The purpose of this study was to determine if synthetic fabrics improve the thermoregulatory responses and subjective sensations while backpacking in cold conditions. Backpacking (internal frame 20% bw) was performed on a treadmill for 30 minutes (0% grade, 4.83 km•h-1) in an environmental chamber (7-8° C, 50-55% rh), on three separate occasions, while subjects [ten males 24.0 yr (SD 2.6); ten females 25.7 yr (SD 5.3)] wore a wicked, transition, or cotton long sleeve shirt completing protocol [A] wind ~16 km•h-1or [B] wind ~ 4.83 km•h-1. Changes in skin temperature (chest, back, arm) were measured using an MP100 System (BIOPAC Systems, Inc.) and recorded every minute. Subjective responses (thermal sensation and clothing comfort) were recorded every 5 minutes. Repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc tests compared temperature differences and subjective data were analyzed using the Friedman test. During protocol A, significant differences [F (2, 98) = 39.91, p < .001, η2p = .45] were found for chest temperature; indicating the wicked had lower (colder) average values than the transition or cotton shirts. Significant differences [F (2, 88) = 7.92, p = .001, η2p = .15] were found for back temperature; indicating the cotton had higher (warmer) average values than the transition shirt. Significant differences [F (2, 98) = 88.46, p < .001, η2p = .64] were found for arm temperature; indicating the wicked had lower (colder) average values than the transition or cotton shirts. Significant responses were found for thermal sensation (χ2 = 13.23, p = .001) indicating the transition was perceived warmer than the wicked or cotton shirts; and clothing comfort (χ2 = 11.57, p = .003) indicating the wicked and transition were perceived more comfortable than the cotton shirt. During protocol B, significant differences [F (2, 94) = 24.82, p < .001, η2p = .35] were found for chest temperature; indicating the transition had higher (warmer) average values than the wicked or cotton shirts. Significant differences [F (2, 98) = 7.86, p = .001, η2p = .14] were found for back temperature; indicating that the transition and wicked had higher (warmer) average values than the cotton shirt. Significant responses were found for thermal sensation (χ2 = 6.22, p = .045) indicating the transition was perceived warmer than the wicked or cotton shirts. The main findings demonstrate that transition synthetic fabrics are more comfortable and feel warmer while reducing chill in a cold environment.
This project was supported by a grant from Mountain Hardwear, Inc.