Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinci
I recently started wearing skinsuits and aero-fit jerseys. I am finding that they feel much cooler because they stay in contact with my skin and are constantly wicking sweat away.
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I'm guessing that you're cooler not because the fabric wicks sweat better, but because the clothing is tighter, and therefore holds the sweat to your skin.
Wicking fabrics have never been shown to actually keep people cooler in hot weather. In fact, there is some evidence that it actually makes people hotter. Some tests have shown that subjects wearing wicking fabrics have higher core temperatures when exercising in hot humid weather. You're body cools itself through the evaporation of sweat. If the sweat is wicked away before it evaporates, it doesn't have a chance to cool you.
Wicking fabrics are good for cold weather, because moisture on the skin conducts heat away. But it might be bad for hot weather, when you want heat to be transferred away from your skin.