Womens Fleeces
Stay warm and cosy in a fleece
Once the preserve of the lady who enjoys hiking, trekking and other rigorous outdoor activities, womens fleeces are these days viewed as a highly practical garment that can be used not only for serious outdoor pursuits but also for general day to day use. Produced by a range of well-known brand names, there is now a vast selection of fleeces to choose from, varying from the budget to the high performance, and including a number of fashionable options along the way!
First made in 1979, fleece fabric was originally referred to as polar fleece. The name was never patented, which meant that a number of manufacturers were free to produce and sell products using the material - resulting in the brand name becoming a general term in the world of fabric.
The benefits the fabric offers are myriad: it is extremely lightweight, soft and comfortable to wear, plus it doesn't absorb water, is highly breathable, and also easy to wash. Many of these features represent advantages over more traditional wool products, which have helped to make fleece products the success they are.
Womens fleeces remain an essential garment for the hiker, due to many of the benefits mentioned above. Unlike some items of clothing, fleeces are not bulky and can be easily packed down, making them a great choice also for campers and backpackers. They are popular among skiers and snow boarders, serving as an ideal mid-layer between vest and jacket, and it is no surprise to see fashionable skiwear labels producing womens fleeces to meet this demand.
As noted, the fleece is now a popular addition to many women's wardrobes, and can be put to use in all manner of day to day situations. They are a handy and practical option, perfect for wearing when you need to pop out on a chilly evening and a welcome alternative to the woolly jumper. This web site explores the features that make up womens fleeces, along with some useful buying advice if you fancy making a purchase!
The Main Features of Womens Fleeces
What to look for
Womens fleeces come in all different shapes and sizes, and there are a huge array of different features and benefits that they can offer. These days, fleeces are produced en masse by a number of well-respected fashion retailers such as O'Neill and Animal. However, more often than not they are thought of as a practical piece of apparel (which is true of course). Some of the practical features on offer will be discussed below, but in brief some additional components to look out for are: zippers, armless fleeces (or gilets), thermal pockets, hoods, different thicknesses (ranging from micro to 300), thermal efficiency, breathable fleeces and durability. The list goes on (and on).
One of the most important features of womens fleeces is their thermal efficiency, which was one of the main reasons for fleece being used for clothing in the first place. Fleece has a greater capacity to keep air trapped in than the main alternative of wool, which means you are able to retain more heat and therefore stay warmer. Some fleeces have additional features such as thermal pockets which can add to your warmth and comfort. Also, because fleeces aren't overly cumbersome or heavy they can be worn in conjunction with other layers of clothing. This makes them perfect for outdoor pursuits, because as we all know - wearing a number of layers is one of the best ways of keeping warm.
Another useful feature of fleeces is their breathability. As well as keeping you warm, they are sufficiently breathable to keep the wearer warm - but not overly so. In layman's terms this means that you will sweat less and be able to build up to a nice warm body temperature without getting uncomfortable.
A great benefit of fleece is that the advantages in terms of thermal efficiency and breathability don't come at a cost in terms of weight. Fleeces can be extremely light (the micro-fleece is a testament to this fact) while still offering warmth and comfort. This only adds to the appeal - fleeces are perfect for outdoor pursuits such as hiking, climbing and skiing. In addition to being light, fleeces are also very quick drying. This only adds to their appeal as it means you can quickly dry off when caught in a shower and won't be weighed down by heavy, wet clothing.
Overall fleeces offer many great benefits and they remain durable throughout; you can wear your fleece again and again without it falling apart in the wash. From a more fashion conscious perspective, womens fleeces in particular offer a variety of interesting features. They come with a range of zips; some unzip all the way whereas others just have a zip at the top making them easier to put on and take off. Some fleeces come with a hood and drawcord, meaning you can tighten the hood around your head making you extra cosy and protecting you from the wind. There are fleeces (or gilets) which come with no arms which are designed to keep just your body warm and give you complete flexibility of movement with the arms. Keep a look out for some of the features above and take them into consideration before you make your final purchase!
Manufacturers of Womens Fleeces
Who makes them?
As womens fleeces have become more and more popular over the years, there are now a large number of companies that produce them. These clothing manufacturers range from specialists in the production of outdoors clothing such as Berghaus and The North Face, to top fashion brands such as O'Neill and Animal. As well as these popular brands, there are a number of budget and own-brand options thrown into the mix.
At the budget end of the market in terms of fleeces, the biggest producers include the likes of Regatta, Trespass and Trekmates. For a cheap buy, it is possible to pick up a womens fleece for as little as £7.00 - £20.00. Needless to say, this kind of fleece probably won't last as long as the more expensive alternatives, but many of the £20.00 range are well made and offer the same additional features as their more pricey counterparts.
If you are after a high quality fleece for outdoor pursuits or for when you are out and about, look no further than Columbia, Berghaus and The North Face. These clothing manufacturers are specialists in producing outdoors clothing of the best quality, to ensure that you are both warm and comfortable. To some extent, these brands have become fashionable in their own right. Because the products they offer are of such a high quality, they have become very popular and well-respected. This has resulted in the more fashion conscious among you seeking them out as a trendy addition to the wardrobe.
If you are looking for something really stylish, it's good to know that womens fleeces are also produced by Bench, Rip Curl and O'Neill. As well as catering for those more fashion aware individuals, these brands also tend to focus on clothing for extreme sports such as climbing and snowboarding. These fleeces represent the more expensive end of the market. Although these clothing brands have been broken down in terms of fashion and practical application, it is worth considering the following: outdoor clothing specialists such as Berghaus and North Face are actually considered to be quite fashionable these days, and trendy brands such as O'Neill and Bench produce excellent products that will last a long time.
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It hasn't been the coldest winter so far, but it's certainly chilly enough to warrant a nice cosy fleece to help you keep warm.
If you're a lady who is heading off skiing then we can also recommend womens fleeces - they are perfect for wearing underneath a ski jacket, and you'll also look the part when it's time for apres ski as well!
Resources
Breaking Free - Travel, Explore, Adventure.
Directory Outdoor - Online outdoor directory, camping, scuba, hunting, fishing.
Ski Like A Woman - the on-line directory of ski and snowboard lessons and programmes for ladies at over 250 resorts around the world.
Berghaus Womens Fleeces
Excellent quality womens fleeces from Berghaus
Womens Fleeces
1. Womens fleeces are both fashionable and practical.
2. If you ladies want to stay warm and look good, a fleece is the answer.
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