Differences in wearer response to garments for outdoor activity

Area of Science:

• Textile Science
• Human Physiology
• Environmental Adaptation

Background:

• Garment performance is crucial for outdoor activities, influencing wearer comfort and physiological responses.
• Fabric properties are often linked to garment effectiveness, but empirical validation is necessary.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the thermophysiological and perceptual responses of well-trained males wearing different upper-body garments under controlled hot and cold conditions.
• To evaluate the impact of fabric type on human responses during physical activity and rest.

Main Methods:

• Ten athletically trained males participated in trials under hot (32°C, 20% RH) and cold (8°C, 40% RH) controlled environments.
• Garments made from three different fabrics were tested, with measurements including heart rate, core body temperature, body heat content, and under-garment humidity.
• Sensory perceptions such as thermal sensation, comfort, exertion, and wetness were also recorded.

Main Results:

• The single jersey wool garment demonstrated the best performance in both hot and cold conditions.
• Significant differences were observed in heart rate, core temperature (during specific activities), body heat content, under-garment humidity, and time to sweating onset.
• No significant differences were found for body mass change, certain core/skin temperatures, under-garment humidity during walking, or perceptual responses like thermal sensation and comfort.

Conclusions:

• Single jersey wool fabric garments offer superior thermal regulation for outdoor activities compared to other tested fabrics.
• While fabric properties influence wearer responses, not all differences translate to measurable physiological or perceptual changes.
• Predicting garment and wearer performance solely from laboratory fabric tests presents significant challenges.