We use 4 climates:
According to the internet, these are the main pros and cons:
| Material | Pros | Cons | Climate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyester (P) | Lightweight, quick-drying, moisture-wicking | Can retain odors, not as breathable as other materials | W, M, C |
| Nylon (N) | Durable, abrasion-resistant, quick-drying | Not as breathable as other materials, may retain odors | W, M, C |
| Spandex (S) | Stretchy, allows for freedom of movement | Not moisture-wicking, may retain odors | W, M, C |
| Hemp (H) | Sustainable, naturally antimicrobial | Can be heavy, may not be as durable as synthetic materials | M, C |
| Bamboo (B) | Sustainable, moisture-wicking, naturally antimicrobial | Can be heavy, may not be as durable as synthetic materials | W, M, C |
| Cotton (C) | Comfortable, breathable | Absorbs moisture and dries slowly, not suitable for wet weather | W, M, C |
| Merino wool (M) | Naturally antimicrobial, moisture-wicking, warm even when wet | Can be expensive, may be fragile and prone to pilling | W, M, C, S |
"Synthetic" fibres (SF) refers to polyester, nylon and spandex (among others not mentioned)
Personal experience:
| Material | Clothing item | Findings (focussed on usage, not production) |
|---|---|---|
| Polyester | Shirt | It's good. Like, really good. The only downside: it has a plastic feel to it which gives a colder perception. |
| Hemp | Shirt | Hemp/cotton blend. |
| Overall really good, lightweight, very breathable and durable. Although the white isn't as white as it could be, but that's probably due to lack of paint used in production. | ||
| However it's slightly itchy even when mixed with cotton. | ||
| Cotton | Shirt | Baseline to compare everything else to. |
| Merino | Shirt, underpants, leggings | <3 |