Originally Posted by
terrymorse
Yeah, solar heating is a thing. As are evaporative cooling and convective heat transfer.
Taking all 3 factors into account, I still doubt that any garment is cooler than bare skin. I’m willing to be convinced otherwise by evidence. Got a link to some?
OK, I looked, found nothing. I should mention that I think they are not good for walking or standing around in terms of cooling. I push them down in rest stops, definitely hotter as they slightly insulate. But on the bike, the air movement seems to me to be cooler than my bare arms, which are not heavily tanned as I wear them in the sun and on hikes am often in tree shade or mountain shadow. I once tried wearing a bike jersey on a hike, total bummer, way too hot. A light, loose poly tee is best for my hiking, though I prefer a tight jersey on the bike. I've talked to many PCT thru-hikers and they're universally in the loose garment and lots of sunscreen camp. I'm not a fast climber, but I still seem to come out on the positive side, cycling with sunsleeves, even down to 7 mph as long as I don't have a tailwind.