polypropylene clothing?

Question

Has anyone tried this stuff out? Does it keep your very warm? How does it compare to cotton, fleece, silk, all that good stuff?

Answer 1

"Polypro" is a synthetic fiber that is distinguishable from "all that good stuff" primarily in that it doesn't absorb moisture. Because of this, it retains it's ability to insulate much better in damp conditions than other materials, particularly cotton.

Polypro works well (really well) for cold weather activities where you tend to sweat, but need to stay warm when you stop moving.

It also works well if you need to wash your clothing by hand. Because it doesn't absorb watter, it dries very rapidly. When I travel abroad I take almost exclusively synthetic-fiber clothing (not necessarily poly-pro, but nylon or something that doesn't absorb water). This allows me to wash shirts/socks/underwear in the hotel room sink, and have it drip dry quickly, rather than having to run all over town trying to find a cleaners, or pay the outrageous prices that hotels charge to do laundry.

Answer 2

Polypropylene is a really good base layer. It will wick moisture away from your skin. In other words, it will still help insulate even if you get wet. Cotton, on the other hand, loses pretty much all of its insulation value when it gets wet. There is a saying 'cotton kills' that sums it up. I've broken through the ice wearing only blue jeans; and I've gone through wearing polypropylene longjohns. There was a huge difference. Thankfully it was a short walk back to the truck both times. With just blue jeans, I could feel my legs stiffening up within the first hundred yards or so. With the polypro, I was a little chilly but not freezing.

Answer 3

Great answers before mine, but I don't mind adding my 2 cents worth. I live in Montana and have tried everything in base layers. My polar expedition weight polypro base layer is my favorite when going outdoors for a days worth of activity. I don't let my 2 boys out the door without them when it's cold. All things being the same, I don't think you can go wrong with polypropylene.

Answer 4

Synthetic fabrics like poly-pro are great for outdoor activities because they are breathable to help keep you cool and dry... plus they dry really fast so you won't get cold from sweaty clothes... a common problem with cotton. Cotton clothes for hiking, etc. can be really bad - especially if you are in really cold conditions... if you sweat and the cotton doesn't dry you could get sick or worse...

Answer 5

i am a fisherman, i live in northern illinois and fish here and wisconsin. i fish alot in the winter and i know for a fact polypro is the way to go. cotton retains water so you hold the moisture close to your body thats bad. polypro will wick moisture away. when i fish the cold weather i wear poly pro long underwear next to my body, it keeps moisture away from your skin, next put on a fleece coat or shirt, these are made of polypro or nylon, not wool, next put on a type of heavyer gore-tex type jacket for wind and rain, alot of times i wear a carhart one piece. this is the best way to use poly-pro, it keeps me warm, and dry. the only thing to remember is you want to be a little cold you dont want to sweat this will make you very cold, in cold weather cotton is the worse thing to wear and dont wear jeans, wear polypro pants to, this is all from exerience and many days on a cold boat.

Answer 6

The Army issues 2 complete sets of poly pro long johns to soldiers in cold climates. I can not count the number of days I spent in the field wearing poly pros as a base layer, with BDUs and gortex outer wear.
You can not go wrong with Poly Pro long johns.