Microfiber or fleece: Which affordable winter bedding is right for you?
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When the heating season begins and the budget for new bedding is limited, two qualities often end up side by side in the shopping cart: microfiber or fleece. Both cost significantly less than classic cotton qualities, both feel soft – and yet they do something completely different in bed. Therefore, the question cannot be answered in general: it depends on how cold your bedroom is, whether you sweat at night, and whether the bedding is intended for use for only three winter months or all year round.
What really matters when making the decision
Three points determine which of the two qualities is right for you.
First: How quickly should it get warm? Fleece has a soft, brushed pile that holds a lot of air between the fibers. It is precisely these air pockets that store heat – you can feel them as soon as you get into bed. Microfiber, on the other hand, is smooth and thinly woven; it hardly warms on its own, but leaves that to you and your duvet.
Second: How much do you sweat at night? Both qualities are made of synthetic fibers and absorb moisture significantly worse than cotton. This is more pronounced with fleece because a lot of heat is also trapped. Those who regularly wake up with a damp neck are better advised to choose a breathable cotton quality – more on that below.
Third: How long should the set stay in use? Fleece is purely winter bedding; by March at the latest, it will be too warm for most people. Microfiber, on the other hand, can be used all year round and is therefore often the more practical choice for guest beds that are rarely slept in.
Microfiber and fleece in direct comparison
The following overview summarizes what distinguishes the two qualities – supplemented by the cotton alternative, in case both are too synthetic for you:
| Quality | Properties | Ideal for | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castell Microfiber (e.g. 0560500) |
Smooth, lightweight, quick-drying, virtually wrinkle-free; hardly warms on its own | All-year use, guest bed, small budget | from approx. €18.95 |
| Castell Polar Fleece (e.g. 0330248) |
Soft pile with a lot of air volume, warms up immediately; the most affordable entry into the fleece range | Cool bedrooms, drafty rooms, sofa nights | from approx. €20.95 |
| Castell Thermo Fleece (e.g. 0360443) |
Second fleece line, slightly higher priced, available in several colors and sizes | Everyone who wants to get by with one set all winter long | from approx. €27.95 |
| biberna Fine Flannel / Melange Flannel (e.g. 0006722 or 0840500) |
100% cotton, brushed and breathable; absorbs moisture instead of trapping it | Those who want to sleep warm but want cotton on their skin | from approx. €49.95 |
Which one is right for you?
You get cold in the bedroom and heat sparingly. Then fleece is the most honest answer to a small budget. The Castell Polar Fleece Bedding Pearl (0330248) costs around €20.95 and warms you from the very first moment. You can find other designs in the Fleece Bedding category.
You need a set for the whole year. Then the path leads to microfiber. The Castell Microfiber Bedding (0560500) starts at around €18.95; those who like it a bit more colorful will find an alternative with the Castell Microfiber Bedding Silver/Gray (0560967) from approx. €23.95. The complete range is available in the Microfiber Bedding category.
You are furnishing a guest room. Here microfiber usually wins: It is quick to wash, quick to dry, and practically does not need to be ironed – ideal when there is little time between two visits. A second Thermo Fleece set in the closet, such as the Castell Thermo Fleece Bedding (0360443) from approx. €27.95, then solves the case of a guest who is particularly cold in winter.
You sweat at night – but still want warmth. This is the case where both synthetic fiber qualities reach their limit. Instead, opt for brushed cotton: The biberna Fine Flannel Bedding (0006722) from approx. €49.95 or the biberna Melange Flannel Bedding (0840500) warm just as well, but absorb moisture instead of trapping it. Melange Flannel is woven from differently colored yarns in the company's own weaving mill in Hamminkeln; more on that in the Flannel Bedding category.
What is often overlooked with microfiber and fleece
Static charge. Synthetic fibers charge up more easily in dry heated air than cotton – many know the little crackling when making the bed. A dryer cycle without fabric softener and a slightly higher humidity in the bedroom help noticeably; we describe this in detail in the post Bedding gets statically charged.
Care. Both qualities do not like high temperatures: Washing too hot causes the fleece pile to felt and the microfiber to become hard. Stick to the care labels – both dry very quickly and thus save energy.
Durability. The pile of fleece flattens over the years, and precisely because of this, the warming performance decreases. Brushed cotton loses its fluffiness more slowly. Those who calculate how many winters a set should last therefore often end up with the slightly more expensive Flannel – the background to this in the post Microfiber or cotton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is fleece warmer than microfiber?
Yes, significantly. The brushed pile holds a lot of air and thus warmth in bed, while smooth microfiber hardly insulates. Those primarily looking for warmth choose fleece – those who need a lightweight all-year quality, microfiber.
Is fleece bedding suitable for allergy sufferers?
Synthetic fibers offer no food for dust mites, but washability is crucial. Those who react to house dust should opt for a quality that can be washed hot and complement it with a suitable mattress protector.
Why does my bedding crackle in winter?
This is static charge caused by dry heated air and synthetic fibers. Avoid fabric softener, which additionally loads the fibers, and ensure a humidity of about 40 to 60 percent in the bedroom.
Can I wash fleece and microfiber together?
Basically yes, if the temperature and spin speed match. But it is better not to wash fleece with heavily linting textiles like terry cloth, so that no lint gets stuck in the pile.
Is there warm cotton bedding at similar prices?
The entry into brushed cotton at Castell Fine Flannel starts at approx. €25.95 and is thus only slightly above fleece. The original qualities from biberna start at around €49.95 – but they usually last significantly longer.
No matter what you decide: You can find the entire selection for the cold season in the Winter Bedding category – directly from the inventor of Biber bedding (brushed cotton flannel) and always free of shipping costs without a minimum order value.