How do tee shirts that draw away your sweat work?

Question

Shirts like Dri-Fit. How do they work? Do they really work?

Answer 1

The synthetic fiber doesn't absorb water, therefore your sweat passes through it and is not absorbed by it.

The sweat is "wicked" to the outside of the fabric by capillary action and then it evaporates, thus 'drying' the shirt.

It works really well in dry climates, but not nearly as well in humid ones.

Answer 2

Yes they certainly work in getting the sweat to the outermost layer of fabric so that it can evaporate. Humid countries like Singapore pose an additional problem that the sweat may not completely evaporate as the air outside is not dry enough. This causes the dri-fit t-shirt to be more smelly than usual. But you never have the discomfort of the (dri-fit) shirt sticking to your body, so the discomfort is for people who have to sit next to you and smell you ;-)

Answer 3

Pulled this explanation off some website.

The main benefit of Nike Dri-FIT fabric is that it transports moisture from your skin to the fabric's surface for rapid evaporation. This thermoregulatory effect helps consumers stay drier and more comfortable. When your body produces excessive amounts of sweat, it means it's using its energy to try and keep cool. This is energy you could be using to perform. If the sweat doesn't evaporate quickly, your body core temperature heats up, producing more sweat. At the same time, the uniquely-shaped fibers provide great breathability, even when wet. The breathability (called air permeability by fabric techies) further enhances the thermoregulatory effect.

Personally I've tried it and it works but I just find dri-fit fabrics kinda icky .. it just doesn't feel "nice to wear" at least for me.

Answer 4

The synthetic fiber doesn't absorb water, therefore your sweat seeps through it and is evapourated later on.

Answer 5

They are actually made from sponges! Exportation