The world’s largest manufacturer of Polar Fleece fabrics is “Malden Mills” in the USA.  This material is called POLARTEC. Polartec is normally graded according to the weight of the material used (Polartec 200 = 200 grammes per sq metre).

Here are some common grades of Polartec, with examples of potential end usage:

Polartec 100

• The lightest weight
• Very high activity sports and pursuits, such as cycling; running and climbing
• Can be used as a very effective base-layer garment in colder climates.

Polartec 200

• The most flexible grade
• Medium to high-level activities: walking; trekking and backpacking.
• The ideal mid-layer
• Widely used in fair weather, when the outer layer is not needed.

Polartec 300

• The thickest / heaviest grade
• Low level activity and spectating
• Used as a mid-layer in colder conditions
• Again, can be worn on its own with a base layer.

Polartec is perhaps the most popular and widely recognised Polar Fleece in the UK and is featured within the Berghaus range.