Combat the Heat This Summer With Cooling Clothing (Here’s How It Works)

Extreme heat waves are expected to affect an estimated 80 million people across the US this week as temperatures surge to record-breaking temperatures, and we aren’t even halfway through summer yet. 

One way to find some relief from the heat, especially if you’re outdoors or living without air conditioning, is by wearing cooling clothing. By that, I don’t mean you can slip on clothing that’ll instantly cool you like an ice pack. While we aren’t quite there in technology yet (the experts are working on it), the best cooling clothes have different properties that work to keep you cooler and more comfortable. 

How do cooling clothes work? 

Your body temperature going down is what gives you the sensation of feeling cool. For clothing to be effectively cooling, the fabric must have properties that work together with the body to help dissipate heat and promote airflow. 

Air permeability

Ventilated, flowy and breathable clothing allows for more air to pass through, and helps prevent heat or perspiration from being trapped against the skin. Less breathable fabrics like polyester or wool, on the other hand, can keep body heat confined between your body and the material and make you feel even more sweaty.

Moisture-wicking 

Perspiration can be annoying but it’s our body’s way of regulating temperature. Moisture-wicking fabrics quickly absorb your body’s sweat and then help it evaporate away. The secret is in hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers. Hydrophilic fibers absorb sweat from the skin, evenly dispersing it across the fabric. Hydrophobic fibers keep out moisture and help fabric quickly dry. 

Temperature regulation

Thermoregulation is how humans maintain their body temperature, and there are four different ways to transfer heat. If the fabric of your clothes is effective at any of these four methods, it can help keep you cooler. 

• Thermal conductivity relates to the measure of how well materials transfer heat from one side to the other. Every material has a thermal conductivity, and the higher it is, the more cooling the material will be. 
• Thermal convection: Heat moves from the material with the highest temperature to the one with the lowest temp. This explains why you feel cooler when you put on silk or bamboo; your warm body heat transfers to the cooler fabric and this process helps you feel more cool. 
• Radiation: Solar radiation is a major contributor to feeling hot, especially if you have to be outdoors during high temperatures. Clothing that protects you from the sun and harmful UV rays will help you stay cooler, and maintain healthier skin. 
• Evaporation: The best cooling clothing allows sweat to evaporate and quickly dry, keeping you feeling cooler in hot temperatures. Fabrics with poor evaporation abilities can remain damp, making you feel sticky. 

See more: Best pajamas for summer

Innovation in cooling clothes

Everyone knows what it feels like to be muggy and hot in their clothes. As each summer seems to break the previous year’s high-temperature record, researchers are exploring different ways to produce effective cooling clothing. 

Clothing and other garments can utilize non-electric cooling techniques such as ice, phase-change and radiation cooling. Early cooling clothing looked like actual ice vests that absorbed a person’s body heat as ice melted, causing a physically cool feel. A lot of modern cooling clothing, like those from LifeLabs, has infrared heat-blocking abilities that offer protection from the sun’s harmful rays. 

But experts are even working out the kinks on smart cooling clothing powered by electricity. As we continue to experience high temperatures, it’s fair to expect more improvements and development to come from cooling garments. 

The best fabrics for cooling clothing

Cotton 

Cotton is a natural fiber that’s breathable, lightweight and widely accessible. Air easily passes through cotton fabric, allowing you to feel breezy and cool. It’s best for dry heat, since it’s absorbent but not moisture-wicking. 

Bamboo 

Bamboo is a premium natural fiber that’s good at wicking away moisture. It’s also even more breathable than cotton because of the “micro gaps” within bamboo fabric that promotes increased airflow. 

Silk

Silk is a thermoregulator that helps you keep a comfortable body temperature. It’s ultra-lightweight, soft and tends to come in flowy silhouettes. 

Rayon

Sourced from processed wood pulp, rayon is made up of thin fibers that make it feel light and breathable. It doesn’t trap heat between the fabric and your body, allowing sweat to evaporate and heat to dissipate. 

Viscose 

Viscose is a type of rayon that’s considered an artificial silk. As such, it’s a smooth, highly absorbent and soft fabric that’s great for cooling clothing.

Linen 

Linen is derived from the flax plant and is a well-known fabric for summer because of its lightweight and breathable feel. It has a loose weave, allowing air to easily pass through. 

The worst fabrics for cooling clothing 

Polyester and nylon

Polyester and nylon are made from petroleum, essentially making them a type of plastic. They retain heat and even bad odor, and they don’t absorb moisture. This means your sweat sits on their surface, trapped between your skin and the fabric. 

Denim

We all love our jeans, but they aren’t the best clothes for hot weather. The material is heavy, not very breathable and can retain moisture. If you have to wear jeans, try a looser fit and a light wash to reflect the sun. 

Leather

Made from thick cowhide, leather is a good insulator during the winter. It also is often dyed black, a color that absorbs heat. Unless you want to be real warm, avoid leather jackets in the summer. 

Cooling clothing recommendations

• Kora SS Crew T-Shirt: Made from 90% bamboo and 10% spandex, this tee feels silky smooth against the skin, wicks away moisture and provides UPF 50-plus to protect you from UV rays. You can also find other activewear pieces, for men and women, within the Kora bamboo line. 
• Forloh hoodie: It has UPF 50-plus protection and the brand’s cooling Brrr Pro technology, which makes it “hyper-wicking.” The brand claims it has quick-drying abilities up to 300%. It’s also infused with cooling minerals that help provide immediate cooling relief. 
• Livsn EcoTrek shorts: These are stretchy, lightweight and quick-drying shorts with ventilated mesh pockets and an eco-friendly construction. According to the brand, 70% of the material is made from recycled ocean buoys from Taiwan. 
• Arctic Cool crew neck T-shirt: A good affordable cooling clothing pick, this t-shirt has the brand’s HydroFreeze X Technology that actively keeps you cool, along with enhanced moisture-wicking tech and UPF 50-plus protection. It also features antimicrobial and anti-odor properties. 
• Tommy John Second Skin pajama set: Taking the win as the best cooling pajamas, this set is ultra breathable, thin, lightweight and silky-smooth against the skin. The tank and boxer shorts are made from 49% viscose, 43% micromodal (a type of rayon) and 8% spandex. 

See more: Best cooling pillows