Who doesn’t love a jacket that is cozy, comfortable, and affordable? Everyone does! But with little knowledge of fleece jacket materials, we mostly fall for marketing gimmicks or are trapped by a shiny sales pitch. And we end up with a jacket that we don’t really like.
When it comes to jacket materials, there are plenty. Hence, when going out to buy a jacket, you should know what material you are looking for. Otherwise, you will get confused and return home with the wrong jacket or nothing at all.
Among various jacket materials, fleece is gaining popularity among customers for its ability to provide warmth in cold temperatures and a relaxed feel with high levels of comfort. If you want to learn more about fleece and fleece jackets, then continue reading…
About fleece…
Fleece is a synthetic fabric made from polyester. It is not too heavy or thick and has insulating properties – making it perfect for making comfortable, easy-to-wear, and warm jackets. And since the material is synthetic and can be produced in abundance, jackets made from fleece aren’t that expensive. However, like all things, if you are going for the highest quality fleece jacket, it will come with a higher price tag.
Judge a jacket on these six factors
If you want to get the right fleece jacket, you can only get one if you have a basic understanding of how to judge a fleece jacket correctly. Don’t worry, it’s not that hard, and you can get it right if you read the information carefully and apply it when you are out there shopping.
Material and Construction
All fleece fabrics aren’t created equal. When going out to buy a fleece jacket, make sure you choose a material that is soft and feels high-quality.
Next comes the construction of the jacket – this includes things like stitching, finishing, the quality of zippers and buttons – and how well they are attached. If you notice loose threads, or buttons or zippers loosely attached, then it’s better to stay away from that jacket.
Warmth
Needless to say, some fleece jackets are warmer than others and you need to grab one that is going to serve your purpose and needs. If you are going to be wearing your fleece jacket outdoors, then grab one of the warmer ones.
Breathability
Though fleece generally has a bad reputation when it comes to breathability, modern designers have found a way around it – through a combination of different fabrics and design approaches, they have succeeded in making fleece jackets more breathable while retaining warmth.
When buying one, make sure you pay attention to the design. If you can’t judge a jacket’s breathability on your own, ask someone who knows more about fleece. Or do some research.
Weather Resistance
Fleece jackets do offer weather resistance. It is obtained through hard-face technology or lining the fleece jacket with Wind stopper materials on the inside. Weather-resistant jackets are useful in harsh conditions – such as extremely cold winds and rains.
However, if you are going for a weather-resistant fleece jacket, you would have to compromise on breathability.
Weight
Generally, fleece comes in the following weight classes
- Ultralight
- Lightweight
- Midweight
- Heavyweight
The names of the classes are suggestive of the actual weight of the material. Weight generally tends to go hand in hand with warmth, however, there are exceptions to this.ie., there can be a lightweight or midweight jacket that provides equal warmth as a heavyweight jacket.
When it comes to the ideal balance, usually midweight jackets tend to provide that – the right combination of comfort, warmth, and ease of carrying.
Fit
A jacket that doesn’t fit, is of no use. Hence it is extremely important to check how a particular jacket fits your body. If you are in the store, you should try it on, to get an idea of the fit. However, when buying online, it gets a little trickier – people often tend to go select the size that usually fits them, forgetting that the “small” of one brand is different from the small of another brand. Hence, this way you can end up with a jacket that doesn’t fit.
When buying online, you should check the size chart and compare it with your body measurements – then go for the size that is closest to your measurements. When it comes to aesthetics, here’s how a jacket should fit.
- Since the jacket is layered on top of a shirt or a tee shirt, it should be loose enough to allow room for other pieces.
- The sleeves of the jacket should extend an inch beyond your wrists
- When it comes to length, the jacket should hang comfortably below your lower back
Now, based on your style you can break these rules sometimes – you can have a jacket that is either long, a bit baggy, or just perfect.
Some Features of Fleece Jackets
After correctly identifying the qualities, you want your jacket to have, you should pay attention to the features you want.
- Hoods
- Elastic hems
- Thumb loops
- Number of pockets
Which of these features you prefer in your jacket comes down to your style preferences and the use you intend to get out of your jacket. These features are both aesthetic and functional – when buying a jacket, you need to pay attention to both these aspects.
Getting the right fleece jacket
Now you are aware of things that matter when it comes to buying a fleece jacket. What is the right combination of these factors for you? That you will know better. It depends on your style, budget, and the weather conditions you are going to be dealing with.
Layering your fleece jacket
Fleece is a versatile material that can be layered on top of any outfit. Or if the weather conditions are extreme, it can also be layered under a parka.
A fleece jacket looks cool over a contrasting T-shirt, and a nice dark-colored pair of jeans. However, those are not the only layering options that you have. You can also layer your fleece jacket over a good-looking sweatshirt like the port and company core fleece crewneck sweatshirt available at TAF.
Lastly, don’t hesitate to experiment – once you try different layering combinations, you will figure out what works best for you.
End note
Now that you know how to judge a fleece jacket correctly, you won’t fall for deceptive sales pitches and marketing gimmicks. Now you can head to the market confidently and come home happy – with a perfect fleece jacket!
But if you are in a hurry, and want to order a jacket right now, then check out our collection of fleece jackets. You don’t need to worry about the construction and material – TAF nails those perfectly. However, do make sure you order the right size, the right look, and the right model based on how warm and breathable you want your jacket to be.
If you found the information shared in this blog helpful, do share this blog with your friends who are looking to stack their wardrobe with some good fleece jackets.
