Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Fashion & Style

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

These Fleece Tops are Everything You Need to Keep Warm Indoors and Out

Bryan Holt
By

fleece
Image used with permission by copyright holder
From jackets and sweaters, to vests, blankets, and beanies, fleece is a handy companion for both back country and urban lifestyles, especially when it comes to staving off cold weather. Our fall fleece roundup features some of the best fleece fabrics and designs on the market, but the story of fleece is quite interesting in itself.

From 1979-1981, Malden Mills, a fabric manufacturer, created what is now known widely as polyester fleece. By spinning a the synthetic polyester fabric into thicker, more durable slabs, Malden Mills was able to recreate the advantageous effects of wool insulation, but with even better properties.

Recommended Videos

(Fun fact: Polyester fleece has been used to make underwear for astronauts, in deep-sea diving suits, and as ear-warmers for winter-born calves.)

As you may know, traditional single thread wool is manufactured from sheep or goat fur and can be quite heavy and warm when transitioning from the brisk outdoors into a heated room. Plus, it doesn’t hold up well in rainy weather. That’s where Malden Mills’ – now known as Polartec LLC – synthetic innovation comes in.

Natural vs. Synthetic Fleece

Synthetic
Fleece is an insulating fabric made from spinning polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a petroleum derivative. So, basically fleece is plastic. But unlike most other plastic materials, fleece can be made from recycled plastics, making it a bit more environmentally sound than if it were made from raw petroleum. The feeling of synthetic fleece is soft, breathable, and doesn’t itch.

Synthetic fleece is also hydrophobic, meaning the fabric resists water; however, fleece is not a waterproof and won’t keep you dry in a downpour, although it does dry quickly. Another key characteristic: Synthetic fleece can be produced in almost any color or pattern imaginable.

Natural
Fleece insulation can be made from a natural material such as merino wool, but is most often made a of a blend of natural fibers such as cotton and hemp, but this kind of fleece is almost never, ever seen anymore outside of niche projects or collections. Natural fleece has soft fibers and provides excellent insulation, reflects odors more effectively, and can be a great alternative to non-renewable resources.

But, by switching out wool/cotton/hemp for some good old energy from Earth’s innards (read: plastic), fleece fabric was quickly became the lightweight, breathable, and resilient go-to for outdoorsmen’s everyday winter wear.

Not everyone thinks fleece is fashionable, nor does everyone think it can be worn on a daily basis. But, why not? Men have always been able to keep a fashion-forward, yet functional lifestyle. So, why stop now? Let fleece provide warmth and comfort through winter backpacking trips, high-elevation hikes, or as added warmth for the inevitable and uncomfortable cold fronts on those unforgivable workdays.

Reigning Champ Tiger Fleece Hoodie, $180

Reigning Champ Tiger Fleece Hoodie
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Reigning Champ truly lives up to their name with their stylish tiger fleece hoodie. Made for athletic and active lifestyles, the hoodie features Reigning Champ’s signature Tiger Fleece fabric which blends 71 percent cotton and 29 percent polyester onto the ultimate heat retaining piece.

Stone Island Fleece Sweatshirt, $260

Stone Island Fleece Sweatshirt
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Of course, we have to have an option for the guy who wants the feel and heat retention of fleece but isn’t into the fluffy, fuzzy look. This printed fleece-insulated cotton sweatshirt, available at Mr. Porter, is fleece-lined and stunts the brand’s check grid motif in a subtle, camouflage-inspired fashion with a crew neck and ribbed trims.

Patagonia Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Vest, $99

Patagonia Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Vest
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Patagonia’s Synchilla Snap-T Pullover is made for the early morning hiker or late night campfire sessions. Made from warm and durable, 100% polyester fleece, this vest is perfect for mild cold fronts when you just need a little extra warmth.

Aether Apparel Holden Hoodie, $195

Aether Apparel Holden Hoodie
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Aether‘s Holden hoodie is made from a lightweight, knit fleece that may easily become your next everyday piece for the winter. The hoodie features Japanese-taffeta quilted panels on the front and large zippered pockets for a little added flare.

Burkman Bros Green Fleece, $125

Burkman Bros Green Fleece
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In partnership with outerwear brand Hawke & Co., Burkman Bros created a capsule collection that meshes a unique design aesthetic with a high-quality, durable bonded-fleece material, nylon pockets, and detailed zippers.

Columbia Half-Zip Fleece Pullover, $70

Columbia Half-Zip Fleece Pullover
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This classic style printed fleece pullover was inspired straight from the Columbia archives. The cuffs, collar, and zippers all feature pop bold splashes of color among retro patterned prints, like this tweed-print beaut above.

Topics
Bryan Holt
Bryan Holt
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Bryan Holt is a writer, editor, designer, and multimedia storyteller based in Portland, Oregon. He is a graduate from the…
New dial colors, slimmer design for IWC’s Portugieser watches
The IWC Portugieser Collection nods to its 1930s roots while bringing new details to the line
The IWC Hand-WOund Night and Day watch.

If you've been orbiting through the same collections of watches looking for that perfect addition to fill that something missing in your arsenal, stop your search. Swiss brand International Watch Company, known more appropriately to wearers and collectors as IWC Schaffhausen, has a heavenly lineup at this year's Watches and Wonders you've been waiting an eternity for. If unmatched caliber and exceptional craftsmanship — along with a touch of planetary elements — are a few things you look for in a luxury watch, the Portugieser Collection from IWC is the right fit for your wrist.
The IWC Portugieser collection

The collection throws it back to the Portugieser of the 1930s, where the design got its first inspiration from those gorgeous navigational watches on the deck of a ship. Keep that nautical theme in your head because each piece in the collection has celestial details as the star.

Read more
Ready for a comeback? PUMA’s Easy Rider is back
Easy Rider Sneakers

 

With many sneakers coming back in recent seasons, PUMA is getting ready to blow them all out of the water. Once again, one of the company’s staple sneaker designs is ready to grace shelves and give us the true retro sneaker. While still iconic and recognizable, there’s no doubt that PUMA’s Easy Rider sneaker was the beginning of a new era for the casual sneaker, and to many regarded as one of the first of its kind. 

Read more
This new Cartier watch tells time backwards
Turn back time with the new Santos
Cartier Rewind on wrist

Wristwatches may be distinctly masculine pieces of hardware now, thanks to some very popular people in pop culture and in our own history adopting them. British super spy James Bond, movie stars, and athletes are the people we look up to who wear watches that catch our eye. Soldiers, cops, firefighters, and first responders wear watches they trust to ensure they can save lives. Pilots and divers created an entire industry around watches specifically designed for their vocations. And the very first pilot's watch was none other than a Cartier watch.

Alberto Santos-Dumont was a pioneer in the flight world and was one of the first people on Earth to achieve air travel. He was a competitor of the Wright Brothers, and, depending on the source, he preceded them in flight. In any case, the French celebrity went to Louis Cartier, another pioneer of his craft, and procured a square timekeeper meant for the wrist. The Cartier Santos Dumont was born. Over a century later, Cartier attended Watches and Wonders and presented the newest in the line of Santos watches, one that reverses time.
The Rewind tells time backwards

Read more