being comfortable on hot days

VENTILATION OR VENTING YOUR BODY; EXPOSING TO THE AIR

In 1971 when Gerry Cunningham owner of Gerry Products Company published his booklet “How to stay Warm” he had a chapter tiled Ventilation. He spoke of one specific fabric if used to make a first layer of clothing you were far down the road to staying comfortable regardless of the temperature; fishnet fabric. Why fishnet fabric for a first layer; because the body is always emitting moisture through the pores of the body and if that moisture regardless if it is coming out very slowly as when relaxing or sleeping versus rapidly when exercising your body the fishnet material that the garment is made of will not inhibit the movement of the moisture from getting away from you.

If the ambient air temperature is say 90 degrees and you are exercising the moisture will condense quickly and cover your body cooling you. However, if you are wearing a garment made from a close knitted material the moisture cannot get away from you so you begin to overheat.

Today there are companies such as Coolcore selling closely knitted polyester garments that they claim will cool you. They are not the first to make this claim and probably will not be the last. What the people running these companies do not comprehend is the simple fact “when you cover the bulk of the body with garments that are made from closely knitted fabric and these garments are form fitting the skin surface of a human is not exposed to the air; so the end result is getting hotter. Then of course the heat that emanates from the core of the body is sent to the skin and since the skin is touching the form fitted garment, the fabric absorbs the heat which actually slows the heat from getting away from your skin surface.

Have you noticed that all of the garments worn by people who compete in bike races or marathons are always wearing closely knitted form fitted clothing? They look great because they are in very good shape, physical condition. However, if they were wearing lose fitting mesh garments the heat would not be taxing their bodies unnecessarily.

It is summertime and we are experiencing 90 degree days so if you really want to do the best job of staying cool wear fishnet as a first layer and good old lose fitting cotton shirts as a second layer.

Experiment with any synthetic form fitted shirt and then with a loose fitted cotton shirt even without the fishnets under it and I am quite sure you experience a significant difference, being more comfortable with the cotton shirt. Of course you might not look as good, but you will feel better. The cotton will not only wick the moisture away from you but also the excess heat.

After all it is summertime and you want to make the most of it with the most comfortable of experiences.