Commuting - Don't they make generic brands for this?

Microfiber, Microairdry, Cool-max? It's all so confusing.
Do some of these fabrics disipate heat better or is it *only* a moisture thing?
Does anyone know of studies to show which is best? If it's just polyester, how come it's so expensive?
Can't I just buy a shirt that says 50% polyester 50% nylon to do the same thing?

Best deal I've found on decent wicking tee-shirts is $15. Anybody know of a better deal?

Check the stores for sales. I bought a bunch of $5 short sleeve shirts with CoolMax knock off technology (Dri Power). Great for those hot days.

They are 100% polyester and it looks smooth on the inside and grid pattern on the outside. That may have something to do with the wicking action.

Best deal I've found on decent wicking tee-shirts is $15. Anybody know of a better deal?

If my search, I'm noticing that "wicking" and "breathes" seem to be marketing terms. Even cotton breathes now! If I get the wrong shirt, it's gonna breathe alright and it *could* get wicked!

Is there any way to go by percentages? OK like the shirt says 95% Supplex Spandex, 5% Lycra might be better than a dress button down shirt that's 50% cotton, 50% poly?

Pretty much any fabric 'breathes', in as much as it allows air to pass through it. Breathing fabric became a marketing catchword when Goretex hit the shelves, but the big thing about that was that it's waterproof as well. Marketing fabric as 'breathable' is about as significant as saying that a shirt is 'sleeved'.

Wicking moisture away is another thing altogether, and apparently somewhat more tricky to achieve. Cotton is supremely bad at this, but I'm sure there are cheaper non-branded alternatives to those you mention in the sports departments of your larger chains. The stitching might not hold out as long, but you gets what you pays for.

Found a $10 100% Polyester quick dri mosture transfer jersey at WalMart. No weird graphics just plain colors like white, yellow, black and red, plus comes with invisible reflective material sewn into the fabric; and it's made in Thailand not China!

It pretty much is just polyester. These fabrics are not all the same, but they are nearly functionally identical. I have found discounts on this stuff from www.campmor.com and www.sierratradingpost.com.

I think that what makes it expensive is the cost to license these names (CoolMax, DriClime, etc) from their owners.

Dan

Shucks, DanFromDetroit beat me to the punch. Sign up for email specials from Sierra Trading Post and Campmor. I have gotten unbelievable prices on Coolmax t-shirts, as low as $2.95. You just have to watch. The most commonly available brand is Duofold. If you do a brand or vendor search at STP and Campmor you can see if they have anything right now. They almost always do.

The wicking fibers such as Coolmax, Hydroduct, Varitherm, Thermax, etc., are generally polyester fibers with one or more channels through which moisture can wick; they are functionally similar. Coolmax and Hydroduct are more commonly touted for warm weather wicking, while Varitherm and Thermax are touted for wicking and insulation for cooler weather just because they tend to be in long sleeve versions, etc. I have some of each, and they all work well. The label will list the content as 100% polyester, which chemically it is. The difference is in the physical cross section of the fibers. It is not the same as any old 100% polyester or 50/50 poly/nylon, etc.

Here in New Orleans we know a thing or two about heat and HUMIDITY. You just haven't lived until you have ridden in 90-95 degrees and 95% humidity. Let me tell you Coolmax DOES make a difference. I actually find it more comfortable to wear a Coolmax t-shirt under my jersey than just the jersey alone. At the end of my one hour afternoon commute in the summer the t-shirt will be very wet, but it will not be dripping and sodden as a cotton t-shirt would be. I sometimes wear a Coolmax tri tank, not so much for temperature control as to try to even out the old farmer tan somewhat.

Wow, thanks for the info. I'm a broke college student and I've been cycling my 2 patagonia shirts every day for my commute. At 30 bucks a piece that's about as many as I'd ever get. But at 6 bucks a shirt, I can get 4 or 5 and just wear them to class without changing. Thanks for the info, this made my day.

Just a note to my above reply, today I bought the jersey from Walmart and will try it out tomorrow to see if this cheap jersey works. The brand name is Starter who has been around since 1971; the fabric is 100 polyester called dri-star that they claim transfers perspiration away from the body and it's a technically engineered molecular fabric...big words that probably don't mean much since I think that may apply to all 100% polyester clothes! It has a reflective element to it they advertise but it's totally worthless in that department, I shined a flashlight onto the shirt and just a small 1/2"x1" label and a small S glows back and it's only on the front!

But I'm not complaining, I bought it for $10 to try and if it doesn't work then I will just use to do yard work on hot days!

It has a reflective element to it they advertise but it's totally worthless in that department, I shined a flashlight onto the shirt and just a small 1/2"x1" label and a small S glows back and it's only on the front!



So just wear it backwards ;)

Well technically any synthetic polymer shirt's an engineered fabric. Patagonia's capaline I tried once and it was almost similar to polypro, it reeked and after multiple washings it continued to reek. And at 45 bucks a piece, it was very expensive reek. So from now on, as long as its made of synthetic, I'll take it.
Cotton breathes but it holds onto moisture. Synthetic fibers by themselves are hydrophobic, they repel water. Weaves can be designed so that direct contact between your sweaty skin and the fabric would soak the fabric which in turn would not want to hold onto it so when wind hits it, it'll dissipate extremely fast into the air whereas cotton sort of holds onto it and slowly evaporates and remains damp or wet. Certain fabrics such as coolmax alta are designed with a different cross section in the fibers that supposedly maximizes the dissipation of moisture.

Here are the Duofold products available at STP right now. To a certain extent they are a liquidation type business so their inventory fluctuates. I bought a couple of the turtlenecks this winter. They make a light additional layer, and obviously helped keep my neck warm. I generally wear size L button up shirts and M or L knit shirts. For my Duofold under-jersey stuff I get size S for a nice close, but not tight, fit.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/search/vendor_results.asp?gender=1%2C9&gender=2%2C9&gender=3%2C4&gender=0&ShowImages=yes&vendor=451

BTW, Coolmax has a wonderful light silky feel.

BTW, Coolmax has a wonderful light silky feel.

Wait till coolmax gets to be 5-6 years old, it pills up like no tomorrow.

I have two of the Wal-Mart Starter jerseys and they work great. I like them because they fit looser than my other jerseys and feel a little cooler than my coolmax jersey. I have been using them for nearly a year now and have no problems with them.

Wait till coolmax gets to be 5-6 years old, it pills up like no tomorrow.

Hey it it lasts that long "under the Kelley test" cycle, it's all good. I just don't want 'em to smell me walking down the hallway!

I rode with the new Starter jersey from Walmart but unfortunatly the temperture did not get as hot as they said it would so I still don't know how well it will handle the heat. But the one thing for sure, true to polyester it stinks after one use!

Wait till coolmax gets to be 5-6 years old, it pills up like no tomorrow.

I have also found this to be true. The most long-wearing polyester that I have found is the stuff they make soccer jerseys out of. I have a bunch of these and they just don't wear out. They are great as long as you don't mind the irridecscent colors.

Nike's Dri-Fit seems to pill, shrink, and become abrasive with age.

Capilene is a great wicking material, but is very expensive and has a high stink factor. It seems to age well too.

Lycra is great when it is new, but becomes less elastic and thins with age and use.

Dan

. . .

today I bought the jersey from Walmart . . .


Any one know of a cheap source for these jerseys OTHER than Walmart, at which I try to avoid shopping?

And I sure would like a bright color (not blue, which I think "disappears" at a distance. . .).

Here are the Duofold products available at STP right now. To a certain extent they are a liquidation type business so their inventory fluctuates. I bought a couple of the turtlenecks this winter. They make a light additional layer, and obviously helped keep my neck warm. I generally wear size L button up shirts and M or L knit shirts. For my Duofold under-jersey stuff I get size S for a nice close, but not tight, fit.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/search/vendor_results.asp?gender=1%2C9&gender=2%2C9&gender=3%2C4&gender=0&ShowImages=yes&vendor=451

BTW, Coolmax has a wonderful light silky feel.

Ray, The 2 Duofold shirts arrived and they're perfect. Thanks!
For others who are sorting through the fabric hype....

http://www.bicycleapparel.com/fabrics.html#challenge
http://www.fabriclink.com/pk/AG.html