What About Other Fabrics?

Beyond cotton, there are some other popular fabrics which can have their place for outdoor activities, but can fail to have the versatility and utility of polyester. One such fabric is wool, which is a natural fiber shorn from sheep. While wool does provide insulation when wet, it can absorb a third of its weight in water, thereby keeping the person wearing it wet and uncomfortable for a longer period of time.

Another fabric to be weary of is bamboo. Many bamboo garments are supplemented with other plant fabrics such as Cupro, Tencel, Modal, Lyocell, Viscose and Rayon, which can be incredibly dangerous if wet, as moisture causes them to lose their insulating abilities.

Silk is another popular fabric that should be avoided since it easily absorbs moisture and loses its insulating capabilities when wet.

Finally, be weary of fabrics that use different names, but are still made of cotton. For example, flannel, corduroy, denim and duck cloth are all cotton, just under a different name.