Fleece is a two-pile material that is generally made from synthetic polyester.
It is known for being a great choice for sportswear due to its warmth, lightness and breathability.
Some polyester fleece fabrics are also moisture-wicking meaning that they absorb moisture well and quick-dry fabric treatments also ensure that they dry fast too.
Polyester fleece is a great choice for outdoor exercises in cool, dry weather.
Popular fleece sportswear includes running pants, jackets, sweaters and vests.
Fleece sportswear accessories include fleece blankets, towels, sweat bands, beanies and mittens.
Fleece Running Pants Running pants are some of the most basic pieces in fleece sportswear.
Held up by an elastic waist band, the legs are usually looser in fit compared to the also popular sportswear leggings.
This allows more freedom of movement and motion when engaging in running or other activities such as hiking or touch football.
Some fleece running pants also have elastic ankle bands which keep the pants from dragging on the ground which can lead to fraying of the fabric and in certain cases for very clumsy people, tripping.
Running pants usually have pockets which serve as storage for keys, change, cellphones or music players (in case the store has run out of armbands).
My personal favorite fleece running pants are the ones that have zippers protecting the pockets from sticky fingers and my own exuberant running style.
Fleece Tops Most fleece tops such as jackets, shirts and vests are designed to be layered on top of other sportswear attire.
The lightweight fleece material keeps the person exercising warm while also cooling the body down using moisture-wicking technology.
Fleece pullovers are a popular choice for runners since they feature the aforementioned hood that can be raised or lowered according to preference.
Layering with other sportswear means that the athlete can choose to remove or add layers depending on the weather conditions.
A full zipper acts as a good way to make a small change without disrupting an ongoing workout.
The jacket or sweat shirt can be fully zipped during colder weather and then lowered and unzipped when the warmth gets to be too much.
Jackets and sweat shirts also usually include pockets that can be used for storage.
Fleece Accessories Sportswear accessories like fleece hats, fleece gloves and fleece sweat bands are popular items for athletes.
Available in many sporting goods stores, they are especially hot sellers during the cooler months of the year.
Although sweat bands also have an excellent sales record during the hotter months of the year, sportswear enthusiasts usually opt for cotton versions as a cooler alternative.
Hats on the other hand are excellent at keeping body warmth in and they are easier to cart around than their nylon counterparts.
They are less bulky and can be folded up and placed in pockets when not in use.
Fleece sportswear allows perspiration to evaporate quickly and without much fuss; it is easy to move around in comfortably during a workout.
However, it should be noted that although it is highly breathable, it can also be very warm and as such is not advisable for high-temperature seasons as it raises the possibility of succumbing to heat stroke.
It is also not meant to be a substitute for heavier jackets and other gear designed for heavy rain or snowy situations.
You can use fleece for layering but it is not waterproof and only minimally water resistant.