Figuring out moisture wicking clothing

[BrokeMack]

Wicking base layer. Loose, breathable outer layer. Gentlemen, Gold Bond is your friend.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

If you want to stay cool in the Florida heat then Nike DriFit is your friend.

Much better than cotton shirts for the heat and humidity

Yes! My DH runs 3 days a week and we live on the Space Coast of Fl. He has the DriFit and it helps.

 

[Farro]

I like to wear Athleta in the parks. They have cute workout skirts and skorts if you prefer. Or even Target workout clothes are pretty good, cute.
Weirdly, I find lightweight linen tops, skirts to be comfortable in th heat. I have a linen skirt on in my avatar from Kohls!!!

 

[hakepb]

Moisture wicking is not going to be helpful in Florida - it's just too humid. Cotton is your best bet.

Ewwww
Cotton holds onto all moisture and breaths less
It's almost "nice" when 95 feels like 95 (in moisture wicking) instead of 105 (in cotton)

 

[warrenz1963]

I'm hirsute and I sweat a lot, so cotton is never a good idea for me in the heat and humidity. Anything that's loose fitting and/or made from a sport/tech/wicking/quick drying material works best for me. I buy this type of clothing at sports/outdoors/adventure stores. And definitely no jeans, too heavy and close for the humidity.

 

[Lm3js]

I don't know the quality of Zazzle, but not all dri-wick are created equal. Some are very hot! You would probably be better off buying plain ones of good quality and taking them to a local printer shop. I use logosportswear.com website for custom printing my running team shirts. We got the New Balance and they were good and had many colors. New Balance, Champion, Gildan are some inexpensive brands that are fairly light and airy. For women, athletic skorts (Athleta has great ones) are what I'm wearing exclusively when we go in July. They are fast dry and cute.

 

[Lm3js]

I like to wear Athleta in the parks. They have cute workout skirts and skorts if you prefer. Or even Target workout clothes are pretty good, cute.
Weirdly, I find lightweight linen tops, skirts to be comfortable in th heat. I have a linen skirt on in my avatar from Kohls!!!

Exactly what I do too!! I look like an Athleta catalog.

 

[DisneyAuntie12]

Have been away from the boards for a few days but wanted to say thanks so much for all the replies, they are very helpful!

 

[GreatLakes]

Go to any running store and you'll find a lot of not see through moisture wicking clothing in different colors and cuts. I would skip the customization myself. If you want moisture wicking clothing that doesn't look moisture wicking check out Kit and Ace.

If you want quality and personalization there is most likely a running store near you that offers personalization for high school cross country teams. That is where I would go instead of Zazzle.

 

[Serrina89]

I also second Nike DriFit. As far as decreasing body temperature, it is better to go one layer. The thicker the fabric you wear, the hotter you are likely to be. More fabric also means more fabric to be soaked by sweat, and a longer to dry. The object of a moisture wicking shirt is to absorb the sweat from the body, transport the sweat from one side of the fabric to the atmosphere to allow your sweat to evaporate ( 1 KJ of heat is loss per L of evaporated sweat). Wearing baggy shirts only helps if the temperature outside is cooler than body temperature. When you walk you create air circulation in the baggy parts of the shirt (convection) and you loose heat as the motion moves air away from the hot body to cooler atmosphere. In Florida, the temperature will be high, so only hot air will be recycled. It is so humid in Florida, there is literally no where for your sweat to evaporate in the air. Think when its 100% humidity, no more moisture can be added to the air. I recommend Dri Fit, because it doesn't hold on to as much moisture, and in the event that it is not as humid, you will feel drier unlike a cotton shirt which holds onto more moisture than other fabrics.

- Sorry for the lecture.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I live in Houston and play a lot golf. I usually don't go to Disney in the summer anymore and usually go during November/December. I only wear polyester golf shirts now and one big tip is to wear the breathable underwear. That will help a lot. That will help you feel better and enjoy the heat.

 

[dreiwhit]

Moisture wicking clothes dry a little faster in the humidity than cotton, at least that is how it is for me. We go in August, the heat and humidity is brutal. I wear cotton at night after the sun goes down, never during the day.

Living here in Alabama, our summer temps are also hot and humid. Wearing cotton clothing can be awful when you have outdoor activities - cotton doesn't dry quickly at all. The worst chafing I got was bicycling in the summer while wearing cotton underwear. Also, cotton socks when wet will act like sandpaper.

Synthetic is definitely the way to go!

 

[MissErikaRae]

I just bought a few from Old Navy for only $11. They are cute and stylish.

 

[theyoungs07]

Moisture-wicking clothes are polyester, or a mix of poly and cotton. Polyester is HOT. I find I'm more comfortable wearing a light cotton shirt as the poly traps so much more heat! It's similar, but not as bad as, wearing a poncho on a hot day. Wear a "premium T-shirt" like a Bella+Canvas or something as the base and it'll be 10x better than something like a Hanes or Gildan. They're soft and very light compared to most shirts you get in stores. Also large prints will just trap more heat. For me, moisture-wicking clothes are good when you know you are going to sweat a ton and need to get that sweat off of your body, but in general I don't wear them unless I plan to be soaked as they just make me hotter.

 

[bryanb]

I also find moisture wicking to be more comfortable in a climate where you're hot one moment, and then drenched from a rainstorm the next. The moisture wicking dries a lot faster than a cotton shirt after the downpour, even in humidity.

Also, not all moisture wicking is equal. Most are made with polyester (at least partially) but some are much more breathable... and that makes a huge difference.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Moisture wicking is not going to be helpful in Florida - it's just too humid. Cotton is your best bet.

Cotton is rotten as we runners say.

Seriously cotton is a horrid idea. It holds moisture (see Florida humidity), dries slowly if it does get wet and generally is hotter.

I wear a lot of moisture wicking in GA (which is almost as humid as Florida LOL!) None of it's "see through" so I think the problem OP is that she/he is looking at a cheap brand.

 

[NuJoy]

I look like an Athleta catalog.

Oh God, me too! I wear an Athleta dress every day. They are so cool and comfortable and I feel a lot classier in this type of outdoor resort wear that is casual enough for attractions and nice enough for dining. I can't say enough good things about this brand.

 

[mousefan73]

Cotton! But the light, linen type. Not stretchy t-shirt material. That soaks and holds sweat. But regardless cotton never smells. Or at least with me. I can wear any brand athletic, moisture wick top and even if not sweating will get a funk in the pits. Cant wear twice. T-shirts, cotton. Even if sweated through will not smell.

I wear cotton sundresses, light fabric. Hubbie/son wear light , button downs ( hawaii shirts etc. ).

 

[mousefan73]

I like to wear Athleta in the parks. They have cute workout skirts and skorts if you prefer. Or even Target workout clothes are pretty good, cute.
Weirdly, I find lightweight linen tops, skirts to be comfortable in th heat. I have a linen skirt on in my avatar from Kohls!!!

Linen is the best material. Even a long sleeve, roomy, white linen tunica will keep you cooler AND protect from sun.

 

[Shellyb84]

I wear Lululemon at the parks.

Me too. I have a couple of cotton Disney tank tops I'll wear at the parks but usually only in the evening. I pretty much live in Lulu all summer anyway, except when I go to work or go out to dinner or something.