Short answer: Choose a fleece jacket by whether you will wear it under an outer jacket or on its own. For moving about and under an outer jacket, a powerfleece jacket made of stretchy polyester with elastane is the right choice. According to the descriptions, a lightweight fleece jacket is mostly made of lightweight microfleece and suits town as well as wearing under an outer jacket. Sherpa, a fleece that according to the description feels like wool to the touch, is in the NORDBLANC range only on a few women’s jackets. Fleece jackets are a warm layer: wind and waterproofness details are mostly not given for them, so for wind and rain a jacket belongs on top. Choose the size from the dimensions table on the product page.
Which fleece jacket should you choose for how you will use it?
The pace and what you put on top decide. The table matches the types of NORDBLANC fleece jacket to situations, according to the activities listed on the products.
| Situation | Type of jacket | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk walking, running, cycling, cross-country skiing | powerfleece jacket | stretch, elastane in the composition, Quick-drying and Stretch labels |
| A warm layer under an outer jacket for skiing and cross-country skiing | powerfleece or lightweight fleece jacket | size, so that the fleece jacket does not restrict movement under the outer jacket; skiing and cross-country skiing among the activities on the product |
| A cold day in town and on a walk | lightweight fleece jacket | brushed surface, reflective details on most models |
| A cold day without rain, with no jacket on top | sherpa fleece jacket, women’s only | fit and dimensions in the model’s table |
| Wind and showers | softshell sweatshirt | Water-repellent level and wind resistance on the product |
You will find the whole selection in the collections Powerfleece jackets and Fleece jackets, both groups together in the category Fleece.
How do lightweight fleece, powerfleece and sherpa differ?
They differ in material, stretch and intended use. An overview based on the details on NORDBLANC products:
| Type | Composition | Activities listed on the product | From the product description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightweight fleece jacket | 100% polyester, exceptionally with a small proportion of elastane | everyday wear, hiking, for most also cross-country skiing and skiing | for most, lightweight microfleece with a lightly brushed surface, TECNOPOLAR® fleece |
| Powerfleece jacket | 88% polyester and 12% elastane, or 92% and 8% | running, cross-country skiing, skiing, hiking, cycling, everyday wear | stretchy fleece with an inner microfleece layer, POWERFLEECE and DRYFOR |
| Sherpa fleece jacket | 100% polyester, or 94% polyester and 6% elastane | everyday wear, hiking | sherpa fleece, according to the description wool-like to the touch; women’s only |
TECNOPOLAR® fleece, POWERFLEECE and DRYFOR are names of materials and finishes from the product page. Their properties, for example the moisture wicking of DRYFOR, are claims from the product description. Powerfleece jackets have the Breathable, Quick-drying and Stretch labels on the product.
Which fleece jacket is the warmest?
It cannot be determined exactly. NORDBLANC winter jackets have an indicative warmth scale, but it is not given for fleece and powerfleece jackets, and the fleece weight is not stated either. You can therefore compare fleece jackets only by type of material and by description.
According to the descriptions, lightweight microfleece is intended as a second layer under an outer jacket, a powerfleece jacket for sport in cooler weather and a sherpa jacket for cold days without rain. Add warmth by layering rather than by hunting for the warmest model: a baselayer under the fleece jacket, as the guide How to choose a baselayer advises, and an outer jacket over it.
Fleece jacket or softshell sweatshirt?
A fleece jacket serves mainly as a warm layer; a softshell sweatshirt also has wind and water resistance details. NORDBLANC softshell sweatshirts are made of polyester with elastane, have a Regular fit and list everyday wear and hiking among their activities. On the Waterproofness scale they are at the Water-repellent level, so they repel water but are not waterproof, and their wind resistance is listed as Medium. These details are mostly not given for fleece jackets.
You will find softshell sweatshirts in the collection softshell jackets, and you can recognise them by the word softshell in the name. How to choose a softshell is described in the guide How to choose a softshell jacket.
A fleece jacket under an outer jacket, or on its own?
Under an outer jacket, the fleece jacket should hold heat and not restrict movement. All powerfleece jackets list both skiing and cross-country skiing among their activities, and most lightweight fleece jackets do. So try it on straight away with the jacket you want to wear it with.
On its own you wear a fleece jacket in dry, windless weather. Wind and waterproofness details are mostly not given for it, so for wind and rain count on an outer jacket. Everyday wear is among the activities of all fleece and powerfleece jackets. For winter running, a powerfleece jacket suits as a middle layer, and running is among the activities of all powerfleece jackets; the layering is shown in the guide What to wear running in winter. For hikes, the guide What to wear hiking advises.
A hood or no hood? What zip and features to choose?
A hood, the type of zip, pockets and thumb holes are not listed as separate features for fleece jackets. Check them in the photos and the product description. Powerfleece jackets are divided on the website into models with a hood and without one.
- Hood. It warms your head and neck when you wear the fleece jacket without an outer jacket. Under a jacket with a hood, however, the hood of the fleece jacket bunches up at the neck, so a fleece jacket without a hood is usually more practical under an outer jacket.
- Zip. A full zip is easy to put on and lets you ventilate by unzipping. A short zip at the neck is simpler and tends to be less bulky.
- Thumb holes and pockets. Thumb holes hold the sleeve at the wrist. Zipped pockets are appreciated mainly by those who wear the fleece jacket on its own.
- Features from the product page. Most lightweight fleece jackets have reflective details, some sherpa jackets an adjustable hem.
- Care. Follow the symbols on the label; the page Product care summarises the general procedure.
Which size of fleece jacket should you choose?
Women’s fleece and powerfleece jackets come in sizes 34-44, men’s from S to XXXL. Every fleece and powerfleece jacket has a table of the model’s dimensions with a measuring diagram on the product page. Compare it with a fleece jacket that fits you, laid flat. The guide How to measure jacket size shows how to measure a jacket or fleece jacket flat.
The fit is not stated for fleece jackets; only for some sherpa jackets is Oversized listed, meaning a looser fit. So rely on the dimensions from the table. Compare your body measurements with the size charts, and you can try a fleece jacket on in our stores.
Women’s or men’s fleece jacket: how does the choice differ?
The materials are the same; the range and sizes differ. Powerfleece and lightweight fleece jackets come in women’s and men’s versions, with more men’s powerfleece ones. Sherpa fleece jackets are women’s only. You will find women’s models in the collections women’s powerfleece jackets and women’s fleece jackets, men’s in the collections men’s powerfleece jackets and men’s fleece jackets.
Frequently asked questions
Is a fleece jacket the same as a fleece sweatshirt?
The names overlap. You can recognise the sherpa models by the word Sherpa in the name. Powerfleece jackets are in the subcategory lightweight sports jackets and have POWERFLEECE technology listed on the product.
Is a fleece jacket suitable for skiing and cross-country skiing?
Yes, as a middle layer under an outer jacket. All powerfleece jackets have skiing and cross-country skiing listed on the product, and most of the lightweight fleece jackets. Sherpa jackets list only everyday wear and hiking among their activities, so choose another type for skiing.
What if I am looking for a warm merino sweatshirt?
NORDBLANC has merino wool in its thermal underwear, socks and some hats, as the guide What is merino wool describes. You can build a warm merino layer from merino thermal underwear next to the body and a fleece or powerfleece jacket over it.
Is a fleece jacket suitable for town?
Yes, all fleece and powerfleece jackets have everyday wear listed on the product, and the descriptions of most lightweight fleece jackets recommend them for town as well. Take a jacket against wind and rain, because wind and waterproofness details are mostly not given for fleece jackets.