Gear
The Technical apparel revolution explained
A leading
magazine in the apparel industry-Sporting Goods Business
News recently
made some statements that got us wondering whether the general public
and the journalistic apparel pundits understand the differences
in today’s advanced technical fabrics. When
a well known journalist recently made the blanket statement that all “moisture
management” products were now pretty much the same it clued
us in to the fact that we have not been doing our job
and explaining what sets Dry, Inc., Under Armour, Nike, Patagonia
and other brands apart from one another. In a brief survey of Marine
Professionals (we won’t name-names but you know who you are) we found that
there was a profound lack of understanding of how today’s advanced
materials work and what differentiates one from another. For example,
many assumed that the Arid Core Technology™ products (DRYSHIRT™ and
DryGuard™) were wicking materials. A few who did recognize the
difference were so arrogant as to tell us that the general sailing
public was too stupid and uninformed to know the difference and that
they sold lots of wicking products as “DRYSHIRTs”. This
article is intended to get you up to speed on the wide variety of
technical gear available to you in the market and set the record straight
on today’s fantastic range of gear that will keep you comfortable
on and off the water.
- Moisture Management-
- What
is “moisture management” anyway?
Simply put, it is the apparel industry’s
catch phrase for products that help deal with the
water your body produces when sweating. Some fabrics
mechanically wick away moisture by sweeping past
your skin. Other fiber technologies use capillary
action to move the sweat through absorption and
then the permeation of the wetness throughout an
expanded area improving the release of latent heat
through maximum surface area evaporation. Some
fabrics like the material used in ProwiK do both,
making them superior to low end “moisture
management” fabrics.
Some of the more popular wicking fabrics and finished goods include:
- CoolMax
fabric removes moisture away from the skin and transfers it through
to the surface. That’s it. That is the short definition
of a moisture management system. How does this happen?
CoolMax was created using four channel polyester
fibers that are weaved together in cross sections to allow air
to flow through the fabric.
What does all of this mean? There is a list of benefits for CoolMax
fabric but there is one unique quality that makes it stand out from
some of the other performance clothing. CoolMax does not use chemically
treated fabrics to create  the moisture management system, instead
the performance is built in due to the way it is constructed as described
above. This helps it perform even after several washings.
- Silk weight capillene by Patagonia-
- This
is one of the most popular brands of base layer in the water
sports market today. Ideal for use as a base layer, the silkweight
is the closest in performance to the ProWick product. While
the silkweight does a good job at dispersing water it is polyester
based which isn’t quite as “silky” to
the touch as compared to nylon based products. With a slightly
lower UPF (Sun protection) value, the silkweight is a favorite
for skiers and sailors alike.
 Nike Sphere-
- Polyester “moisture management” products like Nike
Sphere are great for a classic look. This is an excellent selection
as a team polo. The sophisticated Nike sphere fabric technology
brings a great technical feel to your team while providing technically
advanced performance. Ink migration can be a problem with polyester
fabrics so you should make sure that whoever you select
to decorate your apparel knows what they are doing with today’s
advanced fabrics.
- ProwiK™-
- The
Prowik brand of moisture management material is relatively
new to the market but are now all the rage in traditional professional
sports and with the very high end of water sports. The nylon based
fabric is serrated at the filament level to provide the highest
moisture transport material available on the market today. Both
anti-microbial and anti static with a stain release base, you
can’t buy a more sophisticated material. Additionally this
fabric is rated at a full UPF 50+ for the ultimate
in sun protection. This is equivalent to an SPF
factor of 150+. This material is fast becoming
a favorite for those who participate in outdoor and indoor activities
where it will be hot and humid. The patented fiber system provides
up to three times faster moisture transport than with other fabrics
on the market. Learn
more here.
 Tom
Lihan’s Mumm 30 “SIXX” was the first US team
at the Mumm 30 World’s in Miami. ProwiK™ was their choice
of gear to stay cool and covered from the UV.
What is
UV radiation?
Of the
many types of radiation emitted by the sun, mainly
visible (light) and infrared (heat) reach the earth's surface. Ultraviolet
radiation (UVR) is also present but we cannot see it or feel it.
Ozone in the atmosphere absorbs much of the dangerous UVR before
it reaches the ground but we can still receive enough to cause sunburn
and more serious health problems.
Why
is UV radiation dangerous?
Exposure
to UVR can cause not only sunburn but also lasting
skin damage. This may result in premature skin ageing and skin cancer.
UVR can also cause eye disorders such as cataracts.
Australians
have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Our country has
high UVR levels and relatively clear skies. Poor use of sun protection
measures during outdoor work and leisure, means our mainly fair-skinned
population has a high exposure to UVR. The risk of
a person eventually developing skin cancer is related
to the amount of UVR they are exposed to over their lifetime, particularly
in childhood.
How
can you protect yourself from UV radiation?
- Avoid going outdoors in the middle of the day (10am to 2pm) when
the sun is highest (11am to 3pm during daylight saving). This practice
can dramatically reduce your UVR exposure.
- When outdoors, choose shaded areas where you cannot directly see
the sun or the open sky.
- Wear well designed clothing that covers the arms and legs as well
as the body.
- Wear a broad-brimmed hat which shades the face, ears and back
of the neck.
- Wear sunglasses when
outdoors.
- Apply at least SPF 15 sunscreen to all areas of the body that
are not covered by clothing. Reapply sunscreen every two hours and
after swimming or activities causing heavy perspiration as sunscreens
do wear off.
- Young children do not understand the dangers of UVR. Protect them
with shade, suitable clothing, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Well designed sun protective clothing is available in children's
sizes.
What does a UPF rating mean?
In Australia
on clear summer days people with unprotected fair
skin can receive enough UVR to exceed recommended exposure limits
and cause a sunburn in about 15 minutes. If their skin is covered
with a garment, the UVR exposure they accumulate will be significantly
reduced.
For example,
wearing a well designed garment with a UPF rating
of 20 will reduce solar UVR exposure to the skin
beneath the garment by a factor of 20.
Compression fit |
Loose fit |
Another
way of looking at UPF ratings is that a fabric with
a UPF rating of 15 will only allow one fifteenth of the UVR to pass
through it; A UPF 20 fabric will only allow one twentieth of the
UVR to pass through it, and so on.
- Loose fit versus Compression fit
- Compression
fit apparel is as the name suggests, fairly form
fitting and in most cases would be considered
a tight fit. These performance products come
in moisture wicking materials (Like rashguards)
and in an Arid Core Technology version called a
DryGuard™. The rashguard makes an excellent
UV protection unit for hot days with very little
wind. As the wind picks up the wind chill does
as well and you are best served changing to a Dry
rashguard or “DryGuard”. This will
enhance the UV protection properties and keep you
better thermo-regulated. Some of the more popular
compression fit pieces are made by Under Armour,
Nike and ReeboK. If you are interested in
value then the there are a number of options available
for under $20 that will do the same job but without
the brand name logo.
- Loose
fit products provide a more ample fit and are
great for a relaxed feel and look. They also
allow for better evaporation and reduced static
cling. Most of the products in the category are
polyester based. They range from very inexpensive
to very high end and the performance difference
between the bottom of the line and the top of the
line is significant. There are two versions of
loose fit: Wicking materials like Coolmax and ProwiK™ and
then there are the water repellent yet breathable
fabrics like the Arid Core Technology™.
- Arid
Core Technology™
- One
of the most remarkable advances in fabric technology in the
past five years has been the evolution of Arid Core Technology™ fabric.
This revolutionary material feels like a super soft tee shirt but
is water repellent and breathable. This material will keep you comfortable
on warm and on cool days and will assist in keeping you protected
from the elements unlike any material in it’s weight range
ever developed. This product is not ideal on very hot and™ humid
days but is perfect for just about every other
condition you will face in any outdoor sport. Learn
more here
Giving
the gear that customized professional team look.
When
it comes to making your team look their best, there
are three options to decorating your gear.
- Embroidery-
which uses a sewing machine to lay down a logo on
the apparel you have selected.
- Silk screening-
This process uses vinyl or other plastic ink to lay down your logo
on top of the material. This works and holds up well but is not
ideal as it compromises the effectiveness of today’s
techy fabrics.
- Sublimation
is your best choice when decorating your high tech breathable or
wicking gear but there are limitations on design and effects. The
sublimation process actually uses inks that dye the thread and
do not cover up the fabric with a sheet of plastic
film the way screening does.
Photo: Buchan Racing and the Glory yachts always look sharp.
For additional
information on technical apparel stop by Dry, Inc. at http://www.dryshirt.com or
call toll free 1(888) DRY-SHIRT. Dealer inquiries welcomed |
