Fleece Jacket

Fleece jackets, warmth that dries faster than it insulates

A fleece jacket is a knitted synthetic pile: fibres brushed up into a nap that holds still air against the body. That structure explains almost everything the garment does, including the things it does not do. The range takes in thick outdoor fleeces, technical and hunting cuts, fleece-lined windbreakers and battery-heated versions, separated by weight, wind resistance and whether a face fabric is bonded on.

Why does a fleece keep you warm but not dry?

The nap traps air, and trapped air is the insulation. Air also passes straight through the knit, which is why a fleece feels warm in a still garden and cold on an exposed ridge. Rain goes through it just as easily. The upside is drying speed: fleece holds very little water in the fibre, so it sheds moisture quickly and stays warm when damp. That trade is why a shell such as a waterproof jacket is worn over the top rather than instead.

Which weight suits which use?

A thin microfleece works next to the skin or under a shell and packs down small. A mid weight fleece is the everyday layer, warm enough alone in autumn and thin enough to fit under a coat. A thick or high-pile fleece behaves like an outer garment on a dry cold day but is too bulky to layer, so it is bought as a coat instead, and that split runs right through the mens fleece jacket line. Fleece-lined windbreakers sit apart: the bonded face fabric stops the draught and turns a house layer into an outdoor one.

What should you check before buying a fleece jacket?

• Zip style: a full zip comes off without disturbing a hat, a half zip vents heat and keeps a warmer chest panel.
• Pocket closure: open handwarmer pockets let warmth out through the front; zipped pockets hold contents when you bend.
• Hem and cuff finish: an elasticated or drawcord hem stops cold air being drawn up the body every time you move.
• Face treatment: a wind-resistant membrane or a tightly knitted face changes how the same thickness performs outdoors.
• Fit through the shoulders: a fleece meant to go under a shell should allow a full arm lift without pulling the hem up.

How does a heated fleece work?

Thin heating elements are stitched into the panels, usually across the chest and upper back, and run from a rechargeable battery carried in a pocket. The heat supplements the insulation rather than replacing it, so a heated fleece still needs a wind layer over it outdoors. Two practical points: the battery comes out before washing, and cold shortens how long a charge lasts.

How do you stop a fleece pilling?

Pilling is the pile abrading and rolling into balls, and it starts where a pack strap, a seat belt or a cuff rubs. Washing cool, inside out and without fabric softener keeps the fibres separate, since softener coats them and mats the nap. Skip the tumble dryer entirely. Sizing has a role too: a garment stretched tight over another layer rubs against itself, which is one reason a lighter fleece gilet often outlives a squeezed mid layer. The same care applies to every fleece jacket women cut.