Fabric and Design
Download Technical
Information Sheet
Fabric
Our fleece garments are made of high performance woven polyester Polartec® 200 fleece – the grade and quality found in advanced technical mountaineering wear. You can download the Polartec® Technical Information Sheet on the right.
Fleece is undoubtedly the best wicking medium and it is this wicking action which continually blocks rain while still breathing away excess heat and moisture. It’s much warmer and more durable than wool and thermal cotton.
All of our fleece wear is machine washable, tumble dries, and won’t shrink, stretch or fade. Soft to wear, it’s also silent – no rustling exercise sheets on young horses on windy days, or restrictive rigid coats on small dogs.
Non-absorbent, the fleece doesn’t force a wet animal to sit in a damp garment, nor does it absorb smells, so after every wash it’s as fresh and friendly as when you bought it.
It’s worth noting, however, that Polartec fleece is not like neoprene and cannot be used for swimming in. It would be much like a person swimming in a fleece, getting heavy and stretching permanently out of shape.
Our fleece comprises at least 100% recycled content, so it has great environmental credentials too. To date, Polartec® have recycled over 1.3 billion plastic bottles into fleece, and more than 85% of the water they use during production is recycled.
We also upcycle fleece offcuts into our popular Dog Not dog toys.
Design
Our fleecewear is designed to beat the worst of British weather (no mean feat!) and caters for all dogs, tiny terrier to Great Dane, using the incredible versatility of top quality fleece to the maximum, all the while looking for style rather than fashion.
Uses include outdoor wear, rest and recovery for working dogs, winter wear for aged and fine coated dogs, post operative warmth and protection, drying off after hydrotherapy, swimming and exercise in lousy weather, and in the case of the high visibility fleece, aiding accident prevention.
Our high visibility fleece products for dogs have the added feature of being designed to aid accident prevention as well as offering ultimate in weather protection. In addition some garments, including the simple and highly effective Spot the Dog slip-on collar, have retroreflective strips adding extra visibility in low light conditions as the wearer nears a light source. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the British Horse Society have both appealed for road users to wear fluorescent garments.
None of us should have to choose between comfort and safety, either for ourselves or our animals. In daylight hours or murky conditions fluorescent materials have been shown to be superior to simply reflective materials in providing increased visibility, vital for road safety.
As with all our fleece, when worn next to the skin it both keeps the weather out and allows excess body heat to escape giving the ultimate in comfort to any dog.
Our dog wear is used and recommended by hydrotherapists, vets, dog handlers in both the working and showing world, caring pet owners and shown off by the dogs themselves. Animals which have previously resented clothing welcome the Equafleece garment because it is made primarily with the dog in mind.
The Dog T-Shirts have been hailed revolutionary by canine therapists as a means of easing the anxiety of dogs suffering from any number of stress related conditions. The t-shirts are also used by our customers to combat contact allergies and photosensitivity, and soaked in cold water before wearing, act as extremely effective cooling vests taking up to four hours to fully dry while the evaporating water lowers the dog’s body temperature – great for hot days.
Care Instructions
All the fleece garments machine wash really well on a gentle 30°C or 40°C cycle, and because the water-repellent nature of fleece is innate, there is no need to re-proof your Equafleece® – ever!
But BEWARE! Don’t use fabric softeners, 2-in-1 detergents or any special detergents. The best detergent to use is a regular non-bio.
Also BEWARE! Don’t wash your fleeces with light coloured towels or linen as they often shed lint particles when washed, and fleece is brilliant at picking up lint (in rare cases, lint that has been deposited in a machine from a previous wash). The result is that your lovely fleece can come out of the machine looking like it has dandruff. The only way to get rid of those particles is to then brush the fleece carefully with a nail brush. Equafleece is in no way liable for the adhesion of lint or how a customer washes their garments.
The fluorescent garments should be washed separately or with whites to ensure they come up glaringly bright after every wash.
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
Will an Equafleece really keep my dog dry?
Yes! The combination of body heat and fleece means the rain doesn’t penetrate the garment but sits on the outer surface, keeping the wearer warm and toasty. So unless you’re out for many hours in torrential rain, or your dog has an extraordinarily dense coat, our fleeces will keep out the worst the weather can throw at you.
However, please note that Polartec fleece isn’t like neoprene and can’t be worn for swimming as it would get heavy and stretch permanently out of shape.
And the same garment dries as well? How does that work?
Again – yes! It’s all about the same layer of warm air which makes the Equafleece water repellent. This warmth draws moisture from the skin (not just the hair) which then evaporates from the surface of the fleece. The huge advantage of a non-absorbent fleece is it can be used again almost immediately. Shake the wet garment on removal and it can be put straight back on – very useful for working dogs.
Will my dog overheat?
The Polartec fleece is breathable rather than impermeable so allows for body temperature moderation, but best not worn on a hot day!
My dog’s hair is prone to matting/knotting. Will that be a problem?
Occasionally a dog’s hair will be prone to matting when wearing any garment, be it fleece or cotton, so if that’s the case we’d advise wearing it for short periods to begin with.
Can I wash my Equafleece?
Yes, of course – see above for care instructions. Bad grass and mud stains on light coloured T-shirt and Summer Suit garments may not wash out fully – they’ll still work just as effectively though.
What if there are lint specks stuck to the fleece after washing?
Polartec fleece can be a collector of lint, and towels and linens are a giver of lint, so always avoid washing those items together. A light brushing with a nail brush will remove the lint.
Will it stretch, shrink or fade?
No, as long as you follow our care instructions above the garment should give you many years of use.
Does it restrict the dog in any way?
Correctly fitted, your Equafleece allows unparalleled ease of movement. The soft fleece and minimal use of buckles and straps mean even the smallest dog is free to scamper about unimpaired. The ergonomically designed fleeces allow for the craziest cavorting by the most energetic of wearers.
How do I know which style would be best?
Every dog is different, and each Equafleece style has its design perks. Our team is very happy to discuss the range and advise on options – or come and visit us at a show and ‘try then buy’.
What if my dog wears a harness?
Most of our garments work well with a harness worn over the top, so a harness hole isn’t included as standard. However, if you’d like a harness hole added, please try the garment on for fit, mark where you’d like the harness hole positioned and we’ll add one (at extra cost) on its return.
If you want your dog to wear a harness over the top of an Equafleece garment it will need to be loosened to accommodate the fabric. We can’t be held responsible or liable for damage caused to garments by a harness. Also note that it may affect the water repellent properties of the fabric by causing water to be pushed through in those areas.
I have a zip fitted that is becoming stiff to open and close. Is there anything I can do?
All outdoor/waterproof zips tend to get stiff after a bit which can lead to breakages. The professionals use silicone spray to lubricate the teeth, but if you don’t have that you could try furniture polish as it contains a high percentage of silicone.
