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Pros and Cons of Fleece Hats

By Taylor James

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Updated on

As winter begins to creep in, it becomes more essential than ever to have proper protection from the elements. This includes quality hats to cover your ears and head and keep you from shivering in the cold. However, there is some debate as to what material is best when it comes to warm fabrics.

Fleece is an incredibly popular fabric for winter wear, and you can find fleece hats at most clothing and retail stores. But what exactly are the pros and cons of fleece hats? Keep reading to find out!

The Pros of Fleece Hats

Fleece is a synthetic fabric, meaning it is made from a chemical process as opposed to being collected from an animal or organism like wool. This means that humans are able to combine different qualities to make the perfect material, which is how we got fleece.

Incredibly warm

The main pros of fleece hats are without a doubt the fact that they are incredibly warm and insulating. Your body heat is trapped and kept close without evaporating, leaving you feeling cozy and protecting you from the low temperatures. The insulating abilities of fleece hats will keep you warmer than most fabrics, and that in itself is a huge pro.

Check out this super warm and popular Turtle Fur Fleece hat on Amazon.

Lightweight and does not shrink

Another positive thing about fleece hats is the fact that they are lightweight and do not shrink in the wash. A lightweight material is easier to stow and to carry around, meaning you can take off your fleece hat without issue and keep it until the next time you need it. The fact that fleece does not shrink also means you can wear it for a very long time without needing to worry about it becoming too small.

Comfortable

Another great pro of fleece hats is the fact that they are incredibly comfortable. Some materials may be itchy or uncomfortable, but fleece is famous for being easy to wear without issue.

The Cons of Fleece Hats

Now, we are onto the cons of fleece hats.

Pilling

The first thing that will be most obvious to wearers is that fleece hats are more prone to pilling. Pilling is when small fabric fibers break away and tangle on the surface of the item, creating tiny bundles that need to be removed or at least look a bit strange. There are tools to decrease pilling, but it will be more common in fleece hats.

Not water resistant

Next, we have the fact that fleece is not very water resistant. If you get caught in the rain, the insulating properties will quickly disappear and leave you shivering. This can also occur in the snow as flakes melt on your fleece hat, potentially soaking it and decreasing the amount of body heat you keep close to you.

Not very breathable

Although to some extent breathable, due to its synthetic nature, fleece is also less porous than other materials. This means that if you are doing physical activity a fleece may become hot and sweaty. Other winter hats such as wool may be more suitable if you are going to be very active.

Final thoughts

Fleece hats are hard to beat for comfort and warmth but are not ideal for wet environments or if doing physical work.

About Taylor James

As Philip Treacy once said, “How a hat makes you feel is what a hat is all about.” And on that note, I hope you enjoy your hats and find the site useful. Learn more about Hat Realm's Editorial Process.