Why the Best Workwear for Hot Days Is Moisture Wicking

You won't want to go back to standard cotton workwear once you've experienced how much more comfortable a moisture-wicking shirt can be on a hot day at the office. But even when you're perspiring a lot, how can workwear keep you feeling so cool and dry? A moisture-wicking fabric holds the key to success. Once you learn the science behind your moisture-wicking shirt, you'll know which types of fabrics work best to control perspiration. This is how to choose a fabric that wicks.

How Does Wicking of Moisture Occur?

Sweat is drawn from your skin and onto the fabric of your clothing when you start to perspire. Moisture is absorbed into the fibres of natural fabrics like cotton used to make your workwear. The clothes feel heavy and damp as a result.

Polyester and other moisture-wicking materials rely on a mechanism called "capillary action." Sweat is transported to the outer layer of your shirt through channels created by the fibres, which hold the sweat on the surface. The sweat dissipates in the air once it's there. You are left with an impeccable dry finish that is free of perspiration.

Clothing manufacturers have slimmed the fibres of moisture-wicking clothing over time to make it even more effective for both men and women. More individual fibres can be included in a yarn with a finer diameter, creating more tiny channels for perspiration to flow through. As a result, you become drier and colder as the fibres wick away moisture.

Which Kind of Clothes Should Wick Away Moisture?

Wearing a garment with this feature closest to the skin is ideal because the fabric is designed to absorb perspiration from the body. This might be a polo shirt or an undergarment. It would be ideal if you had additional layers that are moisture-wicking to entirely remove perspiration from the body and the clothes you are wearing if your job and the tasks you perform cause you to perspire a lot.

Which Materials Absorb Moisture?

Most fabrics that wick moisture from the body are made of synthetic materials. Because synthetic materials are hydrophobic—that is, they dislike moisture—they do not absorb it. After that, it remains on the surface before evaporating fast. Polyester and nylon are common fabrics that possess these characteristics. Contrarily, cotton resists wicking. Cotton absorbs moisture, which makes the wearer uncomfortable.

Working outside in the heat will soon become more difficult as summer approaches. One way to make working in the heat a little more bearable is to wear moisture-wicking workwear so you won't be forced to work in drenched, sweaty clothes. While there isn't a specific section at Work Wear Club for moisture-wicking workwear, every moisture-wicking item there does state as much in the product description. Searching for "wicking" at the top of our website will yield over 250 products that fit your description if you're looking for moisture-wicking summer apparel. Alternatively, take a look at our cooling workwear if you'd like to see other kinds of hot-weather attire.