We've heard the phrase "Cotton kills" - referring to its lack of warmth retention when wet, and so it is not advisable to wear cotton on outdoor expeditions in climates that may have damp weather. But what about other natural fabrics? Hemp is supposed to be good at moisture wicking; I suspect it is better than cotton but is it good enough? for situations where the right clothing choice might be a life or death decision.
Wool is good for warmth retention, but might be too warm in some climates and is heavy when wet.
Technical fabrics in clothing purposely designed for outdoor activities always seems to be nylon or polyester - petroleum based I assume, although sometimes there are recycled options. Recycling, as we know, only kicks the can down the road, ultimately these fabrics won't biodegrade, may pile off microplastic pollution, all that yucky unsustainable stuff that we are trying to avoid (correct me if I'm wrong, but that is my understanding).
I've also heard durable waterproof coatings on technical fabrics are toxic.
Are technical fabrics needed for safety? After all, people lived and worked in extreme outdoor conditions for centuries before they were invented. What about the "oilskins" - canvas impregnated with linseed oil - people used to wear? Can outdoor clothing be sensible and sustainable? What's the best choice? Thoughts and insights, please!
Submitted May 04, 2023 at 12:13PM by Personal_Spot https://ift.tt/8KPxlc9
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