Fleece vs Cotton Sweatpants: Which Fabric Fits Your Gym Merch Line

"Fleece sweatpants vs cotton" and "non fleece sweatpants" are both searches from people trying to figure out whether there is a lighter-weight sweatpant option, usually for warmer climates or lighter seasonal wear. Here is the actual difference between the two fabric types, and what the Bear Grips Pro Shops catalog carries.

What Actually Separates Fleece From Cotton

Fleece is a brushed or looped construction, often a cotton-polyester blend, built specifically for warmth and a soft interior hand feel. Plain cotton jersey, the fabric used on most tees, is a flat, lighter-weight knit with no brushed inner layer. Fleece is heavier, warmer, and holds its shape better under a large print. Cotton jersey is lighter, more breathable, and better suited to warm-weather wear.

What the Catalog Actually Carries

Every sweatpant and jogger currently in the Bear Grips catalog, the Cotton Heritage Unisex Premium Fleece Jogger, the two Jerzees styles, and the Independent Trading Co. men's and women's bottoms, is a fleece construction. There is not a separate lightweight cotton-jersey sweatpant in the lineup. A shop looking for a lighter, non-fleece bottom for warm-weather selling would look at the shorts category (Sport-Tek mesh shorts, Bear Grips training and athletic shorts) rather than a sweatpant.

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Why Fleece Is the Standard for This Category

• Print durability. A large front-thigh or hip print holds up to repeated washing better on fleece than on a thin, stretchy jersey.
• Customer expectation. Shoppers searching for sweatpants specifically expect the warmth and structure fleece provides. A thin jersey pant would read as a legging or joggers-lite rather than a true sweatpant.
• Season fit. Fleece sweatpants sell strongest in fall and winter, which is also when most gyms and studios push loungewear merch.

Choosing Fabric Weight Within Fleece

Since every bottom in the catalog is a fleece build, the more useful decision is which fleece piece fits the climate and season. The Cotton Heritage jogger and Jerzees sweatpants are built for year-round wear with a heavier hand than a t-shirt fabric, but exact ounce weight varies by brand. Check the individual product page before making a specific weight claim to a customer, and see the warmest fleece pieces guide for the coldest-weather picks in the lineup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a non-fleece sweatpant in the Bear Grips catalog?

No. Every sweatpant and jogger currently in the catalog is a fleece construction. A lighter, warm-weather bottom would come from the shorts category instead.

Why does everything call itself fleece instead of cotton?

Fleece is the standard fabric for sweatpants and joggers because it holds a large print better and gives customers the warmth and structure they expect from this category.

Is fleece heavier than a regular cotton tee?

Yes. Fleece is a brushed construction built for warmth, noticeably heavier and thicker than the plain cotton jersey used on tees.

What should I sell instead if I want a lighter warm-weather bottom?

Look at the shorts category, including Sport-Tek mesh shorts and Bear Grips training shorts, rather than a fleece sweatpant.