Polar fleece vs. sherpa-backed blankets

The short answer

Choose polar fleece when blankets will be handed out in volume, packed small or decorated across the whole surface. Choose sherpa-backed when warmth and a premium feel matter more than freight. Customized Fleece Blankets makes both from 12 blankets. See anti-pill polar fleece blankets or see sherpa-backed blankets.

Side by side

When polar fleece is the right call

A single layer of polar fleece is the workhorse of the range. It is lighter, it packs smaller and it ships for less, which matters when you are sending hundreds or thousands to an event or a campus. Weight is quoted in gsm, so you can choose heavier for warmth or lighter for freight with a number in hand, and the pilling rating is stated on the quote so you know how it will look after a few washes. Embroidery, print and woven labels all work, and it is the usual pick for giveaways, events and corporate gifting.

When sherpa-backed is the right call

Sherpa backing turns a single layer into a two-layer blanket: a smooth fleece face for your logo and a deep curled pile on the back that traps air. The difference in warmth is easy to feel, and it reads as a premium gift. The honest trade-off is weight, because two bonded layers roughly double the shipping weight and packed volume, so the freight difference goes on the quote next to the unit cost. Decoration also needs planning: embroidery belongs on the smooth face, and anything on the sherpa side should be a woven label or a patch. It suits universities, hospitality, premium gifting and winter events.

How to decide

Start with how the blankets will travel and where they will be used. If they are going out by the thousand or being carried around, polar fleece keeps freight and bulk down. If they will live on a sofa or a terrace and warmth is the point, sherpa is worth the extra weight. For a deeper look at the fabrics, read the fleece fabric types guide.

The verdict

Pick polar fleece for lighter, easier-to-ship blankets with flexible decoration.

Pick sherpa-backed for the warmest, most premium blanket when the extra weight is acceptable.

Not sure which fits your order? Send your logo and quantity and you get a free mockup within 24 hours, with orders starting from 12 blankets.