Why is Cotton Bad for Hiking?

Why is Cotton Bad for Hiking?

Cotton is comfortable when you’re lounging around the house, but it’s no good when you’re out hiking. Understanding why cotton is not your friend when hiking can prevent you from being a wet and cold human.

Cotton and Sweat: A Bad Combo

Cotton’s biggest fail? It can’t handle sweat. Synthetic fiber and wool tends to pull moisture away from the skin; cotton simply absorbs it like a sponge. Therefore, when you are sweating profusely on the hill on that rigorous walk your cotton shirt becomes as good as a wet towel. But when the temperature falls? Get ready to shiver. Cotton has the capacity of absorbing water up to 27 times its own weight and this makes it to take long time to dry.

Fabric Type	Soaks Up Sweat	Dries Fast?	Keeps You Warm When Wet?
Cotton	Yes	Nope	Not a chance
Wool	Not much	Kinda	Yep
Synthetic	Barely	You bet	Sure does

Slow Drying: A Recipe for Disaster

The problem is that cotton takes a very long time to dry which can be a big downer when you are out for a hike. It is bulky and extremely absorbent – it takes ages to dry. This is especially so when the weather is cold and wet, this can be rather hazardous. Wet cotton loses its capability to retain heat and switch the warm air pockets to icy prisons. You don’t have to be in the freezing weather to understand how uncomfortable it is to have wet cotton on your body.

So, if you are to go for a hike, forget about that cotton T-shirt. Choose materials that will not let through water and won’t make you uncomfortable. To find out more about what you should be wearing, why not have a look at our article on hiking gear.

Why Cotton is a Bad Idea for Hiking

It’s time to get real about why cotton is out of question for hiking. It all depends on its ability of dealing with moisture and the manner in which it is constructed.

Cotton vs. Wool: The Moisture Showdown

Cotton will never be as effective as wool in this area and that is as far as the comparison goes. Cotton is very absorbent that it can absorb moisture and hold onto it and make you feel wet and uncomfortable. Wool, though? It’s the MVP. It pulls on the moisture, lets air in freely, and will still keep the wear warm even if it gets damp. Ideal for that long hike in the wilderness Lucky Sheep.

Fabric Type	Soaks Up Sweat	Dries Fast?	Keeps You Warm When Wet?
Cotton	Yes	Nope	Not at all
Wool	A bit	Kinda	Absolutely
Synthetic	Barely	Super fast	Depends

How Cotton’s Built to Fail

This is another reason why cotton is awful for hiking; the way it is made. It is often a dense, and bulky material – in other words, it has a notorious affinity for water. This makes it dry slower than a snail on a lazy day which is very slow indeed. This is while synthetic fibers which are used in the construction of most of the other backpacks are lighter and dry as soon as they get wet Backpacking Light.

Cotton is a very absorbent material because of its thickness and the way it is woven. Thicker fabrics made from cotton tend to absorb a lot of water and take ages to dry. Polyester and polypropylene are synthetics that don’t soak up much water; in fact, they don’t take long to dry. However, they can be quite uncomfortable to wash as they do not hold water well, therefore when one is trying to rinse off body oils, it can be quite challenging Backpacking Light.

Why Cotton is a No-Go for Hikers

Hey there, fellow adventurers! Let me tell you why cotton is the last material you want to wear on your outdoor gear. Well, it’s comfortable, but it can be the worst nightmare during your hiking especially on issues to do with warmth and protection from the rain.

Hypothermia: The Silent Threat

Cotton is like the friend who will gladly come to help, but when things get a bit tough they leave. When it gets wet, it ceases to be warm at all. It is as if you are wearing a sponge; that is the nature of cotton. It absorbs water, it fills up, and then it sticks to the skin, and just saps the heat away from you. Hypothermia is not something that only happens when it is freezing outside; it is possible to get it even in mild conditions. Believe me, hypothermia is something I wouldn’t wish even my worst enemy to suffer from, it is deadly; in fact it is one of the biggest killers in the wild. Therefore if you are out hiking and it begins to rain or you are engaged in an activity that makes you sweat, that cotton shirt could be your worst companion (Wilderness Magazine).

When the weather is cold and damp, cotton can be cruel. If you do get wet, the first thing you want to do is to change out of that cotton as it holds in moisture and doesn’t let the body heat escape. Cold air, wind – these are only the things that make it even worse, so avoid wearing cotton when you go outside.

Heavy and Useless When Wet

Some fabrics such as cotton can hold up to 27 times of their weight in water. It is as helpful as having to walk around with a wet towel still on your body–ew. This makes them incredibly dense and incredibly slow to dry, which is in contrast to synthetics or wool (Heddels).

Cotton as you may know when it is wet it loses the many air spaces that provide insulation. It only clings to the skin and accelerates heat escape from the body. This can lead to other nasty stuff like trench foot if you are in the wet environment for too long a time.

Cotton Properties	Characteristics
Water Absorption	Soaks up to 27 times its weight in water
Drying Time	Takes forever to dry
Insulating Properties	Useless when wet
Other Risks	Hypothermia, trench foot

So, what’s the alternative? Choose wool or synthetic fiber ones. It’s much easier to keep you warm and dry that way. For more tips on what to wear for your next hike, please do read on. You should also see our complete guide to what you should wear hiking.

Stay safe and happy hiking!

Ditch Cotton for Hiking: Better Fabric Choices

If you love hiking, it’s crucial to understand which fabrics are good and which are bad – and this is where cotton comes in and ruins the fun. Fortunately, there are some great substitutes such as synthetic fibers and wool.

Why Synthetic Fibers Rock

Polyester and polypropylene materials are synthetic materials used in making wears suitable for hiking. These materials do not have the same absorption properties as cotton for instance. On the contrary, they reject it and that is why they dry very fast. But let’s be honest, no one wants to be stranded in soaked through clothing when the heavens open.

Fabric Type	Water Absorption	Drying Time	Insulation When Wet
Cotton	High	Slow	None
Polyester	Low	Fast	Retains some
Polypropylene	Very Low	Very Fast	Retains some
Wool	Moderate	Moderate	Retains well

Synthetics not only dry quickly but also keep you warm by trapping air, even when wet. The downside? They can be a bit tricky to clean since body oils tend to stick around (Backpacking Light).

Wool: The Unsung Hero

Another product that can be used as a material of clothing is wool – an excellent substitute for cotton. It might not wick away the moisture as effectively as synthetics, it will ensure that you are toasty warm even if drenched. This makes it perfect for cold and damp hiking, which is what was intended for it in the first place.

Some materials, including Melton wool for example, actually draw moisture away from the skin, which means that you won’t feel wet and itchy (Heddels). Cotton on the other hand becomes as good as a worthless piece of clothing when it gets wet while wool retains its warmth and is therefore ideal for use in expeditions.

Mastering Layering for Staying Dry on the Trail

Comfort while hiking and especially when the weather is unpredictable is a matter of wearing the right layers in the right order. The ability to coordinate between the various elements of the wearing can help to prevent one from getting drenched and more comfortable.

The Three-Layer Trick

Nailing your layering game usually means three layers: A base layer which pulls the moisture away from the skin, a mid layer that insulates the body and a top layer that provides protection against wind and rain. All of them serve to protect you from the rain and wind and make you as comfortable as possible.

Layer Type	Job	Best Materials
Base Layer	Moves sweat away from skin	Synthetic fabrics (polypropylene, nylon, polyester) or wool
Insulating Layer	Keeps you warm	Fleece, down, or wool
Outer Layer	Blocks wind and rain	Waterproof or windproof jackets

The base layer can thus be viewed as your first shield. It takes the sweat from your skin and pushes it out there to the outer layer of your skin so that you don’t feel wet or sticky. This is very crucial to prevent the feeling of being uncomfortable or even get sick from cold when it is cold outside (Heddels).

Why the Base Layer Matters Most

The base layer is the MVP of your hiking outfit, particularly if you wish to avoid the horror of wearing cotton. Cotton retains moisture and the worst enemy of the skin is sweat, while the wicking base layers are supposed to transport it. This serves to regulate your body heat and keep your skin dry and reduce on the formation of rashes and irritation.

Many of the synthetic fibres such as polypropylene, nylon and polyester are known to dry much faster than cotton. Wool on the other hand especially Melton wool is also very breathable and it will pull away any moisture from your body and keep you warm which is very ideal for cold and wet hiking (Heddels).

If it is windy then it is quite sensible to wear something that would protect one from the wind. It assists in retaining heat and prevent the loss of heat through the evaporation of sweat. Base layers that dry quickly are a great item for hikers to wear when they want to keep warm and cozy on the trail.

With the understanding of layering and the importance of a good base layer it’s easier to find the right outfit for a day in the fresh air. For other information on what to wear hiking please visit our articles on what to wear when hiking and how to choose a hiking jacket.

Practical Tips for Hikers

When going for a hike, proper preparation of the right clothing and expecting rain and cold weather makes the trip so much better. Here are some useful guidelines that you should remember.

Picking the Right Fabric

To know the fabric that is used in the production of your hiking clothes is very helpful. Cotton? Not so much. It does not have proper wicking that is it does not dry up quickly. However, it is better to use wool or any synthetic fiber such as polyester. They bear with moisture and protect you from the cold.

Fabric Type	Moisture-Wicking	Drying Time	Insulation When Wet
Cotton	No	Slow	None
Wool	Moderate	Moderate	Yes
Polyester	Yes	Fast	Yes

Wool keeps you warm even when it’s wet, making it a solid choice for base layers over cotton (Lucky Sheep). Synthetic fabrics dry faster and manage moisture better, which is a big plus on the trail (Backpacking Light). For more on what to wear, check out our guide on what to wear hiking.

Staying Safe in Cold, Wet Conditions

Rain or snow – you want to climb in it? Here is how to be comfortable and safe in the process: First, wear a moisture-wicking base layer in order not to have your skin come into contact with moisture. Cotton absorbs water and makes your body wet and cold and uncomfortable (this is an advantage if you are in a hot climate though) (Backpacking Light).

Second, wear clothes that dry very fast because they will get wet in the course of the game. Others are used in regulation of heat and moisture and also for warmth. For more ideas on layering, see our feature on how do I choose a hiking jacket?.

Lastly, check that your boots are in a good state because you will be using them in the task. This is because a good pair of hiking boots is not only important in as much as it makes the hiker comfortable but also protects him/her. For more on getting the right fit, check out how should hiking boots fit?

By picking the right fabrics and taking these precautions, you can enjoy your hike without the hassle of soggy, uncomfortable clothes. Happy trails!