| What it is | Technical fleece & performance fabric brand |
| Famous for | Pioneering synthetic fleece |
| Fleece traits | Breathable, fast-drying, warm when wet |
| Lines | Power Grid, Thermal Pro, Alpha, Power Stretch |
Polartec is a brand of technical performance fabrics best known for pioneering modern synthetic fleece, which insulates while staying breathable, quick-drying, and warm when wet. Its broad range spans lightweight grid fleece (Power Grid), warm high-loft fleece (Thermal Pro), active insulation (Alpha), stretch fabrics (Power Stretch), and waterproof-breathable membranes.
The Polartec lines
It defines technical fleece: grid Power Grid, lofty Thermal Pro, and active Alpha.
Frequently asked questions
What is Polartec?
Polartec is a maker of technical performance fabrics, most famous for developing modern synthetic fleece (originally as Polarfleece). Its fabrics insulate well while staying breathable, drying fast, and keeping warmth when damp. Today Polartec spans fleeces, active insulation, stretch fabrics, and even waterproof-breathable membranes.
What are the main Polartec fabrics?
Key lines include Polartec Power Grid (lightweight breathable grid fleece for mid layers and base layers), Thermal Pro (warm, often high-loft fleece), Polartec Alpha (breathable active insulation), Power Stretch (stretchy, fitted fabrics), and High Loft (lofty fleece for warmth). Each targets a different warmth, weight, and breathability balance.
Is Polartec the same as fleece?
Polartec is a brand that makes fleece (among other fabrics), and it pioneered the modern synthetic fleece category, so the terms are often associated. But 'fleece' is the general fabric type, while Polartec is a specific high-quality brand of it — and Polartec also makes many non-fleece performance fabrics.
Sources
- Polartec fabrics — Polartec
- Fleece and mid layers — The Mountaineers