What Is Sherpa Fleece? (And Why We Use It to Line Every Stravaig Robe)

You've just hauled yourself out of a loch. The wind is up. Your skin is wet and your fingers aren't quite working yet. The last thing you need in that moment is a robe that looks warm but doesn't perform.

That's exactly the problem Sherpa fleece was made to solve - and it's why every Stravaig changing robe is lined with it.

So what actually is Sherpa fleece?

The name comes from the Sherpa people of Nepal - renowned for their ability to work and survive in some of the most extreme mountain conditions on earth. The fabric borrows that association with warmth and resilience. It's not a coincidence.

Sherpa fleece is a synthetic fabric with two distinct sides: a thick, textured pile on one side - the bit that touches your skin - and a smooth, flat knit backing on the other. The pile is designed to mimic the look and warmth of natural sheepskin fleece, without the weight or the animal welfare concerns.

What makes it genuinely useful (rather than just cosy-looking) comes down to a few specific properties:

It traps heat. The thick pile creates thousands of tiny air pockets between the fibres. Air is one of the best insulators there is. Those pockets hold your body heat close and slow down heat loss - which is exactly what you need when you're cold and wet.

It moves moisture. Sherpa fleece wicks dampness away from your skin rather than sitting in it. So as your body warms up and moisture evaporates, the fabric is pulling that away rather than holding it against you.

It dries fast. Because it's synthetic, it doesn't absorb moisture the way natural fibres do. It dries quickly, which matters if you're using your robe day after day.

It's soft and lightweight. For the warmth it delivers, Sherpa fleece is relatively light. It doesn't add unnecessary bulk.

Why it matters specifically for cold water swimming

Here's a thing a lot of people don't know: getting out of cold water isn't the end of the cold.

Your core temperature continues to drop for anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes after you leave the water. It's called the after-drop - the cold that was sitting in your extremities moves inward toward your core as circulation restores. That window is when you're most vulnerable to feeling rough, shaky, or genuinely unwell.

Getting into a warm, dry layer immediately after you get out isn't optional - it's how you take care of yourself.

A Sherpa-lined robe addresses this directly. The fleece wicks moisture from your skin as you pull the robe on. It traps your body heat as it starts to build back up. And the waterproof outer shell of the Stravaig robe - rated to 10,000mm - blocks wind chill at the same time. Those two things together make a real difference in that after-drop window.

Sherpa fleece vs microfibre: which is better?

Honest answer: it depends on what you're doing.

Microfibre lining is lighter, packs down smaller, and works perfectly well in mild conditions. If you're using your robe after a summer beach swim or a warm outdoor pool, microfibre is fine.

But for cold water swimming - autumn, winter, Scottish lochside, standing in a car park in November - Sherpa wins significantly. The thicker pile traps more air, retains more heat, and handles moisture more aggressively. The difference isn't subtle when you're genuinely cold.

We're a Scottish brand. Our customers swim in Highland lochs, in the sea in February, in outdoor pools when there's frost on the ground. Warmth after cold water exposure was always going to be the priority, not how small the robe packs down.

Why Stravaig chose Sherpa fleece

The Stravaig changing robe is lined with a 100% recycled thick 350gsm Sherpa fleece. That's a deliberate choice, not a default.

When we were developing the robe, we looked at what our customers actually needed. Wild swimmers. Paddle boarders. People standing on Scottish hillsides watching their kids play sport in the rain. People walking their dogs on a January morning who want to be warm the moment they get back to the car.

These aren't people who need the lightest possible lining. They need the warmest, most practical one.

Sherpa fleece fits. It performs in the conditions our customers are actually in - wet, windy, cold - and it does it without making the robe feel heavy or stiff. Pair it with the recycled nylon outer shell, the 10,000mm waterproof rating, and the YKK zips, and you've got a robe built for the kind of weather Scotland actually delivers.

If you want to feel it for yourself:

Got questions about the robe? Drop us a message  we're always happy to help you find the right fit.