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What Are The Warmest Sweater Materials?
Here’s a basic run down of the warmest sweater materials:
- Wool
- Polyester
- Fleece (polyester type)
- Cashmere
For years wool has been considered one of the warmest sweater sweaters as well as for other kinds of clothes. Wool, especially thick Icelandic wool, can keep you warm while outdoors in even the most frigid temps.
Even though wool, polyester, cashmere, and fleece are the warmest choices for fabric you’ll still need to layer your clothing in extreme temperatures to stay nice and warm. As you’ll see below however wool isn’t always the best choice to wear outside – it depends on what the activities you’ll do, the weather, and a few other things.
Is Polyester Warmer Than Fleece?
Polyester or a poly/cotton blend is the warmer choice in most cases. When we’re talking about fleece it depends on what kind it is and how it’s made. It’s a tightly woven synthetic fabric which makes it very moisture-wicking (water resistant) and really useful for lots of different situations outside.
Fleece made from natural fibers is not always warmer than synthetic fleece.
Polyester and layers
For activities where you’re very active outside, it’s good to have a base layer of polyester, silk, or some other fabric or blend with the ability to wick perspiration away from your body. Even in cold temperatures your body will sweat when you’re active. You can add a middle layer like a sweater, sweatshirt, or fleece if you like.
It’s very important that the sweat doesn’t cling to your skin or saturate your clothing as you’ll become even more uncomfortable and it’s not very healthy, either.
You can wear cotton with polyester for everyday urban wear and general low-energy activities. For outdoor winter activities like hiking or skiing for example it’s not a good idea.
Do be aware that cotton does a poor job of wicking perspiration and can become saturated with sweat and moisture. The same is true for cotton pants, too. Polyester pants are again a better choice for heavy outdoor work or play.
For anything involving snow or bad weather you’ll want a tough and water-resistant outer layer combined with a lining of sherpa or fleece to stay warm. Cotton doesn’t hold heat close to your body well so for layering a better choice is wool, cashmere, or fiber materials from animals.
However, a cotton/poly fabric blend garment should work well too as it’s more comfortable than pure cotton in terms of wicking water.
Is Wool Warmer Than Down?
Down is a better performer than wool in cold weather and better for keeping you warm. It’s a natural insulation (with goose or duck feathers) as well as being lightweight and breathable.
However, that doesn’t mean you should necessarily choose down over wool – it depends on the situation. Wool is water-resistant so it will hold up better in wet weather conditions. The downside to down is that it’s not as effective at keeping you warm when it’s wet and takes a long time to dry out.
In fact, you could wear down as a base layer and wool on the outside if you’re layering to stay extra comfy.
What About Synthetic Down?
Synthetic materials that simulate down are designed to be about the same for trapping body heat and creating a great insulating layer for winter apparel. They’re a good choice much like authentic down.
Even though down is considered a wonderful insulator, real down is often expensive.
Is 100% Polyester Warm Enough for Winter?
Whether or not polyester is warm enough for winter depends heavily on:
- The type of polyester and if it’s designed for cold weater or not.
- The other layers you’re using and the types of activities you will be engaged in.
You should keep in mind that just because a piece of clothing is made of polyester doesn’t mean it is great for winter. Winter polyester garments, for example one made with Polartec, are designed for warmth and will keep you nice and warm while being water resistant too.
Is Nylon or Polyester Warmer?
Nylon is wonderful if you need a water resistant layer it won’t do much to keep you warm. It’s a good idea to combine a nylon product or layer with warmer polyester layers underneath if you want to stay warm while fending off ice, snow, or rain outside.
How Warm Is Cashmere Compared to Merino Wool?
Both cashmere and merino wool are considered high quality types of wool but cashmere is warmer than wool and will help you retain body heat but not feel too hot. It’s usually considered more of a luxury fabric rather than a hardy, winter apparel choice.
Another great thing about cashmere is that despite its warmth it’s surprisingly lightweight. Cashmere is by far the softer type of wool of the two. Cashmere is naturally soft, but today the wool is further treated with fabric softeners during the production process, making it even softer.
If it is durability you are looking for, though, merino wool is by far more sturdy than cashmere as well as being easier to care for. Cashmere is well known for being harder to deal with.
Is Alpaca Better Than Cashmere?
The most significant difference between cashmere and alpaca is that cashmere is softer and therefore can be more comfortable while alpaca offers more insulation and better durability too. If you’re looking for the warmer of the two then you’d definitely want to choose alpaca.
If comfort and looks are what you’re after then cashmere may be what you need. Alpaca is commonly used as standard cold weather clothing in many parts of the world including for toboggans to keep the head warm.