Choosing a fleece jacket

Hated by the fashion the world and loved by the outdoor world the fleece jacket is arguably one of the biggest revolutions in outdoor clothing. This article is not about the sorts of fleeces found in fusion shops; it’s a look at the technical type of fleece – an outdoor garment - found in sports and outdoor wear shops.

The fleeces available nowadays are far from the original fleeces that were in essence like a jumper. When fleece jackets were first available they were a revolution in outdoor wear, compared it’s predecessor - wool and multiple layers, however it did have two major drawbacks - the fleece was not at all windproof and neither was it waterproof. That said one of the big advantages of fleece jackets is that when they do get wet they dry out incredibly quickly. Most people wanted a jacket that could do all things though and it was this that led to the introduction of multilayered jackets where the fleece would zip in to a waterproof and windproof shell.

In the past five years fleeces have become increasing technical and with the advances in breathable materials have become windproof and shower proof. Although better from a features point of view, this has made the fleece feel not a soft as it used to as the fabric has some stiffness to it – but I guess you can’t have everything.

One of the big factors that contributed to the popularity of the fleece was its warmth to weight ratio. They are incredibly light and can be packed down very small and this meant that they were a great addition to any walkers rucksack or day sack.

The sort of fleece you choose to buy will be very dependant on what you want it for, if you only want it to walk the dog, it’s unlikely that you will be too bothered about the weight and size of it, if you do mountain marathons the weight and packed size will probably be one of the most critical items on your list. Here’s a list of features to look out for depending on what you want to do with your fleece:

• Materials
  Fleeces are generally made from 100% polyester, in terms of fleeces though Polartec® have pretty much cornered the market on fleece materials. Most technical fleeces will be made from a Polartec® materials and they have a vast range. Their classic range comes as a 100, 200 and 300 type and this denoted their weight. The 100 is the lightest weight fabric which is more suited to a base layer, the 200 is and everyday use type material and the 300 a heavy duty extreme cold condition type material. From a safety point of view it is fair to say that fleeces used to set alight rather well, the newer material are flame resistant and won’t melt or drip on the skin. If you regularly sit in front of fires with and old fleece may be it’s time for an upgrade.
• Pockets
  If you fleece is for an outer layer you will definitely want it to have pockets. Base layers fleeces generally won’t because you won’t have access to them. Look for zipped hand pockets and a large zipped chest pocket as a minimum. Other useful places to have pockets are on the arm as access to them will not become restricted when you are wearing a rucksack on your back.
• Reinforced shoulders
  This has two benefits, firstly the shoulder pads can be made of a water resistant material and secondly they will prevent wear of your fleece if you regularly use a rucksack. You may think it’s a bit odd to just have waterproof shoulders but if you’re walking this in the main contact area with the rain.
• High neck
• A high collar will prevent drafts and water getting in to your fleece, so don’t go for a fleece with a shorter collar unless you’re only going to use it as a base layer.
• Zip Length
  This is personal preference really, you get either a full length zipper or a chest zip. Having a full length zip does make it easier to get the fleece off, but does give more opportunities for drafts to creep in.
• Cuffs
  Cuffs come in three varieties – elasticized, Velcro adjustable and open. I wouldn’t recommend the open sort but would recommend the Velcro sort. You may pay a little bit more for adjustable cuffs but it does mean that when you get hot you can roll the sleeves up without damaging the elastic in the cuff.
• Elastic hem cord
  Some fleeces come with an adjustable hem; you can pull them tight in colder weather. If you do go for a fleece jacket with an elasticated hem choose one that is a one handed operation. You’ll know if it’s one handed because the toggle it fixed in position and you can pull the elastic through it without having to hold it.
• Ventilation
  The more expensive fleeces come with zippered ventilation under the arms. This is a great feature as sometime you’re a bit too warm but it’s not warm enough to take off the fleece. The zipped underarm allows you to be at just the right temperature.

Hopefully this brief overview has given some tips on choosing your next fleece.