Long-sleeved vests for chilly times
Which is the best functional vest for me? There is no easy answer to this question. Sometimes the shirts are too thick, sometimes they are too thin, sometimes they dry quickly, sometimes slowly, sometimes they smell strongly after a bike ride, sometimes hardly at all. Added to this are the very different subjective feelings of each individual athlete. Nevertheless, the search for the right textile is not a closed book. You just have to take a close look at the different systems, i.e. the various fibre combinations of the vests.
Even in winter we sweat when cycling. Some sweat more, others less. Sweating ensures that the body temperature stabilises at a healthy 37 degrees. Sweat absorbs excess body heat and releases it to the outside. The result is evaporative cooling. When your performance is interrupted, the body produces less heat, but a sweaty vest continues to cool because moisture continues to evaporate. The result is unpleasant cooling. In this situation, functional underwear should help the body. As less perspiration is generally required for cooling in the colder seasons, it is important that the textile fibres dry as quickly as possible, i.e. transfer the perspiration to the overlying layer.
Which fibre? For some years now, natural fibres in the form of merino wool have been a major player in the field of functional underwear.
Above all, the low odour development, the good thermal properties and the wearing comfort - the fine merino does not itch, in contrast to conventional wool - have inspired many athletes. However, the initial merino hype is now dying down, as there is no advantage without a disadvantage. Compared to synthetic fibres, pure wool is not particularly robust; after several washes, signs of wear and tear and even small holes often appear. What's more, wool can absorb up to 30 percent of its own weight in moisture, so it feels comfortable for a long time, especially as the natural fibre is still warm even when damp. However, if the absorption capacity is exhausted, wet wool can also quickly lead to cooling in winter. This is because merino dries much more slowly than synthetic fibres. This is why pure merino shirts are primarily recommended for less strenuous rides and for cyclists who hardly break a sweat.
Today, several manufacturers blend wool fibres with synthetics to improve the fit and durability, but also the drying behaviour mentioned above. The aim is to combine the advantages of both materials while minimising the disadvantages. In practice, this works quite well, as is the case with the Löffler Transtex Wool model. Functional vests with a wool-synthetic blend are particularly recommended for medium-intensity activities and for "normal sweaters" who are sensitive to the cold.
Synthetic advantage
If you want to go full throttle in winter or are one of those people who sweat a lot, you will generally reach for fully synthetic functional vests, even if they are more odourless. The reasons: The polyester, polyamide or polypropylene fibres wick sweat away from the skin better and dry faster. Even under heavy loads, they don't get as soaking wet as wool, which then also loses its warming function. Depending on the outside temperature and how cold you feel, you can choose thinner or thicker models. Classic models include polyester shirts from Craft. Other brands, such as Q36.5, combine different types of synthetic fibres to optimise the body climate during sport. They also try to improve temperature and sweat management by using mesh-like surfaces and body mapping - i.e. different densities of knit depending on the body part.
And not to forget: It's not just the textile fibres used and the shape of the knit that determine whether the functional shirt works, but also the fit. The first layer on the skin, also known as the base layer, must fit as close to the skin as possible without constricting in order to effectively wick away sweat.
Lexicon: Fibres for functional textiles
ELASTAN (EL)
The rubber-like synthetic fibres make fabrics stretchable. They can be stretched to 5 to 7 times their original length. The trade name is Lycra, among others.
POLYESTER (PES)
The most commonly processed synthetic fibre only absorbs around 1 percent of its own weight in moisture. The very fine fibre therefore dries quickly, is very light and retains its shape and light.
POLYAMIDE (PA)
Polyamide fibres are lightweight, tear and abrasion resistant and retain their shape. However, they absorb more moisture than other synthetic fibres - around 4 percent of their own weight. Polyamide is more elastic than polyester. Other trade names are nylon and perlon.
POLYPROPYLENE (PP)
Virtually 0 percent - no fibre absorbs less moisture. Polypropylene is robust, abrasion-resistant, dries extremely quickly and can also be washed at higher temperatures.
MERINO WOOL
The wool from merino sheep - mostly from Australia and New Zealand - is significantly finer than conventional wool and therefore does not itch. Depending on its density and weave, merino wool has a natural sun protection factor of up to 50, is flame retardant in contrast to other fibres and does not become electrostatically charged. It absorbs up to 30 per cent of its own weight in moisture and actively warms as long as it can still absorb moisture. Merino wool is odour-inhibiting and dries relatively slowly.
Tip: functional shirt with wind protection
Especially in autumn, when it is still warm in the sun but already quite cool in wooded areas and on descents, some cyclists like to use this option. The advantage is that the wind protection is worn close to the skin and the cold air does not penetrate directly to the body. Many then do without a wind waistcoat. However, breathability suffers somewhat from the dense wind protection. Models with a membrane, usually in combination with polyester or polypropylene yarn, are offered by manufacturers such as Craft, Gore Wear, Rose and Löffler.
Conclusion
There is no general recommendation for long-sleeved functional vests. If you are out and about in a very sporty way, you can hardly avoid synthetic fibres, such as the classic from Craft. For cosy tours in cool temperatures, warm and cosy merino shirts such as those from Icebreaker and Endura are recommended. The compromise for medium intensities could be a skin-friendly fibre combination of merino and polypropylene, such as those offered by Löffler.
The importance of functional vests should not be underestimated. These textiles are used to wick away perspiration and regulate the skin's temperature. It is important to use a material that wicks away perspiration from the skin and also dissipates heat from the skin side. The skin should remain as dry as possible, especially in the cooler months of the year. On the other hand, as little cold as possible should be transported from the outside to the inside and there should not be too much airflow. It must be ensured that the skin surface temperature is not too low, but also not too high. There is a risk here that temperature regulation will be too strongly impaired by the clothing. Dr Wilhelm Bloch, Head of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine at the German Sport University Cologne
The full article was published in Trekkingbike issue 2/2018.
