Distinctions in fleece quality far from fuzzy

We are a nation ensconced in fleece. Whether you're an Iditarod sled dog racer or a suburbanite having lunch at Panera Bread, fleece has become a wardrobe staple.

It's available everywhere and in every color. You can buy fleece jackets, vests, hoodies, socks, hats, blankets, and sleeping bag liners at outdoor specialty stores and at big box discounters . You can even pick up a pair of fleece gloves at your local 7-Eleven for about $8.

But while there are many choices, Roger Scholl and Matt Heid of the Appalachian Mountain Club said all fleeces are not created equal: Some are high-quality "performance fabrics" designed for outdoor sports and activities while others are "fashion fleeces" worn strictly for warmth, comfort, and style.

"When buying fleece, our members are concerned with the dynamics of body heat management," said Scholl, volunteer and chapter relations director for the AMC. "So we tend to choose performance fleece that is geared toward our preferred outdoor activities and fitness levels."

For instance, high-quality fleece gear from brands such as North Face, Marmot Mountain LLC, Columbia Sportswear Co., and L.L. Bean Inc. are primarily made of performance fabrics such as Polartec. Created by Malden Mills in Lawrence, Polartec is the dream fabric of the rugged and outdoorsy, said Scholl, because it's lightweight, warm, and breathable and wicks away moisture from the body so it feels dry, even when wet. Some Polartec fleeces may also be windproof or waterproof, he said.

"As a rule, Polartec fleece is available in three weight ranges: 100, 200, and 300," said Heid, who is the gear columnist for AMC Today, the organization's member magazine. "And the heavier the weight, the warmer the fleece."

Polartec Classic 100 fleeces are the lightest weight and are perfect for exercise like running in cold weather, he said. The 200 weight is a little heavier and can be worn as a shell or an outer layer. The heaviest, 300, is best for outdoor activities in extreme cold like snowshoeing or winter camping.

A Polartec performance fleece pullover typically ranges in price from $40 to $150.

Lower-priced fleece, available at places like Old Navy or Target, is considered "fashion fleece," said Anna Lockmer, a store manager at REI in Hingham. "These fleeces don't have the same technical features and workmanship of the higher-quality fleeces but still have warm and insulating features."

Also, Lockmer said a lot of people tend to confuse polar fleece with Polartec. "They're not the same. Polar fleece is of lower quality and not meant for outdoor performance," she said.

Malden Mills also invented Polarfleece in the 1970s but really kicked off the current fleece movement when it evolved the fabric into the higher-tech Polartec in 1979. One of the big differences: The reduction of the dreaded "pilling up" effect that tended to plague polar fleece. Pilling occurs when the garment's fibers roll up -- often after being washed -- and lie on the surface like tiny round pills.

Today, "polar fleece" has become more of a generic term for fleece and is made by a number of different companies, Lockmer said. "The fashion fleeces, while warm, still tend to pill up and lose their shape after multiple washings. This usually reduces their insulating properties."

But if your outdoor recreational activities are limited to shopping and walking the dog, most agree that fashion fleece will do the job. And since you can buy a typical fashion fleece pullover for around $15, you can afford to buy one in every color.