| THE TECH
WHAT ’ S THE DEAL WITH
If you want to both look and feel cool when you are running , then you simply must get yourself moisture-management running gear to run in , but what does that actually mean , and is it a real advantage ? Let ’ s unpack the topic .
There are few things as uncomfortable ( and unattractive ) as running in sweat-drenched clothing that clings to your body and rubs you up the wrong way , often in places that don ’ t take kindly to such treatment . This is where moisture-management clothing comes into play .
When you read that a Tee , long-sleeve top , or pair of shorts is made from moisture-management materials , it means that the garment is made from a moisturewicking material , which means that it literally absorbs your sweat , drawing ( wicking ) it away from your skin and pushing it to the outer layer of the clothing , where it can evaporate , thus leaving you cool , dry and comfortable as you run . This not only works in hot , humid summer conditions , but also in colder winter conditions , where the last thing you want it is cold , wet clothing next to your skin .
When you read that a Tee , long-sleeve top , or pair of shorts is made from moisturemanagement materials , it means that the garment is made from a moisture-wicking material , which means that it literally absorbs your sweat , drawing ( wicking ) it away from your skin and pushing it to the outer layer of the clothing , where it can evaporate , thus leaving you cool , dry and comfortable as you run .
THE TECH BEHIND THE DRY RUN
When it comes to moisture-management clothing , there are generally two types of fabric that are moisture-wicking : Synthetic fabric , which is engineered to be moisture-wicking , and wool , which is naturally moisture-wicking . For running and exercise , synthetic fabric is the better choice for allyear wear , as it is generally cooler than wool , plus it is generally a more affordable option , depending on the brand you choose . But how does it actually work ?
The ability of moisture-management clothing to pull moisture away from your skin is thanks to the microscopic fibres in the material that absorb the sweat and then act as tiny capillaries that the sweat flows through . This draws the sweat away from the body and keeps you dry , and the clothing is engineered to be quick drying , which essentially means that your sweat evaporates straight off the fabric itself , thus keeping you dry and running comfortably .
Obviously , weather still plays a factor , and you cannot expect a moisture-management shirt to keep you dry in the rain , whereas the warmer it is , the faster the sweat will evaporate once it reaches the outer side of the clothing . So , there are other elements that affect the effectiveness of the moisture-management .
COTTON VS MOISTURE MANAGEMENT
Many runners with a lot of racing experience have a sizable collection of official race Tees in their closets at home , and if those shirts are from a few years ago , chances are at least some , if not most , are made from cotton . In years gone by these would be used for training runs , and all too often they would leave the runner wet , uncomfortable and chafed . In recent years , many races have opted instead to issue race Tees made from moisture-management materials .
The reason for this is quite simple : Traditional cotton shirts also absorb sweat , but they are not engineered to push the moisture to the outside of the garment , nor to be quick drying . This means that the clothing quickly becomes saturated , leading to a drenched , clinging garment , especially for runners who sweat a lot . Sure , in hot conditions , some of your sweat will evaporate , to a degree , but the garment will retain more sweat for longer and become uncomfortable on the run .
The bottom line is that moisture-management materials just make so much more sense for running , and that ’ s why you now find most apparel brands have their own unique moisture-management tech and ranges of clothing . Of course , you can run in any clothing that you like , but we recommend you invest in moisture-wicking clothing if you really want to enjoy cool , dry conditions when you run , no matter the temperature out on the track , road or trail .
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