Polar fleece
Also known as: 300-weight fleece, Polartec 300
Heavy fleece grade at 280-330 g/m² with dense double pile for cold conditions.
Description
Polar fleece is the heavy fleece class, known in North America as "300-weight". Its origin lies with Malden Mills (now Polartec), who in 1979 developed the first polyester fleece with Yvon Chouinard (Patagonia) as a replacement for wool mid-layers. The 300 version stands out for high loft, dense double pile (3-4 mm per side) and outstanding thermal insulation.
Typical weights are 280-330 g/m². Base material is 100% polyester (filament or rPET), usually a single-jersey ground with subsequent double-sided brushing. Thermal performance equals roughly a 400 g wool sweater at half the weight. The hand is soft, wool-like and plush; the fabric dries quickly and stores little moisture.
Classic uses: mountaineering mid-layers, thick fleece jackets for outdoor and winter, hunting and fishing wear, warm blankets, insulating linings. Brands: Polartec 300, Karrimor Alpiniste, Patagonia Retro-X. Care: 30-40 °C, no fabric softener, low tumble dry, Guppyfriend bag against microplastic release.
Properties
| Material base | Polyester 100% (PES/rPET) |
|---|---|
| Fabric weight (typ.) | 280-330 g/m² |
| Pile height | 3-4 mm both sides |
| Application | Mid-layers, winter fleece jackets |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- Polartec Polartec / Milliken https://www.polartec.com/
- Wikipedia: Knitted fabric Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knitted_fabric
