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What factors should you consider when choosing a shirt fabric for outdoor activities?

  1. Breathability and Comfort
  2. Quick-dry Properties
  3. Durability and Low-Maintenance
  4. Environmental Impact

Now, this may have crossed your mind once or twice. The cotton vs. polyester for a plain shirt in the Philippines debate needs answers and we are here to provide you with them.

Choosing the right material for your clothes can make a big difference in how you feel and how well you do when you’re outside. Cotton and polyester are two popular materials for outdoor clothing, and each has its own pros and cons. In this blog, we’ll compare cotton and polyester, keeping different factors in mind, to help you decide which one is better for your outdoor activities.

Breathability and Comfort

Breathability and Comfort

We all know that breathability and comfort are very important when you are outside. Cotton is a natural fiber that is soft and lets air through. This makes it easy to wear in hot and humid weather. Cotton can also help you stay cool because it soaks up moisture. But when cotton gets wet, it can get heavy and clingy, which can be annoying and even dangerous in some situations. For example, if you’re hiking in cold weather and your cotton shirt gets wet, it can make you more likely to get hypothermia.

Polyester, on the other hand, is a man-made fiber that is light and dries quickly. This makes it great for outdoor activities where you might sweat or get wet. Polyester also pulls moisture away from the skin, which can help keep you dry and comfortable. Some people, though, find that polyester doesn’t breathe as well as cotton, which can be uncomfortable in hot and humid weather.

Quick-dry Properties

As we said, when doing things outside, it’s important to have clothes that dry quickly because wet clothes can make you cold and uncomfortable. When cotton is thick or tightly woven, it takes a long time to dry. If it rains or you sweat a lot while hiking or camping and your cotton shirt gets wet, it can take hours to dry, leaving you cold and damp.

On the other hand, as its greatest advantage, polyester dries quickly and can pull moisture away from the skin. This makes it a great choice for activities like kayaking, rafting, or running that make you sweat or get wet outside. Polyester can also be more resistant to mold and mildew than cotton, which can be important if you’re camping or hiking in a damp area.

Durability and Low-Maintenance

Durability and Low-Maintenance

When it comes to outdoor clothing, durability, and low maintenance are important, especially if you’re going on a long outdoor activity and you won’t be able to do laundry. Cotton is strong, but over time it can shrink, fade, and lose its shape. Cotton also needs special care, like washing in cold water and not putting it in the dryer, so it doesn’t shrink or get damaged.

On the other hand, polyester is a very strong material that can stand up to a lot of wear and tear. Polyester is also easy to care for, as it can be machine-washed and dried without shrinking or losing its shape. This makes polyester a great choice for outdoor activities where durability is important, such as backpacking or mountaineering.

Environmental Impact

Lastly, it’s important to think about how the materials you choose for your outdoor clothing will affect the environment. Cotton is a natural fiber, but it needs a lot of water, pesticides, and fertilizers to grow. Soil erosion and depletion can also be caused by cotton farming, and the chemicals used to grow cotton can be bad for the environment and the people who work with them.

On the other hand, polyester is a man-made fiber made from materials that come from oil. Making polyester takes a lot of energy and resources, and it can add to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Polyester also takes a long time to break down, and when it does, it can send tiny pieces of plastic into the environment.

Key Takeaway

So, which material is better for your outdoor activities? The answer is not black and white, as both materials have their pros and cons. In the end, it depends on the activity you’ll be doing, the weather, and your own personal tastes.

Polyester is likely the better choice for activities that involve a lot of water or sweating because it dries quickly. On the other hand, cotton is a great choice for activities in hot and humid weather because it is breathable and comfortable to wear.

Choosing between cotton and polyester can be tough, but with Lifeline Shirt, you don’t have to worry about picking just one. Our innovative blended fabric combines the benefits of combed cotton shirts with those of polyester, providing the best of both worlds in one shirt. Our shirts are crafted from a premium cotton blend that offers exceptional shrinkage control, unparalleled comfort, and impressive durability.

Choose Lifeline Shirt as your best shirt supplier in the Philippines. Contact us now!

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