Fleece is a fabric that can be made out of a variety of fibers including wool, cotton, and polyester. It’s often used in clothing like pullovers, coats, and blankets.
Whether you’re looking for an outer layer for cold weather, or something warmer to wear while sitting around the house, fleece is one of the most popular options amongst outdoor enthusiasts and casual consumers alike. It’s soft, comfortable, and warm enough to keep you toasty while you’re out enjoying the outdoors.
But what exactly is it that makes fleece so warm? Well, it’s a synthetic fabric that was invented to mimic the warmth of natural wool. It’s also known as faux wool or synthetic shearling and is typically sourced from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a type of polyester, but can be infused with natural materials to create different textures in the fabric.
It’s a synthetic material that’s usually produced in a factory. It’s not a natural fiber like wool or cotton, but it is very soft and feels like wool.
Synthetic fabrics can degrade quickly. They begin to pill and wear thin after a few years of use and laundering, especially when they are exposed to water and harsh chemicals. This is why it’s important to choose a product that has been tested for its durability.
Wool is a natural fiber that’s created from the hair of animals such as sheep and alpacas. The fur needs to be shorn once a year to prevent it from becoming matted and tangled, which can lead to diseases and other health problems for the animal.
This process of shearing can cause itching for many people, so you’ll want to take that into consideration when shopping for wool. However, there are products on the market that are designed to help combat itchiness, such as wool liners and socks.
They’re also breathable so you won’t overheat in them while wearing them and they are very odor resistant, which is another benefit that can help you avoid unwanted body odors while out in the wilderness.
Compared to fleece, wool naked is more durable and can stand up to a lot of wear and tear. The only downfall to wool is that it can become dry and brittle over time. It’s a great fabric to have in your closet for cold weather protection, but it can be expensive to purchase over the long term if you don’t care for it properly.
It’s also a much more environmentally friendly option than fleece because it doesn’t require the use of livestock. Unlike with synthetic fleece, wool production doesn’t require the use of non-renewable fossil fuels and can be partially made from recycled plastics.
If you’re a fan of the warmth and comfort of wool, but aren’t a huge fan of the environmental impact it may take to produce it, consider trying merino wool. It’s a great alternative to synthetic fleece and offers some of the same benefits, but it’s much less expensive.