dandares22
10-27-2009, 07:38
Fleece - mid layer in outdoor clothes
http://outdoor-equip.com/media/_cat/polartec_fibers.jpg
Mid layer provides your body with warmth. It keeps the warm air trapped near your body. Fleece coats, jackets and pants are good examples of mid layer outdoor garments. They are good at keeping the air warm and their polyester material fibers also transfer the moisture away. Wool and down are also known to be good insulators. Though, unlike synthetic fabric, these natural materials accumulate excessive moisture. Polartec® and Thinsulate® provide good insulation for different conditions while having the minimal weight.
The down is superlative for extreme low temperatures but can only be used in dry air. The fleece clothing due to its great insulation and breathability is the most widespread layered clothing now. These clothing goes on keeping its insulation functions even after it becoms wet outside, and it also dries faster than the wool. In order to avoid overheating when doing hard physical activity (sports like cycling or running) it is recommended to use lighter kinds of fleece, such as Polartec® Micro. For colder weather use the thicker fleece materials - like Polartec® 200, Polartec® 300 or Polartec® Thermal Pro. Also you can put on clothing with wind protection membrane materials: Gore® Windstopper® и Polartec® Windbloc®.
Fleece clothing (likewise thermal underwear) doesn’t need any special care. Yes, there are liquids specially intended for washing fleece materials, but you can easily wash them with detergent for a delicate wash and water not hotter than +104°F (+40°C). If you wash Soft shells, though, use ONLY SPECIAL DETERGENTS which are usually liquid. Don’t be greedy and buy only these special care detergents, otherwise after two washings your clothing will lose all of its functions!
Fleece and Polartec what's the difference?
Both they are - 100% polyester but Polartec have more positive reviews
Expert opinion "There's the distinction between fleece and polartec. Fleece - is the fleece and polartec is fleece made by USA company 'Malden-Mills Industries. Polartec is't more than a trademark and brand for Malden-Mills' fleece fiber materials. The main point is that 'fleece' - is common name for materials made acorrding to specific manufacturing technology. The technology itselfs (fleece) was researched long time ago, but Malden-Mills innovated Polactec technology in 1970 and made world first product under POLARFLEECE label and after than fact 'fleece' term became so popular around the world."
About Polartec material
http://outdoor-equip.com/media/_cat/fleece_jacket1.jpg http://outdoor-equip.com/media/_cat/fleece_jacket2.jpg
Polartec is not natural material, from technological aspect Polartec is 100% polyester sometimes with addition of lycra, cotton, wool, nylon, artificial silk elements. Nevertheless polartec beats natual wool and other natural fibers materials due to it's versatile,odors resisting, soft feel, high breathability and warm insulation qualities. For this issue Polartec materials named "Climat Control Fabrics" and used as primary insulation choice amount experienced outdoor enthusiast for three decades.
Polartec performance mechanism: dry-warmth body effect guaranteed due high ventilation level and small moisture absorption rates. Main Polartec properties: warmfull, lightweight, durable, long lasting, have water resisting and breathable qualities.
Clothes made of polartec provides outstanding warm insulation without the weight and bulk of traditional insulating fabrics are, lasts longer and are more lightweight than traditional fleece. Polartec win high marks from outdoor enthusiasts for their moisture wicking and quick-drying qualities and even being very wet outdoor clothes made of polartec reserves its insulation properties. Polartec isn't so perfect as wind resisting material though (exception is Polartec Wind Pro), so you can use your hardshell jackets to prevent wind chill.
Windstopper. Fleece covered with windproof membrane that allows internal moisture to move to outer surface. There are 2 types of Windstopper: 2 layers. Membrane is padding (underlining) for fleece. 3 layers. Memrane placed between 2 fleece layers
Is good fleece worth buying more than polartec?
Expert opinion "I'd rather buy myself a Polartec than a 'good' Fleece in case that it's real Polartec with Polartec® label and pink mountains logo. I still wearing 2 original Polartec (100-200) jackets bought in 1988, so they perform without any problems, but fleeces i changed many from that times."
"I have no idea what is 'good fleece' probably it is 'thick fleece'. Polartec has simpler gardes - maximim is Polartec 500, Polar 100 is not used any more in practice, polar 200 and 300 is the new standart for good fleece. "
Polartec and 'fake' fleece
Dirrerence between polartec and fleece under other brands are not noticeable. Because polartec and freece manufacturing has common issue: manufacturing not a material but a fiber. Special fabrics properties received due to fiber that made by Dupon company. In case then the company makes fiber with same as Dupon's fiber quality, the fabric (cloth) should to be closely by quality or same quality.
The main problem is to differ real Polartec from fake or general cheap fleece. The solution is to buy clothes in proven shops or train eyes for fake-detection. Its' hard to detect polartec made by Malde Mills from other fleece but 'fake' fleece has worse thermal insulating and long-lasting properties .
Types of Polartec
http://outdoor-equip.com/media/_cat/polartec_clothes_dry.jpg
The different types of Polartec fabrics include varying fleece weights, textures and composition.
Underwear - Polactec 100 Polactec 100: Thin fuzzy (fluffy) material are ideal for warm underwear base layer
Power Dry Thin eleastic material has two-layer structure ideal suited for thermal underwear. Designed to keep your skin dry when you sweat. Dry Power dryers two times faster than cotton.
Power Stretch Polartec® Power Stretch® fabrics feature body-hugging 4-way stretch and are very breathable. Its elastic and soft 4-way stretching material. The durable smooth outer layer and soft inner layer pulls moisture away from your skin. Power Stretch fabrics have their dry-away-moisture properties at least 25% more than same base layer materials.
http://outdoor-equip.com/media/_cat/polartec_clothes_2.jpg
Polartec 200-300 Double-sided fluffy fleece material. Maintains good anti pile properties. Ideal for mid insulation layer. Doesn't get wet during light rain.
Windbloc Combines warm insulation, wind-wet resistant and breathable features of outer layer. Offer maximum protection from the cold and the elements.Blocks wind at 50 km/h speed. Inner-side layer of material have good body-feel and pulls moisture away from the body to keep you dry. Outer layer sprayed with a waterproof material.
Windbloc ACT ACT stands for Air Control Technology (shorter single-sided windbloc). Polartec® Windbloc-ACT® blocks 98% of the wind at 50 km/h wind speed. By combining several features in a single fabric, they eliminate the need for a windbreaker or additional shell. Pulls moisture away 3 times faster than Windpro and it's lighter and thinner than Windbloc.
Wind Pro Double-sided structure and tight nattering provide high thermal insulation properties for this material yet provide 4x more wind resistance than traditional fleece.
http://outdoor-equip.com/media/_cat/polartec_fibers.jpg
Mid layer provides your body with warmth. It keeps the warm air trapped near your body. Fleece coats, jackets and pants are good examples of mid layer outdoor garments. They are good at keeping the air warm and their polyester material fibers also transfer the moisture away. Wool and down are also known to be good insulators. Though, unlike synthetic fabric, these natural materials accumulate excessive moisture. Polartec® and Thinsulate® provide good insulation for different conditions while having the minimal weight.
The down is superlative for extreme low temperatures but can only be used in dry air. The fleece clothing due to its great insulation and breathability is the most widespread layered clothing now. These clothing goes on keeping its insulation functions even after it becoms wet outside, and it also dries faster than the wool. In order to avoid overheating when doing hard physical activity (sports like cycling or running) it is recommended to use lighter kinds of fleece, such as Polartec® Micro. For colder weather use the thicker fleece materials - like Polartec® 200, Polartec® 300 or Polartec® Thermal Pro. Also you can put on clothing with wind protection membrane materials: Gore® Windstopper® и Polartec® Windbloc®.
Fleece clothing (likewise thermal underwear) doesn’t need any special care. Yes, there are liquids specially intended for washing fleece materials, but you can easily wash them with detergent for a delicate wash and water not hotter than +104°F (+40°C). If you wash Soft shells, though, use ONLY SPECIAL DETERGENTS which are usually liquid. Don’t be greedy and buy only these special care detergents, otherwise after two washings your clothing will lose all of its functions!
Fleece and Polartec what's the difference?
Both they are - 100% polyester but Polartec have more positive reviews
Expert opinion "There's the distinction between fleece and polartec. Fleece - is the fleece and polartec is fleece made by USA company 'Malden-Mills Industries. Polartec is't more than a trademark and brand for Malden-Mills' fleece fiber materials. The main point is that 'fleece' - is common name for materials made acorrding to specific manufacturing technology. The technology itselfs (fleece) was researched long time ago, but Malden-Mills innovated Polactec technology in 1970 and made world first product under POLARFLEECE label and after than fact 'fleece' term became so popular around the world."
About Polartec material
http://outdoor-equip.com/media/_cat/fleece_jacket1.jpg http://outdoor-equip.com/media/_cat/fleece_jacket2.jpg
Polartec is not natural material, from technological aspect Polartec is 100% polyester sometimes with addition of lycra, cotton, wool, nylon, artificial silk elements. Nevertheless polartec beats natual wool and other natural fibers materials due to it's versatile,odors resisting, soft feel, high breathability and warm insulation qualities. For this issue Polartec materials named "Climat Control Fabrics" and used as primary insulation choice amount experienced outdoor enthusiast for three decades.
Polartec performance mechanism: dry-warmth body effect guaranteed due high ventilation level and small moisture absorption rates. Main Polartec properties: warmfull, lightweight, durable, long lasting, have water resisting and breathable qualities.
Clothes made of polartec provides outstanding warm insulation without the weight and bulk of traditional insulating fabrics are, lasts longer and are more lightweight than traditional fleece. Polartec win high marks from outdoor enthusiasts for their moisture wicking and quick-drying qualities and even being very wet outdoor clothes made of polartec reserves its insulation properties. Polartec isn't so perfect as wind resisting material though (exception is Polartec Wind Pro), so you can use your hardshell jackets to prevent wind chill.
Windstopper. Fleece covered with windproof membrane that allows internal moisture to move to outer surface. There are 2 types of Windstopper: 2 layers. Membrane is padding (underlining) for fleece. 3 layers. Memrane placed between 2 fleece layers
Is good fleece worth buying more than polartec?
Expert opinion "I'd rather buy myself a Polartec than a 'good' Fleece in case that it's real Polartec with Polartec® label and pink mountains logo. I still wearing 2 original Polartec (100-200) jackets bought in 1988, so they perform without any problems, but fleeces i changed many from that times."
"I have no idea what is 'good fleece' probably it is 'thick fleece'. Polartec has simpler gardes - maximim is Polartec 500, Polar 100 is not used any more in practice, polar 200 and 300 is the new standart for good fleece. "
Polartec and 'fake' fleece
Dirrerence between polartec and fleece under other brands are not noticeable. Because polartec and freece manufacturing has common issue: manufacturing not a material but a fiber. Special fabrics properties received due to fiber that made by Dupon company. In case then the company makes fiber with same as Dupon's fiber quality, the fabric (cloth) should to be closely by quality or same quality.
The main problem is to differ real Polartec from fake or general cheap fleece. The solution is to buy clothes in proven shops or train eyes for fake-detection. Its' hard to detect polartec made by Malde Mills from other fleece but 'fake' fleece has worse thermal insulating and long-lasting properties .
Types of Polartec
http://outdoor-equip.com/media/_cat/polartec_clothes_dry.jpg
The different types of Polartec fabrics include varying fleece weights, textures and composition.
Underwear - Polactec 100 Polactec 100: Thin fuzzy (fluffy) material are ideal for warm underwear base layer
Power Dry Thin eleastic material has two-layer structure ideal suited for thermal underwear. Designed to keep your skin dry when you sweat. Dry Power dryers two times faster than cotton.
Power Stretch Polartec® Power Stretch® fabrics feature body-hugging 4-way stretch and are very breathable. Its elastic and soft 4-way stretching material. The durable smooth outer layer and soft inner layer pulls moisture away from your skin. Power Stretch fabrics have their dry-away-moisture properties at least 25% more than same base layer materials.
http://outdoor-equip.com/media/_cat/polartec_clothes_2.jpg
Polartec 200-300 Double-sided fluffy fleece material. Maintains good anti pile properties. Ideal for mid insulation layer. Doesn't get wet during light rain.
Windbloc Combines warm insulation, wind-wet resistant and breathable features of outer layer. Offer maximum protection from the cold and the elements.Blocks wind at 50 km/h speed. Inner-side layer of material have good body-feel and pulls moisture away from the body to keep you dry. Outer layer sprayed with a waterproof material.
Windbloc ACT ACT stands for Air Control Technology (shorter single-sided windbloc). Polartec® Windbloc-ACT® blocks 98% of the wind at 50 km/h wind speed. By combining several features in a single fabric, they eliminate the need for a windbreaker or additional shell. Pulls moisture away 3 times faster than Windpro and it's lighter and thinner than Windbloc.
Wind Pro Double-sided structure and tight nattering provide high thermal insulation properties for this material yet provide 4x more wind resistance than traditional fleece.