Finding the perfect fleece
Finding your
perfect fleece
Expert Advice
LOOKING FOR THAT COZY FLEECE TO KEEP YOU TOASTY? ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS POLAR FLEECE IN 1979, FLEECE WAS CREATED AND HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO BE A SERIOUS AND FANTASTIC ALTERNATIVE TO WOOL.
Fleece is made from synthetic material named after the natural fleece coat on sheep. Ironically, it's commonly made from polyester and recycled polyester and is a remarkable material given how buttery soft and wearable it is.
The latest generation of Fleece, the Primaloft Bio Range has been created with all our sustainability goals in mind. Toasty warm and soft to touch, Primaloft Bio will mostly biodegrade when it reaches the end of its lifecycle and is discarded in the right environment.
Your typical fleece acts as a midlayer between your base and outer. It’s effective at trapping body heat and sustaining warmth. Fleece is an insulating fabric made from hydrophobic fibres, meaning it repels water and still insulates while not getting too heavy when wet.
ADVANTAGES OF WEARING FLEECE
Fleece can be warmer than wool while offering breathability and resistance to wind. Other key benefits of choosing to wear fleece are that it's:
- Relatively lightweight compared to wool
- Machine washable
- Capable of drying quickly
- Comfortably soft without being itchy
WEIGHT CONSIDERATIONS
When fleece was first manufactured, garments were divided into groups according to their weight. This categorisation is still in use today and fleece continues to be described in grams per square metre (gsm).
Lightweight
Fleece that weighs less than 200 gsm is deemed lightweight. It can also be defined as microfleece.
Lightweight fleece offers you a high level of breathability. It’s your original midlayer. Wear it over your baselayer and under your waterproof shell.
You’ll want to wear a microfleece to venture out there in mild weather since they’ re ideal when you need more flexibility during exercise.
Midweight
Covering the middle ground of the range of fleece are the midweights. Between 200 and 300 gsm, midweight fleece has a little less flexibility than microfleece, , but it can be used as an outer layer or be paired with a jacket and a baselayer to keep you toasty even on the coolest days. Compared to lightweight fleece, midweight fleece is:
- Significantly warmer
- A better insulator
- More comfortable and breathable
Heavyweight
A heavyweight fleece is one that tops 300 gsm. It’s best suited in very cold weather when you’re spending most of your time relaxing and aren’t planning to get too physical.
FLEECE FAQS
1. Should a fleece be tight or loose fitted?
The fit of each fleece is up to personal preference however as fleeces are often used as a midlayer option, they should fit loose enough to fit a thermal or other baselayer underneath. Depending on the planned activities a looser fit will also offer more flexibility when moving around.
2. What is GSM in Fleece?
When fleece was first manufactured, garments were divided into groups according to their weight. This categorisation is still in use today and fleece continues to be described in grams per square metre (gsm). Fleeces under 200gsm are considered leightweight or microfleece while 200-300gsm is standard for many fleeces as a midweight option. Fleece weighting more than 300gsm is the heavyweight option for super chilly days.