A little history
In the photo below are the people who were the first to conquer Everest. Let's take a closer look: the cuffs and collar of a woolen sweater are sticking out from under the down jacket, downy trousers are on the legs, and woolen socks are peeking out of the shoes. Yes, climbing is always a challenge to a person’s physical capabilities and overcoming oneself, but imagine how much easier and more comfortable the path to the top could be if the pioneers were dressed in modern sportswear! Warm and breathable wool has always had a number of disadvantages - it is heavy, short-lived, and absorbs moisture abundantly.
Still from the film “Everest. Achieving the impossible." Source: meloman.ru
The search for light, durable, equally warming fabric worried both climbers and scientists. Only 20 years after the conquest of Everest in the 70s, scientists from Malden Mills (USA, Pennsylvania) created a breakthrough technology. First, a cloth was made from a special synthetic fiber. Next, the fabric passed through a machine equipped with rollers with hooks, which, without disturbing the integrity, pulled the threads to the surface. The result was a brushed fabric with many air-filled “pockets” and pores. It was called the English word Fleece, literally “sheepskin” or “fleece”.
Leading manufacturers
The meaningful name hid a fabric superior in quality to its natural counterparts, but Malden Mills refused the patent, thereby allowing the invention to quickly spread in the sportswear market. The discoverers themselves began to improve fleece - the fabric accumulated static electricity and was easily flammable. And we managed to eliminate the shortcomings through various impregnations. And already in 1979 Polarfleece was patented. The word “polar” is not accidental here: the base uses DuPont hollow fiber, imitating the fur of polar animals. In 2007, both the fabric and the company itself were renamed to Polartec, already familiar to every hiker. In addition to Polartec LLC, which is not losing its leadership position, it is worth noting the Italian brand Pontetorto. Today, almost every outdoor clothing brand has budget options for fleece jackets for tourism, sports and everyday life.
Elbrus with PIK
Why is fleece so popular?
Fleece is an indispensable garment for winter hiking. Let's find out why. The benefits of fleece clothing are directly related to the properties of the fabric.
- High heat saving rates. Due to the air pockets, fleece retains heat longer.
- Low specific gravity. Simply put, a fleece jacket with equal warmth will weigh much less than a wool sweater or other analogues.
- Hydrophobicity. Even a specially dampened fabric retains less than 1% of its weight in water. A fleece that gets accidentally wet in the rain will dry 10 times faster than a sweater, since wool absorbs thirty times more moisture.
- Vapor permeability is the ability of a fabric to “breathe”. If we try to retain air, then moisture, on the contrary, must be removed. Fleece easily passes water vapor from the human body through the porous fabric and, due to the hydrophobicity of the fibers, remains dry, so water circulates in the fabric without loss of heat.
- Wear resistance and unpretentiousness. Fleece is resistant to mechanical stress and does not require maintenance; it does not wrinkle.
- Soft and comfortable material.
- Convenient to sew and model.
- Hypoallergenic. Wool can cause irritation and itching of the skin; synthetic fabric does not have this disadvantage.
- Artificial origin. To produce fleece, you can use recycled plastic bottles and film. Such synthetic fiber will not be eaten by moths.
A family of tourists at the “Point of the Season”
Low-density fleece (density 100 g/m2)
The most popular thick fleece jackets and pullovers for tourists are made from low-density (light) fleece. This type of clothing allows your body to stay warm while you are walking with a backpack on your shoulders in cool weather, without causing excessive sweating. It is also ideal for wearing under a raincoat - fleece is able to absorb condensing moisture without cooling your body.
In the photo: Clothing made of fleece with a density of 100 g/m2.
As you explore the range of low-weight fleece clothing, you will find that retailers and manufacturers use several different names for this material, including: Polartec Thermal Pro Lightweight, 100 Weight Fleece, R1 and TKA 100.
Description and best use:
- can be worn as a base layer in cool or damp weather;
- has a small volume;
- characterized by high breathability;
- Suitable for when your body generates a lot of heat;
- Fits compactly into a backpack.
The most popular models:
- Patagonia R1 jacket;
- The North Face Tika 100 pullover.
Why do you need a fleece jacket when hiking?
The choice of equipment depends on the content of the hike, but the mandatory general advice for everyone is three layers of clothing. The characteristics of the clothing items themselves will vary, but it is the universal combination of moisture management, thermal insulation and wind/moisture protection that will prevent you from getting wet from sweat, freezing, or catching a cold in the wind and rain.
At the top of Elbrus
Fleece is found in all three stages: from warm base layer underwear to combination outer jackets. A standard fleece hiking jacket is ideal for a mid-layer, heat-saving layer. But it can also be used outside the classic trio, for example, worn without a top in warm, windless weather or inside cool rooms or tents. And you can even use it as additional thermal insulation, for example, to keep warm in a tent, you can put a jacket under your lower back.
Medium weight fleece (weight 200 g/m2)
Mid-weight fleece is often used as an outer layer for wear in colder weather and less physical activity. This is a thicker material than low-density fleece, it has more thermal insulation and at the same time quite good breathability.
In the photo: Clothing made of fleece with a density of 200 g/m2.
As you explore the range of midweight fleece clothing, you will notice that retailers and manufacturers use several different names to name this material, in particular: Polartec Thermal Pro Midweight, 200 Weight Fleece, R2 and TKA 200.
Description and best use:
- Can be worn over base layer clothing in colder weather;
- can be worn under a hardshell jacket;
- has good breathability;
- Suitable for situations where your body does not produce much heat;
- more bulk than low-density fleece.
The most popular models:
- Patagonia R2 Jacket;
- Mountain Hardware Monkey Man 200 Pullover;
- The North Face Tka 200 jacket.
How to choose a fleece jacket?
The properties of the jacket will depend on the density of the fleece in it. And the denser the fabric, the heavier it is. Malden Mills kept things simple and divided the fabric into several categories according to weight per square meter. Now this classification has become generally accepted, however, more often on labels you can find not the weight itself, but indices invented by clothing manufacturers. When making a responsible selection, it makes sense to read the value of a particular index on the manufacturer’s website. Fleece jackets themselves can be divided into light, medium and heavy.
Lightweight - 200-400 g/sq.m.
Made from thin, pore-rich fleece with a slight brushing. This jacket weighs very little, is compact, and dries quickly. Thin material is convenient for creating anatomical, form-fitting models. The main area of application is the middle insulating layer during active physical activity, for example, cross-country skiing, cycling, running, rock climbing. Here it is important not only to retain heat, but also to remove its excess, eliminating overheating, and the abundance of pores contributes to active moisture removal. It is also worn as a warm base layer at very low temperatures, for example, on bicycle trips along Lake Baikal.
Bicycle trip around Lake Baikal
TYPES OF FLEECE JACKETS
In the sportswear industry, it is traditional to classify fleece by weight. The most common material is with a weight of 100-300 g/m2, also fleece with a cellular structure and fire-resistant fleece with the designation “R”. The "weight" of fleece refers to the density and thickness of the material. Most companies use the Polartec scale of 100, 200, 300 - the higher the number, the thicker the fleece and the warmer (and heavier) the jacket will be.
- Fleece jackets made of fleece 100 g/m2
- lightweight and highly breathable. They provide the wearer with a wide range of movement and work great as a lightweight insulating layer during intense aerobic exercise. - Fleece jackets 200 g/m2
represent the golden mean in fleece. This type of material is the most popular due to its versatility and ease of use as a second layer in a layered clothing system. Ideal for layering over thermal layers and under outer membrane jackets for most outdoor sports. - Jackets made of 300 g/m2 fleece
are significantly thicker and heavier than previous representatives. Items made from 300-gauge fleece are more difficult to use in a layering system. They are specially designed for cold and extreme weather conditions. However, such jackets are good to wear as independent outerwear or as super insulation on unpredictable trips.
It is worth noting that knitted fleece fabric made from mixed fibers, for example, polypropylene and natural wool (found in NEWLAND models), allows you to enhance the main advantages of both components. It is also popular to use fleece fabric with a membrane layer to obtain windproof, breathable and moisture-resistant fabric (Gore WINDSTOPPER, Polartec WINDBLOCK). Often when producing comfortable softshell fabric, fleece is also used to create a soft and warm underside.
Non-obvious details
Even the most comfortable jacket has nuances that may not be noticeable in the store, but on a hike create difficulties or, conversely, give an advantage.
Pockets and zippers
It is important that the location of pockets and zippers corresponds to the structural elements of outerwear and hiking equipment. Thus, waist pockets, in which we like to warm our hands, often find themselves squeezed by a backpack or harness. If there is a “zipper” on them, sandwiched between the body and the uniform, it will cut into the skin and cause pain. Take a closer look at models with chest pockets or without them at all.
Hood
A familiar element may also be superfluous. For example, skiers and snowboarders prefer to wear a balaclava, and the hood is forced to fold into an uncomfortable accordion in the neck area. It should be noted that now there are styles of jackets with a special cut of the hood to completely replace the liner. In classic hikes and when a fleece jacket is used as an outer layer, the presence of a hood allows the head and neck area to be warmed, if necessary, in addition to or instead of a hat.
Beach with volcanic sand in Iceland
Hole cuffs
The purpose of the cuff is to secure the sleeve so that it doesn't roll up as you move, so having a thumb hole in it helps provide extra security. However, this detail can create inconvenience if fleece is used as a middle layer, and the outer jacket already has similar sleeves. Or if you need to wear tight-fitting gloves, like those worn by cyclists and climbers.
Style
The style of a fleece jacket affects comfort during a hike. Tight-fitting, anatomical models are comfortable for active sports. Loose, sweater-like cut, on the contrary, for maximum heat retention during sedentary rest. Many brands are not limited only to volume, but produce complex models that follow anatomy. This is especially useful for active movements in thin fleece jackets, but expect to pay a premium for the thoughtful design. The length and proportions of products also vary; there is no general standard. For example, the Scandinavian Norrona is more suitable for tall and thin tourists, while the South Korean Black Yak, on the contrary, is more suitable for short ones.
If fleece is used as a midlayer, consider the characteristics of outerwear. For example, the fleecy lining of a membrane jacket can cling to the fleece's pile and make it difficult to wear, and an overly fitted cut will prevent a loose, baggy fleece from being pulled down.
Halt in Crimea
Keotica fleece suit olive
Photo: pokupki.market.yandex.ru
A high-quality, warm and comfortable suit, characterized by a high level of reliability and convenience. Sewn with high quality and sound quality, the threads do not stick out anywhere. Can be used as an individual suit in the off-season, or as an underwear during the winter season.
Keotica fleece suit olive
Advantages:
- Upper material: 100% PE, fleece 280 g/m2
- Number of pockets: 4
- 2 pockets on jacket with zipper closure
- 2 pockets on trousers without fastening
- Hood with adjustable volume, removable
- Central zipper of the jacket, two-lock, tractor type
- Zippered ends for easy opening with gloves
- Adjustment of the jacket at the bottom with an elastic cord
- The trouser waistband has an elastic band and is adjustable with a non-elastic cord.
Flaws
The disadvantages of fleece jackets depend on the quality of the fabric used. Fleece can accumulate static electricity, quickly acquire an unpleasant odor without regular washing, form pills in friction areas, and easily ignite. Try not to dry your jacket by the fire; you should wash it according to the recommendations. If you give preference to branded fabric, in the production of which special impregnations are used and used carefully, then fleece can be worn for more than ten years. In addition, you can consider alternative options - clothes made from merino wool, jackets using SoftShell technology, microfiber non-woven insulation that imitates down and feathers, for example, Thinsulate.
Mouse-traveler in Kamchatka
Today, a tourist can no longer imagine a hike without a fleece jacket. Its combination of technology, design and affordability maintains its leadership in the heat-protecting hiking clothing category. All that remains is to assess the upcoming weather conditions and the amount of physical activity, and the range of fleece jackets already has a ready-made solution.
