Cotton Kills. Or does it?

[Dave0317]

Cotton kills seems like the first thing you start hearing when shopping for backpacking or hunting clothing these days.

Does anyone think that it is a little overstated, or is it really that important to avoid any cotton? Or is a certain percentage in a blend acceptable?

Reason I ask is, the majority of nights I have spent outside have been while performing some kind of military training or duty. Every standard issue uniform is 50/50 nylon cotton. 65/35 Polyester/cotton is a common commercial aftermarket clothing blend.

Also several companies, like Kuhl, make some cotton blends that are very fast drying. My Kuhl Revolvrs (68% cotton) probably dry about the same rate or faster than my OR Voodoos(Nylon/spandex).

Is there really some compelling evidence to say I should not wear BDU pants to Colorado next month?

 

[jhm2023]

Cotton is hydrophilic and once it is wet is does not retain any thermal value. You also referenced OR voodoos that contain spandex. Spandex also absorbs moisture so that is why you don't see a lot of difference between it and cotton. Ever spend time in the field doing military shenanigans and your uniform is drenched and you overheat or freeze your ass off or both? Yea that's that wonderful cotton. I suspect the military still uses cotton because it doesn't melt to you like a synthetic will and it's cheaper than wool. Wool is also hydrophilic but it retains it's thermal properties even when wet. Synthetics are generally hydrophobic and thus dry faster. So the short answer is cotton kills because it absorbs water and loses all heat retaining properties when wet.

 

[Macchina]

I live in cotton in the city, love jeans and a cotton t-shirt or flannel.

In the woods I will wear cotton for the toughness (filson pants or an old flannel) but have been caught in the rain and it sucks to be soaked and cold. It also takes days to dry if it's cold. If I know it's going to rain I'll bring rain gear and wear wool. I'll always wear wool or synthetics if I'm going to be away from my home or cabin, I cannot be carrying wet cotton around let alone wear it when it's cold.

I fell in the river 2 winters ago though some shore ice a few miles from my cabin with almost 100%× wool on. It was probably 20° degrees out and I thought about throwing a few hundred dollars worth of gear down and jogging back. I decided to carry my gear and get back as quick as possible. After 5 minutes I was warm and comfortable. I could have kept fishing! I always liked wool, I now love it!

I won't wear cotton socks ever after switching to all merino. 10 pairs (always get them on sale) last 5 years+. If I ever do have to wear cotton socks I can't believe how abrasive they are!

 

[FLAK]

If its hot, its what I got...…...on.
Synthetics only appear when its cold.

 

[deerkiller]

If its hot, its what I got...…...on.
Synthetics only appear when its cold.

Ya, since the Merino "craze" I've tried it in summer temps, around 65 and I'm looking for lightweight cotton

On behalf of wool: I joined the fire service in 1974, wool liners inside heavy treated canvas was what "turnouts" were made of then and with good reason - when it's 25 and you're full out on an involved house fire you sweat in anything that will protect you but the soaked wool kept us from at least freezing to death on rest rotations and salvage, those turnouts also protected us very well from the heat and steam

 

[*zap*]

If its hot wet cotton will keep you cooler. Not good if it is cold and your wet.

 

[toadmeister]

Cotton is very tough and durable, so it can have it's place outdoors. Briars, thorns, thickets, workwear, it has a place.

But wool and synthetics for me 95% of the time

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[deerkiller]

If its hot wet cotton will keep you cooler. Not good if it is cold and your wet.

wet cotton against the skin can make a 70 degree day seem …. "chilly"

 

[FLAK]

I think a lot has to do with geography as well. Down here on the Gulf Coast is a whole lot different than say, Bozeman. We're not as likely to get a snowstorm in June. More like a heat stroke.

 

[Mike 338]

Cotton kills when your in a life threatening situation whereby the elements can expose you to hypothermia. Otherwise, if you get wet and change out, no probs. I've put on frozen wool many times to start my day. It felt exactly like frozen clothes.

 

[Newtosavage]

I agree that if it's really hot, I want cotton against the skin. I have worn a cotton T-shirt under my work shirt every day for nearly 30 years now, for that reason.

Having said that, it took me exactly 1 elk hunt to get rid of all the cotton clothing I used for that activity. A few late afternoon storms at 11K and I realized that I had no business sweating up cotton clothes on the hike in, and then nearly freezing to death in them in a downpour. No thanks.

Within 3 months of that first elk hunt, even my underwear was synthetic. No cotton for me in the mountains ever again.

 

[Mike 338]

Agreed about cotton against the skin in cold weather. Strictly wool or synthetic for me but I can get away with a cotton sweatshirt over a shirt provided I'm not pouring sweat.

 

[deerkiller]

Agreed about cotton against the skin in cold weather. Strictly wool or synthetic for me but I can get away with a cotton sweatshirt over a shirt provided I'm not pouring sweat.

Yes, I have a Carrhart Heavy cotton hoody that I wear steelhead fishing all the time, with a merino t-shirt under of course

 

[RCB]

Regarding wool: People talk about this “wool keeps you warm when wet” thing all the time, but I’ve yet to find a scientific paper that shows the actual difference. If anyone has a link that actually measures conductivity differences (actually *shows* the difference, doesn’t just say it), then please share.

I found an amateur blog post that attempted to do just this. http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2012/11/cotton-vs-wool-insulation.html?m=1
The results looks about the same, whether it’s wool, fleece, or cotton: wet clothes don’t insulate well. But of course this is not a conclusive test.

I did my own experiment with cotton, wool, and synthetics with regard to water absorption and rate of drying. Basically what I found was that, per weight, a synthetic shirt (polyester) absorbed the least water per weight, with merino wool a close second. Cotton absorbed the most. The differences weren’t huge, and different weaves and thicknesses could change that result I think. Thickness matters a lot: a thick wool layer is going to absorb more moisture than a thin cotton layer. Rates of drying did not appear to be different. My tentative conclusions were (1) garment thickness is probably the most important consideration - a thick layer will be warmer but also be heavier and absorb more moisture. (2) synthetics and wool are slightly preferable to cotton but it’s not a huge difference.

By the way, I did the same experiment with a fleece jacket. It held substantially less water per weight than other fabrics. Probably not surprising to most people here.

I backpacked almost exclusively in cotton when I was a kid, although that was always in summer and I never had any close calls with weather.

 

[deerkiller]

Regarding wool: People talk about this “wool keeps you warm when wet” thing all the time, but I’ve yet to find a scientific paper that shows the actual difference. If anyone has a link that actually measures conductivity differences (actually *shows* the difference, doesn’t just say it), then please share.

I found an amateur blog post that attempted to do just this. http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2012/11/cotton-vs-wool-insulation.html?m=1
The results looks about the same, whether it’s wool, fleece, or cotton: wet clothes don’t insulate well. But of course this is not a conclusive test.

I did my own experiment with cotton, wool, and synthetics with regard to water absorption and rate of drying. Basically what I found was that, per weight, a synthetic shirt (polyester) absorbed the least water per weight, with merino wool a close second, and cotton in last. The differences weren’t huge, and different weaves and thicknesses could change that result I think. Thickness matters a lot: a thick wool layer is going to absorb more moisture than a thin cotton layer. Rates of drying did not appear to be different. My tentative conclusions were (1) garment thickness is probably the most important consideration - a thick layer will be warmer but also be heavier and absorb more moisture. (2) synthetics and wool are slightly preferable to cotton but it’s not a huge difference.

By the way, I did the same experiment with a fleece jacket. It held substantially less water per weight than other fabrics. Probably not surprising to most people here.

I backpacked almost exclusively in cotton when I was a kid, although that was always in summer and I never had any close calls with weather.

MY response to this would be go right on ahead and stock up on cotton underwear, socks, cotton EVERYTHING and hunt away this fall …..

 

[hikenhunt]

Regarding wool: People talk about this “wool keeps you warm when wet” thing all the time, but I’ve yet to find a scientific paper that shows the actual difference. If anyone has a link that actually measures conductivity differences (actually *shows* the difference, doesn’t just say it), then please share.

I found an amateur blog post that attempted to do just this. http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2012/11/cotton-vs-wool-insulation.html?m=1
The results looks about the same, whether it’s wool, fleece, or cotton: wet clothes don’t insulate well. But of course this is not a conclusive test.

I did my own experiment with cotton, wool, and synthetics with regard to water absorption and rate of drying. Basically what I found was that, per weight, a synthetic shirt (polyester) absorbed the least water per weight, with merino wool a close second, and cotton in last. The differences weren’t huge, and different weaves and thicknesses could change that result I think. Thickness matters a lot: a thick wool layer is going to absorb more moisture than a thin cotton layer. Rates of drying did not appear to be different. My tentative conclusions were (1) garment thickness is probably the most important consideration - a thick layer will be warmer but also be heavier and absorb more moisture. (2) synthetics and wool are slightly preferable to cotton but it’s not a huge difference.

By the way, I did the same experiment with a fleece jacket. It held substantially less water per weight than other fabrics. Probably not surprising to most people here.

I backpacked almost exclusively in cotton when I was a kid, although that was always in summer and I never had any close calls with weather.

I read a test article, maybe the same one, claiming that wet wool has only slightly better thermal properties than wet cotton. I was skeptical but have always had that in the back of my mind.

Regardless of thermal properties when wet, I wear wool because it dries out much faster (and they stink a whole lot less). Dry wool is much better than wet cotton!

 

[deerkiller]

I'd put my comfort and safety on Filson & Woolrich and how they became famous for the clothing …..

 

[deerkiller]

another "angle" … this "fleece" made from recycled plastics ? holds water like a bucket

 

[ChrisAU]

I've pack trained 7 or 8 afternoons and dove hunted one afternoon with the same FL merino shirt on, without washing it. Highs in the upper 90's here. Sweated my ass off every day. Was testing the FL piece for odor resistance...it has no smell.

I wore my Peloton 118 short sleeve for 1 training hike and almost gagged when I went to put it on the next day.

Thats why I like wool.

 

[toadmeister]

Regarding wool: People talk about this “wool keeps you warm when wet” thing all the time, but I’ve yet to find a scientific paper that shows the actual difference. If anyone has a link that actually measures conductivity differences (actually *shows* the difference, doesn’t just say it), then please share.

I found an amateur blog post that attempted to do just this. http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2012/11/cotton-vs-wool-insulation.html?m=1
The results looks about the same, whether it’s wool, fleece, or cotton: wet clothes don’t insulate well. But of course this is not a conclusive test.

I did my own experiment with cotton, wool, and synthetics with regard to water absorption and rate of drying. Basically what I found was that, per weight, a synthetic shirt (polyester) absorbed the least water per weight, with merino wool a close second. Cotton absorbed the most. The differences weren’t huge, and different weaves and thicknesses could change that result I think. Thickness matters a lot: a thick wool layer is going to absorb more moisture than a thin cotton layer. Rates of drying did not appear to be different. My tentative conclusions were (1) garment thickness is probably the most important consideration - a thick layer will be warmer but also be heavier and absorb more moisture. (2) synthetics and wool are slightly preferable to cotton but it’s not a huge difference.

By the way, I did the same experiment with a fleece jacket. It held substantially less water per weight than other fabrics. Probably not surprising to most people here.

I backpacked almost exclusively in cotton when I was a kid, although that was always in summer and I never had any close calls with weather.

Actually there should be several published studies on the insulation value if wool vs other materials. Wool is superior in many categories.

But don't take my word for it, Google is your friend.

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