Wool vs fleece jackets

F

Fuori

Joined
Oct 13, 2014
Messages
628
I understand that wool insulates when it's wet and is better around fires, but it can be heavy and really expensive. Fleece is generally lighter, but doesn't insulate when wet and melts around fires. How do you choose between them? Boreal shirts are $280 while many military and commercial fleece jackets are a hundred or less.
 
First off, it's my understanding that a fleece can be made of wool, cotton, nylon, etc. I believe "fleece" (when it comes to jackets and sweaters) means clothing "a soft bulky deep-piled knitted or woven fabric used chiefly for clothing" (Websters).

So, you can have a wool fleece, cotton fleece, polyester fleece, etc. As much as I love wool, it's expensive and you can't toss it in the washer/dryer (although you can on some Smartwool clothes). I hate my cotton fleece sweaters (they were gifts). They are way to hot in the winter and don't breathe well. I started wearing a North Face fleece back in the 90's bought on clearance for a canoe trip through the Boundary Waters. It is polyester, breathes really well, and has stood up to 25 years of abuse. I also wear the same North Face Denali fleece jacket almost exclusively in the winter under my Parka for the last 15 years... I would have stuck with only the older one except the pattern on the fleece went out with 80's style... and I LOVE the arm vents on the Denali for adjusting for different temps or activities.

However, my particular fleeces don't stop the wind, and give you almost no protection in the rain. Many fleeces today offer material in between the fleece knit which stop both. The downside being that they don't breathe as well. I go for layers, so I like the extra breath-ability. Wool usually breathes well too but similarly, without layers in between stopping the wind it can get a little cold (and I wouldn't wear it in a down pour either). I LOVE my Kuhl wool fleece sweaters.

There are different types of wool too. You might want to do some research into that if you are going to be wearing it all the time.

So, it really depends on what you expect from the jacket, how you are going to use it, how you are going to clean it, what other materials are being used e.g. Gortex in between the layers to keep the wind and rain out, how much you want to spend, etc. In the end, 90% of my wool clothes and jackets are used for when I don't plan on getting dirty or wet... basically because I probably couldn't afford to replace them. I should probably mention that non-wool fleeces tries to be like wool, while wool... is wool. If I could afford it (maybe if I lived in New Zealand wear wool is cheap) I'd use it more often.
 
Last edited:
Neither wool or synthetic fleece really provides much insulation when wet...wet is uncomfortable and miserable but both will probably keep you alive in a pinch. I own wool, polyester fleece, down, and synthetic fill jackets.

1. Insulated polyester jackets. I prefer primaloft as it is nearly as soft and down and compresses to a very small package. The polyester shell is very wind and water resistant while still being breathable, and everything dries quickly if you get it wet.
2. Wool is very warm and wind/water resistant but when it does get wet you smell like a sheep and it takes a long time to dry. Also heavier and the least compressible of the four.
3. Down insulated polyester jackets are the lightest and warmest for the weight, and compress to the smallest package. But are worthless when wet and take days to dry in the field. Dry weather only.
4. Polyester fleece is fine for casual wear, but is not great in wind or light rain and doesn't compress well. It does dry quickly and are reasonably light but most of my fleece coats are relegated to the back of the closet these days.

If your melting garments then you're too close to the fire...
 
I find fleece is very warm for its weight, but useful only as an underlayer IMO. It requires an outer shell of some sort in any kind of wind or rain, which is most always. Wind / waterproof linings are generally on the inside, which negates most of fleeces advantage, so I avoid those.

Wool is indeed heavy, bulky too, and I haven't found it to be as warm as its reputation would suggest...
 
I'm certainly glad I asked. From the replies I'm going to cross fleece off my list for now. It seems to come down to wool or "Insulated polyester jackets". The only types I know of are Primaloft and Lamilite.

Someone mentioned putting a shell over wool if it's raining. I've never seen the Boreal Shirt in person, but from what I've seen in videos wouldn't that be too bulky to fit under one? Are there any other alternatives?
 
A certain 500 year old plus gun manufacturer makes windproof wool sweaters. I have two & they are my go to for bad weather; not that it gets real cold here. They hold up in a light rain but for heavy downpours I wear a waterproof shell over them.

Tom
 
panicotr said:
A certain 500 year old plus gun manufacturer makes windproof wool sweaters. I have two & they are my go to for bad weather; not that it gets real cold here. They hold up in a light rain but for heavy downpours I wear a waterproof shell over them.

Tom
Click to expand...

Could I buy a vowel in guessing which one?
 
What you don't want in the rain are cotton or down. Synthetics and wools can maintain some insulating ability when wet but fleece doesn't do well in wind. A wool garment that does well in wind and rain is much heavier than synthetic. I thought most people used synthetic or down for insulation and added a shell when needed for wind or rain resistance. I didn't hesitate to carry synthetic fleece plus a shell when backpacking and didn't have any problems in the rain. These 2 garments combined are still very light.
 
Synthetic fleece for me. I always layer when it's cold. I don't do much wool since it's too pricey for me. I've been happy with various layers depending on the weather.
 
I've used both. Wool jacket liner under a Filson tin cloth coat. Tough and very comfortable, its heavy though. Military micro fleece under a Gortex shell, much lighter and also comfortable. I like the vent zippers on the military jacket and fleece, its easy if you get to hot to cool it down without taking off your layers. If I'm backpacking its the military fleece and parka, if I'm horseback its the Filson and wool.
 
Fuori said:
I understand that wool insulates when it's wet and is better around fires, but it can be heavy and really expensive. Fleece is generally lighter, but doesn't insulate when wet and melts around fires. How do you choose between them? Boreal shirts are $280 while many military and commercial fleece jackets are a hundred or less.
Click to expand...
Fleece when spoken of in this context is synthetic. Made from recycled soda bottles.

I use both wool and fleece outdoors. Wool socks always. The extra insulating layer (one of the ten essentials) I carry in winter is a wool Navy deck sweater.
 
Last edited:
Fuori said:
Someone mentioned putting a shell over wool if it's raining. I've never seen the Boreal Shirt in person, but from what I've seen in videos wouldn't that be too bulky to fit under one? Are there any other alternatives?
Click to expand...

A very good system if you are moving in the rain (hiking, climbing, skiing, running etc.) is wool or Synthetic fleece under a light breathable water RESISTANT shell. The idea is the body heat generated will push the moisture toward the outside layer. GoreTex does not breath as much as people say/think.
 
I grew up in the time of cotton canvas and wool

I have done long distance snowshoeing in -20 weather
I wore wool undershirts, shirts, over shirts and canvas anorak, and wool longjohns, felted wool britches, and high woolen knee sock with dachstein mitts
They were wonderful
But they are heavy and bulky to pack and impossibly heavy and inflexible when wet

Synthetic shells and fleeces dry very fast and are much lighter
They have a much higher insulation bulk to weight
One canvas anorak is the same bulk and weight as fleeces and wind jackets

I do not look back at wool and canvas, except in misplaced nostalgia
 
So, fleece is great when you are moving and dry, but it seems like it's not if you aren't.
 
Fuori said:
So, fleece is great when you are moving and dry, but it seems like it's not if you aren't.
Click to expand...

Patagonia fleece has been my outdoor choice for many years. A decade ago my original was looking ratty so I bought a replacement. Eddie Bauer brand but same jacket. No it isn't waterproof but a rain she'll fixes that. Yes, fire can melt it but easy to avoid if you stay sober. I suggest you buy a lightly used one on the bay or find one In a thrift store and give it a try.
 
Fuori said:
I understand that wool insulates when it's wet and is better around fires, but it can be heavy and really expensive. Fleece is generally lighter, but doesn't insulate when wet and melts around fires. How do you choose between them? Boreal shirts are $280 while many military and commercial fleece jackets are a hundred or less.
Click to expand...

Something to consider that hasn't been mentioned yet is Alpaca.I have a poncho and 2 zippered sweaters that i purchased 6 years ago and they are light weight and warm.Google it and you'll see for yourself.
 
I like a thin wool underlayer like merino wool and then a fleece jacket over that; and last if wet a rainshell over top.
 
I reiterate and add to my previous comments. I've experimented with polyester and wool clothing for both -76F winters in MN, and 95F weather sitting in Chicago bumper-to-bumper rush-hour traffic on an air cooled motorcycle with leather pants and jacket. As much as I prefer the wool, when in hard use, I simply can't afford to replace it every few years because of wriggling around on the concrete, tearing through branchy areas, getting paint on it, squeezing between sharp metal equipment, etc.

A BIGGER factor is that I can take the polyester clothes and toss them in the washer/dryer without worrying about anything. Muddy, greasy, paint (paint doesn't come off though), sweaty, etc. and I can just through it in with my jeans and socks. I don't know if you have many clothes you have to hand wash or hang dry, but if you are very busy it gets old really fast. Yes, some wools you can toss in the washer/dryer... but when you see some holes eat their way through your $80 wool t-shirt because of dryer 'rub' (or whatever) vs a polyester $15 workout shirt your wallet starts aching.

That being said, if you don't have a wool fleece, jacket or sweater, it is worth adding to your closet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top