What Does "Moisture Wicking" Mean - Hiking and Fishing

Simply put, moisture-wicking is the process of moving moisture away from your skin during any physical activity. A moisture-wicking fabric has two main ... 0Items WhatDoes“MoistureWicking”MeanAndWhyIsItNecessary?byAndreaDavis ArticleCategories:Gear|HikingTips ArticleTags:Hiking|HikingTips WhatDoes“MoistureWicking”Mean? Simplyput,moisture-wickingistheprocessofmovingmoistureawayfromyourskinduringanyphysicalactivity.Amoisture-wickingfabrichastwomainduties:oneisquicklytransferringsweattothefabric’stoplayer,andthesecondisquicklydryingoutsothatyoursweatdoesn’tsoakthroughthefabric.Wearingfabricsthataremoisturewickingmakesphysicalactivitymuchmoreenjoyableandcomfortablebecauseitallowsyourbodytoregulateitstemperatureandyourclothingwon’thavethatsticky,dampfeelingafterwards. ArticleQuickLinks:HowMoistureWickingWorks|WhenToWear|Materials&Fabrics HowDoesMoisture-WickingWork? Capillarypressureandpermeabilityarethetwopropertiesthataretypicallyusedtopredictwickingperformanceinafabric. Moisturewickingisdependentoncapillaryaction,whichis themovementofliquid(orsweat)throughsmallspaceswithinafabriccausedbythemolecularforcesbetweentheliquidandthefabric. Permeabilityisthemeasureofafabric’sabilitytotransfermoisturethroughitself,andisdeterminedbyavarietyofsizesofspaceswithinitandtheconnectionsbetweenthem. WhyshouldIchoose“moisture-wicking”clothing? Whenyouareengaginginanyactivityoutdoorsthatinvolvesanincreaseinheartrate,thattypicallymeansyouwillbesweatingtosomedegree.Thesespecificfabricsintendtokeepyourskindryonceyourbodystopsproducingsweat.Youwillgenerallywanttohavemoisture-wickingfabriconanylayerofclothingthattouchesyourskin.Anexampleofthiswouldbeyourbaselayer,thefirstlayer.   WhenshouldIwear“moisture-wicking”clothing? Anytimeyouareengaginginstrenuousphysicalactivitywhereyouarelikelytosweatisagoodtimetowearmoisturewickinglayers.Activitiessuchashiking,running,biking,skiing,snowshoeing,walking,yoga,etc. Moisture-wickingfabrics   #1.Synthetics Syntheticfabricsnaturallyresistthepenetrationofwater,makingthemextremelymoisturewicking.Manybaselayersmeantforoutdooractivityaresyntheticfabricssuchasnylonorpolyester. Pros Inexpensive Goodbreathability Driesquickly Easytodrywhilewearing Toughandlong-lasting–highlydurable Cons Doesn’tretainheatwellincoldtemperatures Lessodorresistantthanotherfabrics   #2.MerinoWool Woolisalsoconsideredtobeamoisture-wickingfabric.Woolabsorbssmallamountsofliquidintoitscore,butallowsmoisturetoexitthroughthefabric. Thesurfaceofwoolfabrickeepsyourskinlesssaturatedwhensweating. Pros Keepsyourskindry Goodbreathability Lightweight Versatile Odorcontrol Cons Notaslonglastingasotherfabrics Canbepricey FabricstoAvoid   Cotton Cottonisthe#1non-moisturewickingfabriconthemarket.Youwillwanttoavoidwearingcottonclothingduringanytypeofphysicalactivitywhereyouwillbesweating.Cottonbecomeseasilysaturatedinsweat,failingtodryquickenough.Thiswillinitiallyeaveyourbodyfeelingoverlyhotandsticky,butonceyourbodynaturallycoolsitselfdown,youwillbegintofeelcoolandclammy.   Summervs.Winter Shouldyoubewearingmoisturewickingclothinginthecoldermonths?Theanswerisyes.Itisimportanttokeepyourskinunsaturatedandasdryaspossibleinbothseasons.   Summer Lightweightlayersmadefrombreathable,moisture-wickingmaterialsworkbesttokeepyourbodycoolandmostimportantly,dry.Zip-awaypantsarealsogreatforsummer,astheyhelpkeepyouprotectedfrominsectbitesandpoisonivy,whileprovidingtheoptiontowearthemasshortswhenit’shotout.   Winter Thereare4layersofclothingtoconsiderwhendressingforanywinter outdooractivitythatinvolvesanincreaseinheartrate;thebase–layer,themid-layer,theinsulating-layer,andtheouter-layer. BaseLayer–Yourfirstlayershouldbeyourlongunderwearor“baselayer”.Thislayershouldfitsnugagainstyourskinandbemadeoutofanonabsorbentmaterial.Thebaselayerworksbydiligentlywickingawaysweatandwaterinordertokeepyourskindry. Mid-Layer– Themid-layerworksbytrappingtheairandpreventingitfromcirculatingandpushingawayanybodyheatyou’reproducingthroughevaporation. Syntheticfabricsandmerinowoolworkbesthere. InsulatingLayer– Forextremelycoldconditions,anoutergarmentwithmultipleinchesofthicknessishighlyrecommended.Down,Polarguard,Thinsulate,andPrimaloftarealltypesofinsulationthatareusedinaninsulatingarticleofclothing. OuterShell– The#1mostimportantpartofthelayeringsystemistheouter-shell.Thislayerhastheabilitytoaddupto25degreesofwarmthormorewhenwornincoldandwindyconditions.   Treatment Mostmoisture-wickinggarmentsshouldnotbeusedwithanytypeof fabricsoftener,whetherthatbeinliquidordyer-sheetform.Fabricsoftenerscreateawaxyresiduethatdoesn’tmixwiththefabric’sfinish. AndreaDavis Andreaisawriter,hiker,andadventurerfromNewEngland.Sheenjoyssnowboarding,sunrisehikes,winter,nighthiking,traveling,andphotography. Subscribe Usefulinfoforspendingmoretimeinbeautifulplaces. FirstName*LastNameEmail*Subscribeto:* Hiking Fishing CheckOutOurBeautifulHikingPostersWhiteMountainsMapOnAmazonLookingforaHikingGuide? FirstName*LastNameEmail*PhoneTellmealittlebitaboutwhatyou'reinterestedin.Subscribeto: Hiking Fishing NameThisfieldisforvalidationpurposesandshouldbeleftunchanged. Categories Fishing fishingtips Gear Hiking HikingTips Marketing Other Skiing Travel TripReport Uncategorized