Are you looking for info on the best fabrics to wear in cold weather? This guide is exactly what you need.

Keeping warm through the winter doesn’t mean you have to wear layer upon layer of heavy, bulky clothes that make you look like the Goodyear Blimp.

Sometimes less is more, and you can stay plenty warm by layering fabrics that are specifically designed to create a barrier against the cold.

Some of these insulating fabrics enhance natural products, and some are completely synthetic. Some are affordable, and some are extremely expensive.

All of the winter fabrics on this list merge nature and technology to keep you comfortable and stylish.

Under Layers vs. Insulation vs. Outer Layers

Some fabrics work best for specific types of clothing. For example, a wool under layer should sit close to your body because it needs to touch your skin to wick moisture away.

On the other hand, an insulating material like down must be used as “fill” in outerwear because it can’t be woven into fabric. There’s a reason that down long johns don’t exist!

Outer layers are usually built with water resistance in mind. You’d be hard pressed to find a merino wool “shell” or raincoat. Instead, outer layers must be finished with waterproof fabrics like Gore-Tex or Polartec.

We’ll go into depth about all of these fabrics. Just keep in mind that certain materials are best used for certain layers.

The 14 Best Cold Weather Fabrics

Let’s look at all the best winter fabrics in more detail, starting with lightweight inner layer fabrics and working our way into insulation and outer layers.

Smartwool

Merino wool is naturally a good under-layer because it traps heat between its fibers making it warmer than some synthetics and cottons. When specially treated to be shrink, odor and bacteria resistant it becomes Smartwool.