Sherpa and Fleece-Lined Hoodies in 3XL, 3X and Up

Sherpa is a fabric with a curly pile on one side and a flat back, made to resemble sheepskin, and in hoodies it is the warmest common lining. A fleece-lined hoodie has a softer, flatter brushed inside. Both come in 3XL and women’s 3X and up; size by your chest, since a thick lining takes up room.

These are the hoodies people reach for on the coldest mornings. This page explains the linings and how to size them in extended sizes. For other fabrics, see the fabric guide.

What is sherpa, and what is fleece?

Wikipedia describes sherpa as a fabric with a pile on one side and flat on the other, a curly piled structure of synthetic yarns such as acrylic or polyester, soft and fluffy like wool or sheepskin. The name began as a trademark of the American textile maker Collins & Aikman.

“Fleece” means two different things on hoodie labels:

• Sweatshirt fleece is the standard hoodie fabric: a knit, usually cotton and polyester, brushed soft on the inside. Gildan’s 18500, for example, has a brushed interior.
• Polar fleece is, in Wikipedia’s words, a soft fabric made from polyester that is napped and insulating. A “fleece-lined” hoodie may use either.

Sherpa vs fleece lining: how they compare

The warmth comparison is a general one: loft traps air, and Wikipedia’s polar fleece entry notes that high-loft fleece is warmer because it traps tiny air pockets. Where a maker states a fabric weight, compare that too.

Sherpa and fleece-lined hoodies in 3XL, 3X and up

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How do you size a lined hoodie?

A lining sits inside the shell, so a lined hoodie has a little less room inside than an unlined one with the same outside measurements. The rules are simple:

1. Measure your chest or bust at the fullest point. Westport’s 3XB is a 54 to 56 inch chest; Dia & Co’s women’s 3X is a 51.5 to 54 inch bust.
2. Look for a chest measurement in the listing. A lined hoodie’s chart sometimes gives the garment, not the body.
3. Choose a zip-up if you want a thick layer underneath. A sherpa-lined zip-up worn open is roomier than the same size in a pullover.
4. Check the hood. Some hoodies line the body but not the hood; the warmest line both.

If you sit between sizes, Carhartt’s advice for its hoodies is to order the next size up, and a lining that takes up room makes that advice more useful still. The full charts are in the size guide.

Who are lined hoodies for?

• The one who is always cold. A sherpa-lined hoodie is the gift that gets worn; see the gifts hub.
• Early starts and outdoor work. A lined work hoodie under a shell keeps warmth in; the men’s hub covers big and tall work hoodies.
• Couch season. For pure comfort, a one-size blanket hoodie takes the sherpa idea further: The Comfy, for example, describes its Original as a double-layer blanket hoodie with a CloudSherpa lining.

Sherpa wearable blanket hoodies (one size)

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What to check in a lined hoodie listing

A listing can say “sherpa-lined” and still mean several different things. Before you buy, look for these details in the description or the photos:

Lined hoodies in rain and snow

A hoodie is not a coat. Wikipedia’s polar fleece entry notes that fleece is hydrophobic but not waterproof, and that it loses most of its insulating quality when wet. Sherpa linings are usually synthetic pile too, so the same rule applies: wear a shell or rain jacket over a lined hoodie in wet weather, and let it dry fully before you put it away.

Sherpa-lined hoodie or a jacket?

A sherpa-lined hoodie sits between a sweatshirt and a jacket. It is warmer than an unlined hoodie and softer than most jackets, but it has a knit shell, so it does not block wind or rain the way a woven jacket does. For a cold, dry day on the porch or at a game, the hoodie is often enough on its own. For wind or wet weather, it works best as the warm layer under a shell. In extended sizes, a zip-up lined hoodie under a roomy coat is the most flexible combination: open it indoors, close it under the coat outside.

Caring for sherpa and fleece

Read the care label first: the FTC requires makers to attach care instructions. Wikipedia’s polar fleece entry notes that fleece is susceptible to damage from high-temperature washing, tumble drying and ironing, and that brushing a matted pile gently can restore it. A cool wash, a low or no-heat dry and hanging to finish are the safe defaults for both linings. The fabric guide explains why short tumbling also keeps cotton shells at their size.