In the garment industry today a lot of fabrics are called fleece, yet they look very different and their performance varies widely.

Author: Frank Ross

Selecting fleece and determining how you use it in a layering system will be affected in part by the terrain and cover where you intend to wear it.

When you know the difference, you'll be able to make a more intelligent buying decision.

Fleece can be either a natural or synthetic fiber that is flattened or pressed down, then brushed hard on one or both sides. This brushing process raises a napped, fuzzy texture on the brushed surface, which increases its softness and insulating potential by creating a medium for trapping air that is heated by the body. In addition to trapping air, the fleece fibers are very effective at wicking away moisture, so you get multiple benefits from wearing fleece because it's much softer, more comfortable to wear, very warm, breathable and silent.

The only downside to fleece would be that its soft, textured surface collects all types of field debris including burs, stickers and seeds, so selecting fleece and determining how you use it in a layering system will be affected in part by the terrain and cover where you intend to wear it. Sometimes fleece is better as a midlayer, where you get all the benefits and no drawbacks.

Cabela's carries garments with all types of fleece suited to any application or weather condition, as well as price point. Natural fleece is made of sheep wool. You'll find wool fleece most often in footwear, but it is also used for jacket collars. Since the majority of fleece fabrics used in garments are made of synthetic fibers, let's look at those in detail.

Velour
Velour can have either one or two sides napped, and it's the most recognized fleece on the market, most notably for the soft, velvety feel that is comfortable and feels fuzzy. Like all fleece, the napped sides create a soft layer with a comfortable, supple feel you can enjoy as a wear-alone garment or as an added layer around the house or town. An example of a velour fleece with single-side napping would be Cabela's Active Weight fleece, while SuperLoft™ has two sides napped.

Berber
Berber is the second most recognized fleece and features a heavily napped face on the exterior, making it look more nubby-textured. Better at retaining heat, Berber is an excellent layer for cold weather, or as an outer shell on colder days. Cabela's Mountain Sherpa Jacket would be an example.

Sweater fleece
With sweater fleece, or textured fleece, the lining is generally brushed, although not always, and features the original knit/woven exterior. This style of fleece has become very popular in the fashion world as casualwear, sweaters and light jacket additions to wardrobes.

Bonded fleece
The term bonded fleece can apply to several fabrics, but it's generally just two layers of fleece that have been bonded together to create a unique two-sided effect. This technique has become popular for making different feels and appearances of garments possible. Bonded fleece can be used as another casual outerwear layer, and it's great for the heat-to-weight ratio.

Soft-shell fleece
Soft-shell has the comfort of fleece, but with an exterior that will not collect burs, stickers, seeds or debris from an outdoor outing. Soft-shell is a fleece bonded to an exterior shell material, such as nylon treated for water repellency. This combination produces the stylish look, water resistance and warmth that make a great outer layer.

Wind-resistant and windproof fleece
Wind-resistant and windproof fleece fabrics offer great weight-to-warmth qualities in a lightweight package. Protection from the wind is achieved by varying the type of weave or by adding additional membranes. More tightly woven yarns restrict the amount of air that can pass through without reducing the fibers' ability to wick away moisture. By adding an extra membrane such as WindShear™ or WindStopper®, the fabric is bonded or stitched to a special layer that will reduce wind by up to 95%. Both of these two wind-barrier membranes have excellent wicking properties that eliminate moisture. They are also water-resistant and very durable.

Finishes
While fleece generally has a very soft hand, or feel, if it is not properly finished, it may pill over time or after repeated washings, or the brushed fibers will bunch up and separate into small groups. This results in a reduced medium for insulation, as well as a coarser feel and uneven appearance. Always verify that the garment you are interested in has a no-pill treatment, which the Cabela's brands have on all of their one-sided and many of their two-sided fleece garments.

Cabela's SuperLoft™ 200 Fleece Jacket

Cabela's branded fleece
SuperLoft™ 200 is a lightweight fleece used in many styles of clothing, blankets, linings and sleeping bags. Cabela's SuperLoft is great for a next-to-the-skin layer for casual wear, or as a layer above base layers for any outdoor activity.

SuperLoft 300 is a medium-weight fleece used in various garments. It's great for an outerwear piece for cooler weather in casual environments or as a secondary layering system in cold or extreme-cold conditions.

SuperLoft™ with WindShear™ combines the benefits of fleece with the wind-stopping technology of WindShear to create a garment that is four times warmer. This is an excellent fabric for casual outerwear, or as a shell layer in situations where you are not going to be exposed to burs and debris.

Berber is a heavier-weight fleece best used for an outer garment in open spaces, or with a light shell to prevent debris from collecting. Berber is used heavily in hunting garments and has become a customer-favorite for the field.

Berber with WindShear takes advantage of the excellent outdoor properties of Berber and the wind-blocking power of WindShear to form a barrier that retains body heat. Garments with this fabric are even more practical to use as outer garments and have become very popular with customers for their quiet, durable warmth.

Cabela's SoftTex™ Softshell Jacket

SoftTex™ is a 100-weight fleece bonded to a DWR-treated nylon shell. These soft-shell pieces are not only great for casual wear, but also good in the field, as they are highly water-resistant, breathable and resist picking up burs and debris or catching on branches and brambles.

Polartec® 100 is a lightweight fleece used primarily for shirts, pullovers and very lightweight jackets, vests and sweaters. Polartec 100 is ideally used for everyday casual wear.

Polartec 200 is a lightweight fleece used in many styles of clothing, blankets and linings. Polartec 200 is great for a layer above base layers for any outdoor activity.

Polartec 300 is a medium-weight fleece used in various garments. It's great for an outerwear piece for cooler weather in casual environments or as a secondary layering system in cold or extreme-cold conditions.

No matter how you decide to use fleece, alone or in a layering system, the result will be a warmer, drier, happier you!

Click this link to see all of Cabela's Hunting Clothing with fleece.
Click this link to see all of Cabela's Casual Clothing with fleece.

Other related articles of interest include:

Glove Buyer's Guide

Columbia Layering Guide