In a very hot, dry climate, should I wear short sleeeves (to keep cool) or long sleeves (to keep out heat)?

Question

I live in the desert, and I usually wear short sleeves. Someone told me that, like the Bedouin in the Middle East, I should wear long sleeves and basically cover up when the outside temperature is higher than my body temperature, thereby insulating me from the higher outside heat. I know I feel cooler when I wear short sleeves and in general less clothing, but his logic seems to make sense.

By the way, I'm asking this theoretically -- I would like to know which would keep me COOLER, without considering the the negative effects of the sun

Answer 1

When the outside temperature is hotter than your body, the only way you cool is through respiration and sweating. The idea would definitely be to wear long sleeves because the more outside air you contact the hotter you'll be. The only benefit of outside air is that it is dry and will absorb perspiration thus cooling you. But since you can't afford to sweat buckets and buckets a day, it doesn't make sense to try and max out the rate of absorbtion into open air.

The ideal clothes would be white and would allow hot air to rise out while trapping cooler air. The folds in traditional desert clothes achieve this. If perspiration is absorbed by clothes, and then evaporates from there, it will cool the cloth and the air beneath it or you, so you still get the desired effect. Also, I think the traditional dress creates a modest fanning / venting effect while walking.

I think you should be brave and look into wearing traditional desert clothes or some modification of that. You'll be the coolest guy in town! :D

The other thing I'd point out that's perhaps a little redundant, is that if you can relax enough you'll generate less heat in the first place. My ideas here would be to practice good posture so that you can stand and walk almost effortlessly ( it takes a lot more energy to stay hunched over ). And if you eat the same amount overall but with less frequent meals you will slow your metabolism. ( because the opposite, eating say 5 or 6 times a day, sure does rev it up )

P.S. the problem with a basic long sleeve is that air cooled from perspiration will just fall out the sleeve. Remember the poofy sleeved shirt and pants Aladdin wore? lol.. they had cuffs ;)

Answer 2

If you wear loose clothing of a light colour (preferrably white) then you'd probably stay cooler than in a short sleeve shirt.

Sweat is the body's main way of keeping cool, and the clothing will help to pull the hot sweat away from the body, whereas with nothing you'll end up keeping the heat right there on the skin, which isn't really helping things.

Answer 3

I used to work in the sun in Arizona and found that a long sleeved white cotton shirt felt the best. It kept the sun off my skin and collected a little moisture that made it feel cool as it evaporated. Cool is not quite the right word, less hot probably

Answer 4

Yep. Sun hitting skin is not a good thing. I bought some shirts at Academy made by Columbia. They are superlight cotton blend long sleeve, and have vents in the back for breeze to blow thru the shirt.

So I think you should wear long sleeves, but make sure the material and the color are light.

Answer 5

Long sleeves are better for two reasons.
1. It will insulate you from the higher air temperature.
2. It will protect you from UV rays that cause skin cancers later in life.

;-D A good sunscreen is helpful too! Put it on your face. Lots of people here take parasols with them. (men and women)

Answer 6

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Answer 7

i live in the desert also and while i love to wear short sleeves, i find it better to wear light-weight long sleeves to be protected from the sun while still keeping cool.

Answer 8

I prefer long sleeves to keep the sun from my skin as much as possible. Hats with large brims as well.
Stay cool. Rose P.

Answer 9

Well, that's fine in theory, but Bedouins wear flowing, loose fitting robes that allow air to flow and evaporation. That's probably not going to work so well in the US. We need to radiate heat and allow perspiration to evaporate. That doesn't happen with your white Ralph Lauren button up.

Answer 10

Sleeeves