Thermo or fleece clothing – a guide to choosing
Thermal or fleece clothing is considered the most popular clothing on the market
At Work Foxx, we understand how comfort and warmth can really affect your performance and enjoyment of work. This comprehensive guide is designed to help you choose the right fleece to provide you with much-needed warmth on your next job. Get comfortable and read on!
Thermo or fleece clothing - everything you need to know
Fleece is a soft, warm and light fabric that provides warmth and comfort in cold weather. Thermal or fleece clothing is used for work, sports and leisure. Fleece clothing is among the most popular pieces of clothing for transitional and winter periods. To make them, they use fabrics that keep you completely warm without adding bulk or weight. In our online store you can find vests and jackets made of fleece. The offer includes vests, jackets and jumpers from the brands Lacuna, Coverguard and Rolly.
What kind of material is fleece and how does it work?
Fleece is a popular and versatile synthetic fabric with a soft and cozy feel that is a great solution for winter and transitional clothing. It is made of polyester and its look and feel makes fleece popular in many areas of fashion, from adult clothing to baby clothing. The fabric construction allows the air trapped between the fibers to act as an insulator and warm the body and allow the skin to breathe. Fleece works by using a soft insulating synthetic fabric, usually made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), that traps body heat around your core and protects you from cold air and gale force winds. It is easy to maintain, dries quickly, and the fibers return to their original state after washing, so ironing is not necessary.
What fabric is fleece made of?
The vast majority of fleece fabrics sold in stores today are made from polyester fibers, but they can also be made from cotton, hemp, and rayon. Fleece is not a fiber like cotton or polyester, but a type of fabric. This means that fleece can be made from different types of fibers and that its performance is affected by the type of fibers it is made from. Two common types of fleece are cotton fleece and polyester fleece.
!Work Foxx
advises!
Since there are many different types of fleece available, it is important to understand what you will be using it for before you buy it. If you know how you're going to use your fleece, you'll find a product that provides the protection, warmth, technology and features you need.
Types of thermo or fleece clothing - what is available?
Thermo or fleece clothing is available in different thicknesses to suit different weather conditions and activities. The most common types of fleece are:
- Standard fleece
It is often combined into a layering system to increase warmth and protection. The layering system - base layer, middle layer (fleece) and outer layer - is the most practical and popular way to get the most out of fleece.
- Mesh patterned fleece
This type of fleece is very light and dries quickly and efficiently without losing its insulating properties. The mesh pattern helps to wick sweat and wick moisture away from the surface of the fabric. The gaps between the meshes trap air, increasing insulation and warmth.
- Membrane fleece
This type of fleece has a breathable membrane laminated between two layers of fleece to provide wind resistance.
- Tighter woven fleece
This fleece reduces windiness without affecting breathability.
!Work Foxx advises!
If you want to ensure that you buy a fleece that is long-lasting and durable, you need to consider more technical options. Poor quality microfleece will be more susceptible to cracking and tearing as it will be less durable. If you spend a little more, you get a lot!
Meaning of the labels: micro, 300, 340, 380 and 450 g/m2?
Micro is the thinnest and most flexible type of fleece. It wicks away sweat perfectly, making it an ideal layer for work and outdoor trips. Its hydrophobic properties make it water-repellent, quick-drying and warm when wet. It has a 100% polyester velor construction that retains heat with air pockets, so you'll be extra warm without adding weight.
The grammage of the fleece tells us the weight of the material from which the jacket or vest is made. In our online store you can find thermal or fleece clothing with a grammage from 300 to 450 g/m2.
- Fleeces with a grammage of 350 - 450 g/m2 are considered the thickest type available and the heaviest of the group. An example of such a fleece is Fleece jacket WARMY. They provide exceptional warmth, but are heavier and thicker than other types of fleece. Fleece with a weight of 350 - 450 g/m2 is intended exclusively for holding and keeping warm on cold winter days.
- Fleeces with a grammage of 250 - 350 g/m2 are considered a slightly thinner type and belong to the medium weight category of fleece clothing. They are suitable for winter as well as for transitional periods. An example of such a fleece is Fleece jacket LUCIANE, which is considered a very warm and functional piece of clothing. Mid-range fleeces are the most popular for work and leisure, as they provide the best ratio between warmth and comfort.
- Fleeces with a grammage of 100 - 250 g/m2 are considered the thinnest type and belong to the light category. They are suitable for more active outdoor activities in cold weather. They are popular with athletes who want to wear a warm and extremely light piece of clothing that breathes in cold weather.
!Work Foxx advises!
Before buying a fleece, you should always consider what activities you will be doing and in what temperatures. Choosing a heavy fleece, for example 450 g/m2 weight, to wear when working in a warehouse is impractical, as it will be too warm, heavy and cumbersome. On the other hand, when choosing a 280gsm fleece, for use in very cold conditions, you'll wish you'd bought two!
What can you expect from fleece?
Different manufacturers use different brands of fabric in their fleeces, which provide different properties for keeping warm, dry and comfortable. Below are the main things to look out for when choosing the perfect fleece.
Isolation
The middle layer of the fleece is often known as the insulation layer, so it is crucial to consider what kind of insulation each fleece has. If you increase the thickness of the fleece, you will create a warmer middle layer, but you will also increase its weight. Some brands use smart technology to create a thin fleece that still keeps you comfortable. Microfleece has a structure that uses air pockets to capture and retain heat.
Water resistance and breathability
Some types of fleece use fabric technologies that provide some protection against water while being completely breathable. For example, Polartec® Micro is a thin material that has hydrophobic properties, meaning it can repel water, stay warm when wet and help with ventilation without affecting comfort. Due to these properties, it also perfectly wicks away sweat and moisture, making it an ideal fabric for an active lifestyle.
Fit and shape
Fit and comfort are essential priorities in all work and outdoor clothing, and these variables are affected by thickness, weight and material type. Features such as a hem, adjustable waistband and Velcro® cuffs allow you to adjust the shape of the fleece to fit your body perfectly. These details eliminate drafts and trap heat to keep you warm and dry.
Fleece lining in jackets: 3 in 1
If you want to stay warm and dry outdoors, layering is essential, so fleece has become an integral part of some jackets to insulate you from cold and wet weather. Many jackets, such as the 3-in-1, consist of a middle layer of fleece inside an outer layer or shell. While the shell protects against wind and wetness, the middle or insulation layer retains body heat and keeps you warm and dry. You can often zip these two layers together to create excellent protection in cold, wet weather. You can find such products in the "Jackets" segment.
!Work Foxx advises!
Don't worry about the many different technologies and fabrics used in fleeces. By understanding how and where you will use the fleece, you will be able to find a fleece with the properties you want. If you intend to use the fleece in a variety of ways, consider choosing one that has insulation and a good fit; you can simply wear it under a waterproof suit and get unbeatable protection.
You can view the entire range of fleece clothing HERE .
Work Foxx offers a large selection of winter and transitional jackets, vests, thermo or fleece clothing, softshell clothing, hoodies and sweaters, T-Shirts, caps and hats and rain clothing produced according to European quality standards. The offer includes seasonal clothing of brands Lacuna, Coverguard, Keya, JHK, Rolly, SOL'S, Gildan, etc. Seasonal clothing can be personalized with machine embroidery or printing. At Work Foxx, we take care of the perfect look and overall image of your company. You can read more about personalization in the tab "Personalization" at the bottom of the page.