Moisture-Wicking Fabrics: Everything You Need to Know
Curious about moisture-wicking fabrics? Read our expert guide on everything moisture-wicking to find your ultimate sweat-free workout clothes.
Moisture-Wicking Fabrics: Why You Need Them
Sweat is an important function your body uses to maintain temperature, but when it gets absorbed into your workout clothes it makes you hot and then cold. Moisture-wicking fabrics don’t absorb sweat and instead move it from your skin to be evaporated. This keeps you comfortable, limits the build-up of bacteria and prevents chafing.
This guide breaks down all the details of these fabrics, from what they're made of, to how they work, to the best fabric types for your workouts. Read on to leave those days of clammy, sweat-drenched clothing behind you.
What is Moisture-Wicking?
Moisture-wicking is the process of moving moisture, in this case your sweat, from the surface of your skin to the outside surface of a fabric, from which it evaporates. In the case of moisture-wicking fabrics this translates to your sweat being moved to the outer surface of your workout clothing.
How Does It Work?
Moisture-wicking fabrics work in two steps:
1. The first step is to move sweat away from your skin to the surface of your workout clothing.
2. The second step is to quickly evaporate it. This keeps you dry and feeling comfortable and dry throughout your workout.
Moisture-wicking works through a process called capillary action.
Moisture or H₂O molecules are drawn upwards through tiny spaces, along the walls of fibers or threads to the outside surface of the fabric.
Once moisture molecules are on the outside, surface tension pulls them together to be evaporated quickly.
This process works because water is very adhesive and sticks well to surfaces.
In most moisture-wicking fabrics it adheres to the walls of fabric fibers without being absorbed by them. The water then moves upward because of the strength of that adhesion and the pull of surface tension.
What are Moisture-Wicking Fabrics Made of?
Moisture-wicking fabrics are made from either synthetic, man-made fibers or natural fibers sourced from nature. All moisture-wicking fabrics have tiny spaces between their fibers that allow for capillary action.
Synthetic wicking fabrics are made with fibers that have been treated to prevent water absorption, known as hydrophobic fibers. These fabrics work by water passing through tube-like spaces between the fibers rather than into the actual fibers.
Natural moisture-wicking fibers have innate wicking abilities because of their function in nature for plant growth and animal cooling.
What Type of Material is Moisture-Wicking?
Moisture-wicking fabrics come in a range of materials from synthetic fibers to natural ones. Any material that doesn’t hold sweat and uses capillary action to transfer it, is moisture-wicking. Synthetic or man-made fabrics are very effective at moisture-wicking because they have been engineered and treated for that purpose. Natural fibers can still be equally as effective.
What Are Synthetic Fibers?
Synthetic fibers are man-made through chemical processes and developed from fossil fuels. Their fibers are chemically treated to become moisture-wicking. This allows sweat to move along them to be evaporated rather than absorbed. Synthetic fibers are mostly forms of plastic and can be cheaper to produce and purchase.
Polyester is a synthetic plastic usually made from petroleum. It’s highly effective at moisture-wicking. Polyester is known for its durability, lightweight, quickness to dry and wrinkle resistant qualities.
Polypropylene is another synthetic plastic made from oil and natural gas. It is similar in many ways to polyester, although it’s more water-repellant and moisture-wicking. It dries quickly and is considered more breathable than polyester. Polypropylene does a great job at retaining heat, so it’s often used for thermal clothing. It is found in food packaging and plastic furniture since it’s considered a safer plastic due to its high heat tolerance. This means it won’t leach into your skin or food products if exposed to a high heat.
Nylon is a synthetic fiber made from petroleum. It’s known for being stretchy, resistant to mildew, quick to dry and light. While it is moisture-wicking, its breathability fluctuates and it retains odors, making it less ideal to break a sweat in.
Acrylic is another synthetic fiber sourced from petroleum and coal. Acrylic is lightweight, keeps its shape and retains heat. It lacks breathability, making it a great insulation material for outdoor apparel. While acrylic does have moisture-wicking abilities, they aren’t as effective as other synthetics like polyester.
Spandex is a synthetic material made from petroleum oil. Known for its unique elasticity, it can expand over 5 times its normal size before springing back to the same shape. Spandex is smooth and lightweight, making it ideal for stretchy workout clothing. It’s not very breathable and is only considered moderately moisture-wicking.
Gore-Tex is a synthetic teflon-based material known for being waterproof and windproof. Breathable and lightweight, it provides excellent weather protection. Gore-Tex functions as a layering system. This allows it to wick interior moisture or sweat while repelling rainwater from its outer surface.
What Are Natural Fibers?
Natural fibers are derived from organic material found in nature. This includes cellulose from plants and protein from animals. Natural fibers from bamboo and wool are very effective moisture-wickers and can provide an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetics. These fibers are also known for their durability and strength.
Bamboo fabrics are made from bamboo plant fibers. Bamboo is known for being breathable and stretchy. It’s also odor resistant and keeps its shape after use. Bamboo is naturally moisture-wicking because of how the plant soaks up water to grow quickly in hot humid environments. It’s actually one of the fastest growing plants on earth. This makes it very efficient at pulling moisture from the skin and rapidly evaporating it on the fabric’s surface.
Wool comes primarily from fleece or the protective covering of sheep. It is made of the protein keratin which is also found in human hair. Wool is great for workout clothing because it’s naturally breathable, thermo regulating and odor resistant. It’s an effective moisture-wicking fabric although it works differently than the others. Wool absorbs some liquid into its fibers and releases water both from the space between the fibers and from the fibers themselves. It can absorb up to 30% of its weight in water while still feeling dry to the touch.
Rayon is made from cellulose in wood pulp, commonly sourced from bamboo and eucalyptus trees. It is then synthetically produced to become the fabric we buy in stores. Therefore, it borders the line between natural and synthetic. It’s not as moisture-wicking as wool or bamboo but it dries quickly. Rayon is known for being wrinkle-resistant, smooth and lightweight.
Is Cotton a Moisture-Wicking Fabric?
Cotton is a natural fiber made of cellulose from the cotton plant. It is the most commonly used natural fabric. Although cotton is a popular workout fabric, it is not moisture-wicking. Cotton absorbs liquid into its fibers, taking ages to dry. This initially makes you hot during your workout and then leaves you feeling cold and uncomfortable. Some cotton fabrics are treated to add moisture-wicking qualities. Cotton still has many benefits for working out. It’s a breathable fabric that’s comfortable and easy to wash. It is hypoallergenic, so it doesn’t irritate your skin, making it ideal for anyone with skin sensitivities. Cotton can also easily be made waterproof when treated with chemicals.
Is Moisture-Wicking Also Fabric Waterproof?
Moisture-wicking fabrics are considered water-resistant rather than waterproof. This means they are waterproof to a certain extent, but will eventually let exterior water in. Since the process of moisture-wicking works to move interior moisture to a fabric’s exterior, it’s actually a completely separate function than waterproofing. Moisture-wicking fabrics can be treated to become more waterproof. Some materials like Gore-Tex and polyester are more waterproof than other synthetics. The fibers of polyester and nylon can be woven tightly and then treated with a layer of polyurethane to make them waterproof. When it comes to natural fabric alternatives, boiled wool also has a very high level of water resistance.
What’s the Difference Between Moisture-Wicking and Breathable Fabrics?
Breathability in a fabric is how much it allows air and moisture to pass through it. Breathable fabrics have small holes or spaces for air to pass through so that moisture can evaporate quickly. Most moisture-wicking fabrics are breathable to a degree since moisture wicks through the spaces between fabric fibers. However, not all breathable fabrics are moisture-wicking as they don’t have the sweat pulling properties required for moisture-wicking. Take cotton for example which has breathable spaces between its fibers, but also absorbs and holds water directly in its fabric. Polyester is one of the most breathable synthetic moisture-wicking fabrics, whereas wool is one of the most breathable natural ones.
When Should You Choose Moisture-Wicking Fabrics?
If you’re someone who enjoys breaking a sweat you should always have moisture-wicking clothes on hand. Any high intensity activity like Jiu Jitsu, boxing and running or a medium intensity workout like yoga releases a lot of sweat. Moisture-wicking fabrics keep you nice and dry during these workouts. We’re talking no more sweat induced chafing, embarrassing sweat stains or post exercise shivering, the benefits of moisture-wicking fabrics are endless.
These fabrics are a necessity for any athlete’s wardrobe. They’re the workout game-changer we’ve all been looking for. Check out some of our favorite moisture-wicking clothing here.