Clothing to Beat Summer Heat
Summer is just around the corner and that means humidity, heat and lots of fun. Because most summer activities involve being out in the sun-camping, boating, playing sports and hiking, one of the best ways to start your activity is to choose the right clothing.
The type of material your clothing is made from is very important. With most retailers, you can find all kinds of trendy fabrics and different options. Below are just a few fabrics to give you an idea of which is best for certain activities:
Cotton is hydrophilic, meaning it transfers sweat from the skin into the fabric. This will help to wick the moisture away from your body. Cotton is also beneficial in that it helps by blocking a reasonable amount of UV rays, which is important if you spend most of your time out in the sun. The concern with cotton is that it tends to hold the moisture in when it gets wet, not allowing it to be very breathable. When the sun goes down, this can cause you to get cold because it loses its ability to insulate your body. Cotton can also take awhile to dry out before it is able to wick more moisture away.
Polypropylene is a hydrophobic fabric, meaning that it transfers water from the skin across the fabric to other clothes or the air and dries from the inside out. It’s soft, cheap and easy to care for, but be aware that prolonged wear time can cause odors from the fabric. Polypropylene melts very easily when anywhere close to an open flame, so be careful near a campfire or grill.
Poly-blend fabrics also have the same benefits as polypropylene. They can be reasonably priced, depending on all of the extras that certain companies have on their products. Many companies claim their product is a “special blend”, but most of them are basically the same.
Nylon is another good alternative because it’s extremely light weight, strong and water resistant. Nylon is fast drying and has superior flexibility and resilience to shrinkage and wrinkling. It is also easy to care for.
Linen can also be an option because it’s sheer and light weight, but linen wrinkles easily and doesn’t block UV rays.
In summer, the best fabric is one that absorbs sweat, is breathable and gives you a cool feeling. If you’re searching for an inexpensive option, try polyester or a poly-blend.