Performance fabrics keep you more comfortable no matter what you are doing. Wearing the wrong type of fabrics can actually break down your skin and cause breakouts, especially if the sweat and bacteria from it are sitting in your clothes instead of quickly evaporating. There are so many hidden issues that you may not be aware of when you’re being active, so your clothing materials are important regardless of activity level.
What happens is that when your workout clothes are made from a material such as cotton, it is able to absorb about 7% of its weight in moisture. While this makes it an effective absorbent, it weighs your clothes down and takes in the bacteria from sweat and all the moisture you collect just sits there in your clothes. At Western Rise, we frequently use a nylon or polyester fiber blend that can only absorb about 0.4% of its weight so it pushes the moisture out to the surface and quickly evaporates it.
This guide to all things performance fabrics will help you understand the importance of purchasing the best quality clothing and really doing your research. It can be really beneficial to your body and overall comfort levels during a workout when you start to look into how performance fabrics can differ.
Western Rise offers moisture-wicking clothing items that fight off odor in the process so you can wear these clothes day after day without having to wash them and they will be good as new. Your performance should not have to be hindered by your clothing, so we made sure you don’t have to worry about that anymore.
What Are Performance Fabrics?
Performance fabrics are any fabric that is used to create athletic wear or clothes that you are meant to sweat in. At Western Rise, that could look like any nylon, polyester, or Merino wool blend that enhances your comfort and wicks away moisture.
Even if the weather is great, you still have to worry about going home to change afterward because you sweat and you know you must smell horrible.
The beauty of moisture-wicking blends like polyester is that it does not hang on to sweat or absorb it. It pushes the water or moisture to the surface of your fabric through capillary action, similar to how your body works. Once the moisture settles on the surface of the clothing, it spreads out wide and evaporates extremely fast so you don’t hang on to the bacterial odors from sweat.
While a cotton sock gets extremely dense and heavy from being submerged in water, a nylon or polyester sock will be quick to dry and won’t weigh as much because it isn’t really absorbing it but actively pushing it out instead.
Why Are Performance Fabrics Important?
The most important factor about a good performance fabric is that they don’t hold onto moisture when you’re active. Basically, you won’t need to worry about your sweat weighing you down or holding onto harsh odors that come your way. If that were the only thing performance fabrics did, it would still be pretty amazing, but that’s not all.
Performance fabrics also act as a barrier between those bacterias and your skin because sweat can break down those pores and barriers. So if you are noticing that you are breaking out when you work out more, you may want to look at the materials that are being used in your workout clothes as a start. These barriers being weakened can potentially lead to it being easier for the bacteria, oils, and sweat from your body to build up in your pores and cause breakouts on your body.
Another extremely important quality about performance fabrics is that they can regulate your body temperature so you are feeling lightweight and breathing easier. If you’re being active in the wrong materials it can be easy for you to feel like you are overheating and for your heart rate to kick up in response. The right materials feel lightweight as you work out.
Western Rise is a great place to go for all your performance fabric needs. If not, then we are using Merino wool blends or other moisture-wicking technology so you are not making any sacrifices during your workout. Your skin, body, and overall comfort levels are not going to suffer because of the materials we use in your clothes.
Performance Fabrics 101
With all of your activewear needs from shirts to beanies and everything in between, Western Rise knows how hard it can be to feel comfortable during a workout. Being active looks different for every man, but the problems and risks all stay the same. We like to use fabrics that are good for your body and make you feel good so you don’t have to keep thinking about your clothes the entire time.
Performance fabrics are really important because they can help you feel better and keep your body temperature in check as you work out. They are also great for your skin and minimize the risk of breaking out in acne or just getting irritation or rashes from impact. There are so many different factors that your clothes can affect, but Western Rise offers the perfect durable options that make for a versatile wardrobe.
Often, moisture-wicking fabrics are long-lasting and are less susceptible to tarnish if you wear them often and over the years. So, by buying a few solid items of Western Rise clothing, you are investing in the future of your closet as well.
When it comes to men’s clothes, we know the problems that arise from wearing the wrong items during your workout. Performance fabrics should help you and barely be detected as you go about your day, and with our clothes, you are guaranteed to get use out of them as much as you need. Plus, you are minimizing the likelihood of any scents being picked up as you go by making sure your fabrics are high quality and don’t absorb any sweat or moisture.
Sources:
Fabric Guide: What Is Merino Wool? | MasterClass