What is ProTEC? The Complete Guide to Stay-Dry Fleece Fabrics
What ProTEC Is and What Problem It Solves
ProTEC is AKAS Tex's stay-dry fleece line designed to sit against skin and pass moisture through to an absorbent layer beneath it. ProTEC fabrics use hydrophobic (water-repelling) polyester fibers in a single-sided fleece construction — the soft napped pile surface contacts skin, repels liquid on contact, and transfers it through to whatever absorbent fabric sits behind it.
Key Concept: ProTEC keeps skin dry by moving moisture THROUGH to an absorbent partner layer — it does not absorb liquid itself, and it does not evaporate moisture into the air. ProTEC always needs an absorbent fabric behind it to receive the liquid it passes through. This is the fundamental difference from ProCool (which wicks for evaporation) and Zorb (which absorbs and retains).
ProTEC achieves its stay-dry function through permanent hydrophobic fiber engineering — not chemical surface treatments that wash out over time. The moisture management is built into the fiber structure during manufacturing and maintains effectiveness through hundreds of wash cycles with proper care. Every ProTEC fabric is manufactured in the USA by AKAS Tex, free from harmful chemicals, and CPSIA certified for children's product safety.
The ProTEC Product Landscape
ProTEC fabrics are organized by weight class and variant. All share the same single-sided fleece construction — napped pile on one side, smooth flat knit on the other — with the napped side always facing skin in the finished product.
Construction Note: All ProTEC fabrics are single-sided — napped pile on one side, smooth flat knit on the other. The napped side must contact skin for proper stay-dry function. The smooth backing faces the absorbent layer in multi-layer product construction.
Handling Notes for Makers
Nap direction matters. ProTEC fleece has a directional nap — the brushed fibers lay in one direction. Cut all pattern pieces with the nap running the same way for consistent appearance and texture across the finished product. Running your hand across the surface in both directions will reveal the nap direction (smooth one way, rougher the other).
Stretch is directional. ProTEC fleece stretches more in one direction (typically the width/crosswise grain) than the other. Be aware of which direction provides the most stretch and orient pattern pieces accordingly for the finished product's fit and function.
Napped side faces skin. The soft, fuzzy napped side must face the wearer's skin for the stay-dry function to work. The hydrophobic napped fibers push moisture through to absorbent layers on the other side. The smooth side faces outward or toward the absorbent core.
Critical Care Requirement: Never wash ProTEC fabrics with fabric softeners or dryer sheets. These products coat the hydrophobic fiber surfaces and permanently destroy stay-dry wicking performance. Never use bleach on Silver variants — it permanently damages the antimicrobial treatment.
Pilling is normal — and intentional. ProTEC fleece is manufactured without anti-pill chemical treatments. Anti-pill finishes use silicones, resins, or chemical crosslinkers that reduce breathability, compromise softness, and introduce environmental concerns — with effectiveness lasting only 5–30 washes. Some surface pilling is expected with wear and friction. Use a fabric shaver to restore the surface — never pull pills by hand, which damages the base fabric structure.
Key Technologies Powering ProTEC
ProTEC fabrics rely on hydrophobic polyester fiber engineering as their core moisture management mechanism. The fiber's water-repelling properties are permanent — engineered into the polyester during manufacturing, not applied as a surface coating.
Select ProTEC products integrate additional technologies:
- Silver Plus Antimicrobial Technology inhibits 99.9% bacterial growth through silver ion compounds, controlling odor during extended wear between laundering. Effective through 50+ wash cycles.
- Lycra Stretch-FIT Technology provides four-way stretch with shape recovery for body-conforming applications. For the full technical explanation, see Lycra Stretch-FIT Technology.
How to Choose: Navigating ProTEC Options
Selecting the right ProTEC fabric involves two decisions: which weight class and which variant features you need.
Choosing your weight class: Standard Microfleece (240 GSM) provides the most substantial hand-feel with proven performance — start here unless you have a specific reason to go lighter or heavier. Fleece LITE (130–135 GSM) reduces bulk for multi-layer systems and applications where thin profile matters. Heavy Fleece (600 GSM) is for outerwear insulation, not stay-dry liner applications.
Choosing your variants: Add Silver when the product will be worn for extended periods between laundering and odor control matters — overnight diapers, incontinence products, and medical applications benefit most. Add Stretch-FIT when the product requires body-conforming fit with stretch recovery — athletic base layers, fitted diaper covers, and form-fitting garments.
No Anti-Pill Treatment — By Design: ProTEC fleece fabrics are manufactured without anti-pill chemical treatments. Anti-pill finishes use silicones, resins, or chemical crosslinkers that reduce breathability, compromise softness, and introduce environmental concerns — with effectiveness lasting only 5–30 washes. High-quality untreated fleece matches this lifespan naturally. Some surface pilling is expected with use and is easily managed with a fabric shaver.
Common Applications for ProTEC Fabrics
ProTEC fabrics serve applications where a soft, comfortable surface must keep skin dry while transferring moisture to an absorbent layer beneath. The most common applications include:
- Baby and child care: Cloth diaper stay-dry liners (the most popular ProTEC application), diaper inserts, baby bandanas and bibs for drool management, nursing pads — anywhere a soft hydrophobic surface sits against baby's sensitive skin
- Menstrual and incontinence care: Reusable menstrual pad inner layers, incontinence underwear topsheets, adult incontinence pad liners — the comfortable surface layer in multi-layer absorbent systems
- Athletic and activewear: Lightweight base layers, performance mid-layers, athletic linings — where fleece softness and moisture transfer combine for extended-wear comfort
- Pet care: Guinea pig cage liners, pet pad covers — stay-dry surfaces for animal comfort
- Children's apparel: Sleepwear, hoodies, lightweight outerwear — soft fleece with inherent moisture management and UPF 50+ sun protection
- Medical and healthcare: Tubie pad backing for medical feeding tubes, protective textile linings — skin-contact applications requiring gentle moisture management
Certifications and Safety Standards
ProTEC fabrics carry safety certifications tested and documented at the fabric level.
All ProTEC fabrics are manufactured by AKAS Tex in EPA-compliant facilities in the United States under fair labor standards. All fabric specifications may vary ±10% due to textile industry manufacturing standards.
For detailed explanations of what each certification requires and how to download certification documents, see Certifications, Chemical Safety & Compliance Standards.
Where ProTEC Fits in the Wazoodle Ecosystem
ProTEC is one of several specialized fabric brands in the Wazoodle ecosystem, each engineered for a distinct primary function. Choosing the right brand starts with understanding where moisture needs to go in your product.
Brand Routing: Choose ProTEC when your fabric needs to sit against skin and pass moisture through to an absorbent layer behind it — the stay-dry liner in cloth diapers, incontinence products, and reusable menstrual pads. Choose ProCool when moisture must leave the system entirely through evaporation — athletic wear and performance apparel. Choose Zorb when you need the absorbent layer that captures and holds the liquid ProTEC passes through. Choose ProSoft when you need the waterproof barrier that prevents absorbed liquid from leaking out.
The most common multi-brand system using ProTEC:
ProTEC stay-dry liner (skin contact) → Zorb absorbent core (liquid retention) → ProSoft PUL waterproof backing (leak protection).
For a detailed comparison of stay-dry approaches across brands, see Stay-Dry Systems Compared: ProTEC Fleece vs ProCool Wicking vs Zorb Stay Dry Dimple.