Wet or Dry, what is the best way to stay cool during exercise?

Question

I play a lot of Tennis during the summer in Texas. As you can imagine it is very hot during the day. I have been using a cold wet towel during breaks to try and cool down. I don’t mind having a wet shirt during play and think it helps me keep cooler. I also wet down my hat and sometimes put some ice in it during play.

The other day one of my friends told me he heard that you actually stay cooler if you are dry because it allows sweat to evaporate more easily cooling you down. He also pointed out that professional players switch to a dry shirt during breaks. We all were the latest “dry fit” shirts which are supposed to keep you cooler.

What do you think?

Answer 1

Your sweat does help your body cool, but it is not the only way to keep your body cool. When sweat forms on your skin, it quickly sucks up heat from where it's sitting on you -- when the sweat evaporates, it carries away the heat, thus cooling you down. You can achieve the same effect by putting water on yourself, and by doing so it causes your body to not have to sweat as much. So, essentially you're doing the same thing. If you're concerend about becoming dehydrated, it is probably better to use outside water on exposed skin.
The big problem with having clothes on that are wet is that once they're soaked, the sweat from your skin cannot evaporate -- my suggestion is keeping your clothes dry (especially your hat, because you lose the majority of heat from your head) and use a spray bottle or wet towel to wet the skin that is exposed to the air. This will allow your sweat under your clothes to evaporate, and will aid your exposed skin in cooling without utilizing too much of your body's own water reserves.

Answer 2

Yeah, our sweat is our own cooling mechinism! Although, wetting yourself down would work too. I'd rather be wet, than sweaty. It's whatever you prefer.

I know you're not suppost to wipe the sweat away. So, either let yourself sweat or wet yourself down. Don't dry yourself off!

Answer 3

i ran cross country in east texas...so i understand where youre coming from!

i would just drink plenty of water and let yourself sweat, as long as you dont get dehydrated then you should be able to stay decently cool. besides, sweating is the bodies natural way to stay cool right? why not let it do its job. if its just too much to bear then on a break run some cool water over your face and hands for a min and then get back out there


good luck! know that i am out there perservering too!

Answer 4

I prefer loose wet clothing. I'm from Texas and it helps keep me cooler. For a tennis player I'm not sure. All I can recommend is stay hydrated.

Answer 5

Water . But you do best by putting water or ice on pulse points. Back of neck, Both wrists, and both ankles. Yes a change of shirt is great also, one reason, its, collection of water weight. Sounds silly I know, One thing is to keep electrolytes pumped up with Gator aid or something like it. But not too cold because this will shock your system needlessly.

Answer 6

What a cat... This cat must stop to drink beer at first... He must stop to smoke cigarettes too... Then make him play soccer at last... Be sure that nobody ( a neighbourd per exemple) is giving food to him, may he can find food somewhere outside your house. The cats that I had wasn't fat except one. After investigation, a neighbourg was giving food to him. More, we checked that the cat could hunt his food. So when we where sure about that, I didn't give him foods. We was whasing mouse or others whood creatures and he lost wheight. But it must be slow and safe to him...

Answer 7

wet

Answer 8

stay hydrated..change shirts if you can...

Answer 9

they both help