Disclaimer: I love t-shirts. Like many young students, over the years, I’ve become a t-shirt hoarder (but that’s okay, because a lot of them were free). I wear these American-classic cotton babies in and out of public, and men do the same. They’re universal. But the one occasion I almost always wear a t-shirt? When I work out. And apparently, that’s not always the best idea. Let me elaborate.
Whether or not you’re a newbie to regularly breaking a sweat, choosing your fitness fabric makes a noticeable impact. The battle includes key players cotton and polyester.
According to the Scientific American, while cotton—which obviously involves our beloved t-shirts—absorbs moisture, it also keeps your body temperature high. This isn’t what we want when we exercise; sweat should cool the body. Polyester, in return, allows sweat to evaporate. It speeds up the cooling process during and after an intense workout.
Bottom line? Opt for cotton when doing low-impact exercise (you don’t expect to sweat as much). When running, bicycling or performing any other high-impact aerobic activity, choose polyester. Personally, I sweat during most cardio, so I usually avoid cotton now unless I’m lifting weights. Wearing all this polyester is not as cheap as a free t-shirt, but the price is worth it; wearing the right clothing makes your workouts so much more effective! Case in point: these polyester socks I bought for my half-marathon training. Oh, man. I can’t go back now.
I purchased Brooks’ low cut tab liner socks, which were $17 for a set of two. I was initially unsure about the price and the benefits, but on every single long run on which I endure, I am rocking these. They’re designed to keep feet dry and comfortable, according to Brooks’ website. And that they do!
Have you switched from cotton to polyester? Tell me about it!
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