Hiking Tips: Cotton Kills

: Image via Wikipedia

It’s been a beautiful day in the high country. The sun is descending to the horizon. You’re pressing with a determined drive to your next campsite, racing the approaching darkness. Breezes cool your sweaty body – nice.

But, as minutes pass your pleasant cool sensation turns to a distressing chill, and you begin to shake. You’re at risk for hypothermia. You put on your windbreaker, but the shaking continues.

Are you wearing cotton next to your skin? Bad idea.

COTTON KILLS

You see, cotton absorbs the sweat that your struggling body has been producing, but instead of transporting it away, it retains the moisture dangerously against your skin. This is a recipe for potentially-deadly hypothermia.

THINK WICKING, THINK SYNTHETIC

When you light a candle, the wax at the top begins to melt and turn to liquid. The flame draws this liquid wax up through the wick to be burned and transformed to light.

Certain fabrics do the same with moisture produced by your body when strenuously hiking or backpacking. These wicking fabrics draw the moisture away from your skin and keep you dry.

Cotton is not one of these fabrics. Again, for this reason, don’t wear cotton next to your skin. Instead, wear synthetic fabrics or natural fabrics like merino wool next to your body when you hike. These fabrics have wicking properties and will, unlike cotton, keep your body dry and healthy.

Some fabrics to look for are polypropylene, nylon or polyester. Merino wool is also excellent for wicking away moisture from your skin.

Remember, cotton kills. Switch to synthetic or natural fabrics that wick away moisture.

Stay healthy. Hike safe.

by Richard Davidian, Ph.D.

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