require More Care<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Eco-Friendliness<\/h4>\n\n\n\n