Is Polyester Warm Enough? (Is It Good For Winter and Snow?)
Not everyone is blessed with living in a nice warm climate. Many people have to endure the hardships that come with winter. Those people are always looking for the right fabric that will keep them warm when those temperatures reach below 0 F.
Is polyester warm enough? Yes, polyester is warm enough for those cold winter and fall months. It does not breathe as natural fibers do so your body heat stays closer and keeps you warm. It is a material that is often chosen for snow days as well as those days that drop below 0 degrees F.
To learn more about polyester and if it is warm enough for winter, just continue to read our article. It delves into the topic so you can use polyester for your winter clothing sewing projects. Polyester does have some good traits.
Polyester Warmth 101
Is Polyester Warm Or Cold?
This fabric is seen as a warm material. One of the reasons for this conclusion is that polyester does not breathe that well. With that lack of airflow, your body heat stays closer to your body providing a nice layer of insulation from the cold air.
Another reason polyester is considered a warm fabric is that it does not necessarily lose its insulation powers when wet. This is a great help when you are caught out on a snowy day. The material does dry quickly even in winter so you should not feel any cold as the material dries even as it gets wet.
Polyester fibers are the choice of many manufacturers when they make go to make their winter clothing line. It has many other attributes that help keep you warm as the temperature lowers.
It is used in filling instead of down as down can lose its insulation powers when it gets wet. Of course, this determination is not shared by everyone but polyester is a warm fabric despite their contrary opinion.
Is 100% Polyester Warm?
Yes, 100% polyester is warm and it may even be warmer pound for pound than a majority of fabrics on the market today. It can be woven to different thicknesses which helps insulate your body from the cold weather.
Usually, this material is made with a tight weave. That style of weaving helps block cold air from working its way through the material and chilling your skin. The drawback of this style of weave is that you do not breathe as well as you would with natural fabrics.
In winter that may still be a good thing as you want to keep the cold air out and away from your body. What lets the air and body heat flow out also lets cold airflow in. Polyester sees to it that none of those actions take place. Because of that, you stay warmer wearing 100% polyester.
This is not to say that 100% polyester is warmer than wool. That is a different subject altogether. All this section is asking is if 100% polyester is warm and it is.
Does Polyester Keep You Warm?
Again, the answer will be positive. Polyester is seen as more of a winter fabric than a summer one because it can keep you warmer than most natural fabrics. The one natural fabric that will beat polyester in this category would be wool.
Polyester is made specifically to keep you warm as well as relieve you of some of those laundry headaches you do not like to do. it cuts down on your ironing and usually doesn't lose its shape unless you wash it at the wrong temperature.
You can use polyester as a base layer but due to its inability to breathe, it is best if used as a middle or outer layer. You do want a little comfort when you walk or run in the snow and polyester doesn't do that when used as a base layer.
If you want to stay really warm, then you should consider buying a poly and natural fiber blend of winter clothing. That way you should be nice and toasty warm while staying very comfortable.
How does Polyester Keep You Warm?
As we have said already, polyester is made with a tight weave. When that tight weave is made into clothing, there are no escape routes for your body heat to take. Your heat stays close and protects you from the cold air you have to be in for the moment.
Since there is no escape route for heat to move through, there are no inbound routes for the cold air to take. The tight polyester weave keeps you warm by blocking the cold air advance.
Also, polyester can keep you warm due to the thickness of specific weaves. Like cotton, it is not always made into a thin fabric that allows you to stay relatively cool but is often made in thick styles to keep you nice and warm.
Then polyester does not drape that well. Normally it remains very close to your body and the closer the fabric is to your skin, the warmer you will be. Loose draping clothing tends to keep you cooler and let your body heat escape while letting the cooler air in.
Polyester Warmth Rating
This rating would depend on what type of material the polyester fiber is made into. A microfleece or fleece coat may only get a warm rating even though it is made from polyester fibers. The reason for this is that the material is woven very thin.
A nice polyester winter coat may only get a warmer rating because it is not a thick weave nor is it a thin one. It is an in-between weave that is neither thick nor thin. Also, its filler may not be that thick or made from lesser quality materials.
Then a top-quality polyester winter coat may get the warmest rating because it is made from heavy weight material, heavier than the other two examples, plus it is filled with a good filler that helps block the incoming cold air.
Generally speaking, polyester is seen as a very warm fabric as it is a warmer material than the majority of other options you have at your disposal. There are other factors involved in determining the warmth factor and how they apply to polyester coats will be similar to the above examples.
Is Polyester Warm Enough for Winter?
Yes and no. the answer depends on how well the polyester was woven, how thick that weave was and if there is good filler between the exterior fabric and the lining. Polyester is polyester and its attributes won’t change when made into winter clothing.
The weave makes sure of that as will the thickness of the material. But overall, most polyester items are warm enough for winter. you should be able to find a good pair of polyester pants, dress, or coat and gloves that will keep you warm enough when Winter arrives.
Then this is not saying that polyester is the warmest fabric you can buy, it is just saying that polyester is a good option when you do not live in a nice warm climate. You won’t go wrong by wearing polyester during those cold months you have come to dislike.
There are worse choices of fabric you can wear and there are better choices as well. The main key about buying polyester winter coats is their price. You will find that polyester coats are cheaper than those alternative fabrics. Cost is always the most influential part of buying winter clothes.
Is Polyester Good for Snow?
Yes, polyester is good for snow and there are several reasons other than just the weave style and its thickness. Snow brings moisture and often it brings outdoor germs and bacteria with it as it lands on your winter clothing. Or as you frolic in the snow for some wintertime fun.
What polyester does is resist those germs and bacteria as well as dries quickly enough that mold or mildew do not get a foothold on the fabric. This fabric also resists rot, shrinking, stretching, and abrasions so it is tough and better suited for snowy conditions than other fabrics.
Then its ability to dry fast means that the moisture from the melting snowflakes should not last long when it hits your polyester coat. On top of those qualities, the polyester material should keep the cold air away from your body.
When you are out in the snow that is probably the most important aspect you want to have in your clothing. Half of the winter’s problems are because people don't wear the right fabrics that keep the cold air away from them.
Is Polyester Warm When Wet?
Yes, polyester can be warm when wet. The reason we say that is because polyester is a fabric that is called hydrophobic. This material repels water instead of absorbing it. What that means is that polyester will still insulate even when it gets wet.
That lack of absorbing moisture makes sure the polyester fibers stay dryer longer. This does not mean you can’t saturate polyester with water and stay warm. It means that it takes a long time to get to that saturation point because the fabric is drying at the same time.
Polyester will still insulate during that process. Then you have a lot of polyester materials that are treated to resist moisture. What that treatment does is making it even tougher for water to saturate the fabric and cut its insulating ability.
The advantage of being a man-made fabric is that this material can be designed to do and be many things. A lot of customization can be done throughout the manufacturing process to make sure that polyester insulates when wet. Most natural fabrics do not have that option.
Does Polyester Jacket Keep Warm?
Yes, a polyester jacket can keep warm and how warm you get will depend a lot on the type of filling used between the exterior fabric and the lining. Polyester filling is a favorite option of many manufacturers because it is cheaper to use than cotton or wool, as well as down.
But that cheap price does not mean the polyester fill is inferior or unable to keep you warm. The polyester fill, and when combined with a polyester exterior, works well and keeps you very insulated.
Of course, you may find that wool or cotton or down fill may insulate you better. A lot of times that warmth feeling is due to personal preference and not actual ability. The combination of a polyester exterior and a natural fiber interior can make for a great winter duo that keeps you very warm throughout the winter season.
Which fabric you wear will be ultimately up to you and your choice. But polyester will save you money if you are on a tight budget and you shouldn’t lose out on any warmth.
Polyester Jacket Temperature Range
This is hard to gauge. The reason for that statement is that there are too many mitigating factors involved to provide an accurate measurement. One of the problems that keep this from being objective is that each person has their own level of warmth.
While one person may feel warm with a 600D polyester fill another person will feel cold. Then if one is acclimated to a colder climate, everything will feel warm until the cold temperatures reach a certain low level.
But people keep asking this question as they want a jacket that will keep them warm in different temperatures. One retailer has gotten tired of being asked that question and has blatantly stated that anyone giving you a temperature range for a specific jacket is simply making that figure up.
Instead of asking the temperature range, it may be wiser to start looking at how much insulation is in the jacket, how strong the exterior material is, and other key winter factors.
To be honest, polyester can be made to work in any temperature you encounter. You just have to pick the jacket that is thin enough for warmer weather and thick enough for colder temperatures.
Ratings do not mean much if the day is very windy and the temperature is colder due to the wind chill factor than it would be on a windless, sunny but cold day. The jacket you buy for the former conditions and rated for that cold temperature may be too warm for the latter conditions.
Is Polyester Warmer Than Cotton?
The answer to this question will be yes. The reason polyester is seen as warmer than cotton is that polyester repels moisture while cotton absorbs it. That difference in characteristics will make polyester feel warmer than a cotton coat made for winter.
Cotton is also a very breathable fabric and when heat can get out it means that cold air can get in. You would need a good lining to stop the incoming cold air but then you will block the cotton from letting the heat out.
Polyester has no real escape routes for heat to leave and cold air has no inbound routes to utilize to get close to your skin. That construction makes sure that polyester is warmer than cotton.
If you blend the two materials you may find that their combined positives will be even warmer than 100% of either fabric. 100% of either are still fine winter coats but two heads are better than one and two good warm fabrics can be seen as better than one warm fabric.
Is Polyester Warmer Than Wool?
The winner of this competition or comparison would boil down to your personal warmth factor. Some see wool as the warmest material you can wear while others will say that polyester is warmer. In some cases, both views can be right.
A lot depends on the weave, the quality, and other factors used to create those winter coats. Then wool may be better if you are living in a dry cool region of the country while polyester may be better for those wetter yet still cold regions.
The different environments will play a role in determining which material is warmer. But generally speaking, wool tends to be warmer than polyester but it will also be heavier to wear. If you like a heavyweight on your shoulders and back then by all means go with wool.
Polyester still keeps you warm even though it is a lighter material. The drawback to wool coats is the price. Wool is going to be much more expensive than polyester.
Is Polyester Warmer Than Viscose?
Generally speaking and after looking at all the factors, polyester is seen as a warmer fabric than viscose. While viscose breathes better than polyester, that means it does not keep the cold air away from your body as well as polyester can.
Then viscose is not made with as tight a weave as polyester is made with. That means that the former fabric will drape better and be more loose fitting than the latter. The tighter to the body the warmer the fabric.
Another factor that makes polyester warmer, is that polyester dries quicker than viscose does. The wetter the material, the harder it is to stay warm. The cold air grabs that moisture and uses it to get close to your skin.
overall, polyester is the better fabric to wear in the winter as viscose was made to mimic cotton or silk, not wool. That means it is not going to be the best winter fabric you can wear.
Is 100% Polyester Filling Warm?
This question draws attention to a weakness in polyester. The way that polyester lining is made seems to make this material not as cold-resistant as it could be. The weave style makes the material bulkier and not very effective at trapping cold air or reflecting the heat back towards your body.
There may be good polyester lining that has overcome this weakness but the risk remains. The type of lining you get depends on the manufacturer and their fabric construction process.
This doesn't mean that the polyester lining is not warm it just means that you may have better options available to you. Cotton, down and wool are excellent fabrics for fill and may keep you warmer than polyester because those materials can reflect heat back and block out incoming cold air.
You can always test the jackets to make sure before you make your purchase.
Is a Polyester Quilt Warm?
Again, the answer to this question may depend more on your personal preference than it will the construction of the quilt or other bedding. You can get some nice, soft, hypoallergenic quilts that are filled with the right materials to keep you warm.
But you can get the same qualities in a good cotton quilt as well. So, yes, polyester quilts can be quite warm especially when you heat your bedroom or living room in the right way.
The key will be how you examine the quilt before you buy it. Do not assume that every quilt made from polyester will be made with top quality materials. Check the labels to make sure, wrap the quilt around you, and so on.
Do a few tests to make sure the polyester quilt will meet the living conditions you have in your home. Then you should be fine.
Some Final Words
Polyester gets its knocks and rightfully so. But when it comes to winter wear, it is a fine alternative when you want to remain nice and warm. The material is also easy on your budget as polyester winter clothing and bedding should be a lot cheaper than the natural alternatives.
Which fabric you use each winter will depend a lot on your personal preferences and your views on the polyester fabric. Not everyone likes synthetic materials even if they are warm in the winter.
