Originally Posted by
oakback
Ok, so if you don't have sensitive skin, and you're not in the desert, why is cotton bad? I would prefer something like Underarmour or some equivalent, but if not available, what's the alternative if not cotton?
I'm not trying to start an argument, I just can't figure out why cotton is be avoided. I've never had a problem with it making me hotter (not sure how that could happen, unless it's just way too big), it only makes me cooler (absorbs sweat and cools by evaporation).
There is nothing
wrong with cotton. The primary advantage of quick-dry fabric is that it "sucks up" and then distributes the sweat over a larger area of the outside of fabric. So with the increased evapouration rate(due to increased suface area) you'll get a better cooling effect and end up more comfortable because your shirt isn't sopping wet. Regarding skin temperatures i'm not sure if there is a large difference, the cotton will eventually get hot because it retains the water and becomes like a second skin, but i'm not sure if cotton is actually increasing your body temperature or just moving the sweating one layer out. Another benefit from quick-dry fabric is it lets air in when it is wet due to the way the fabric is weaved.