If you’ve been shopping for athletic apparel, workout wear, beach wear, or business polo shirts, you’ve probably come across moisture-wicking fabrics. The manufacturers of these performance fabrics claim that they can keep you dry and comfortable by wicking away sweat. But can fabric really do that?
Do Moisture-Wicking Fabrics Work: The Short Answer
The quick answer is yes, but not all moisture-wicking fabrics are created equal. Here’s what you need to know:
Polyester Moisture-Wicking
Most moisture-wicking fabrics are made from polyester or polyester blends. Polyester can only hold a small amount of moisture (0.4 percent) compared to cotton, which can hold up to 7 percent.
Newer Moisture-Wicking Brands and Materials
Newer moisture-wicking fabrics, such as those made by MyFit Apparel, Under Armour, Adidas, and Augusta Sportswear, are woven into a high-tech pattern that forces moisture through gaps in the weave and up to the material’s outer shell, where it evaporates much faster.
These newer moisture-wicking fabrics also offer proprietary natural antibacterial protection to help inhibit fabric odor. First-generation moisture-wicking fabrics tend to hold sweat odors.
4 Examples of Functional Moisture-Wicking Shirts
So, do moisture-wicking fabrics work for everyday people? We asked a weekend bike-rider (Blake), a daily outdoor runner (Ashley), an indoor cardio kickboxer (Jasmine), and a landscape designer (Ethan) to do their thing in 100-percent cotton on one day and in a polyester-performance blend the next day. Here’s what they found:
- Blake: I usually ride in cotton T-shirts, but when I did the comparison (I rode 10 miles on the same trail each day), I felt like I sweat a lot more in the cotton than I did in the performance T-shirt. I was pleasantly surprised by the difference.
- Ashley: I have been wearing performance fabrics for my daily runs for years, so it was a little weird to go back to cotton. While the cotton was very comfortable when I started my run, by the end of my typical 5 miles, I was dripping and so was my shirt. The next day I did the same exact run in my performance T-shirt, and I felt and looked much dryer.
- Jasmine: Like Ashley, I stayed dryer in my performance capris and tank top than I did in a similar 100-percent cotton workout outfit. I’m definitely going to stick to performance fabrics from now on.
- Ethan: I was installing a large landscape project with my team on both days. On day 1, I wore a cotton polo. By the end of the day, I looked like I just stepped out of a shower with my clothes on. On day 2, I wore the performance polo, and while I still sweat, I still looked presentable to my clients, and I felt much more comfortable.
What Makes a Moisture-Wicking Fabric Work Properly
For a moisture-wicking fabric to work properly, it needs to be both sweat-wicking and breathable. Some fabrics, like cotton and linen, can be breathable but aren’t sweat-wicking. The weave of a polyester fabric also makes a difference. A polyester running shirt usually features a knitted, mesh-like structure of yarns (think chain link fence). A polyester rain jacket, on the other hand, is made from a non-permeable weave (think canvas awning).
When choosing moisture-wicking wear for working or working out, read the manufacturer’s description and look for words like “dry-fit, sweat-wicking, stay-dry, performance, antimicrobial, antibacterial, or fast-drying.” You can find a great selection of moisture-wicking apparel from MyFit Apparel, Under Armour, Adidas, and Augusta Sportswear. These companies are known for their high-quality products and attention to detail. Their moisture-wicking apparel comes in a variety of styles, sizes, and colors to suit any taste or preference. And with their
