Does anyone know what the warmest cloth is in the world for outdoor use?

Question

Well that pretty much says it all...

Answer 1

Oh there are lots, but it depends on your conditions and the application of the material.

Goretex is thin, light, and dry, making it perfect for tight spaces like boots, ultralight raingear, and sleeping bag covers. It doesn't provide warmth, I don't think but it does keep things from getting wet which can make you colder. I may be mistaken. I have never been able to afford anything made with Gore-Tex.

Down is soooo sweet and snuggly, light and compressible, but you can't get it wet.

Wool is probably the most universally used cold weather material but it is a layer, not a whole outfit. It is also very heavy and can be bulky. And some people are allergic or get the itchy-scratchies using it.

Silk and nylon are very thin and lightweight but boost warmth, again they can't be used alone. Silk is a good insulator such as in turtlenecks or long underwear, so it is considered a base layer. Nylon can be formulated to do different things, be more durable, lighter, more waterproof, making different warmth issues possible. But it is typically known as an effective shelter material, being wind and waterproof, and also as an outer layer for the same reasons.

Fleece is also one of my fav for cuddly soft warmth because unlike down, it retains some heat if it is wet, and unlike wool, I am not allergic to it. It is also budget friendly but the high end fleece like Polartec is highly superior to the cheap stuff. I like it overall because I can layer them to exactly the warmth I want, they are lightweight, and I can use the fuzzy material of extra fleece tops and pants to stuff inside gaps of my sleeping bag, instead of wearing them.

I guess you have to decide for yourself based on your situation: budget, conditions, and application.

The one thing you need to know is that rule of thumb:

Cotton garments are downright dangerous in wet winter conditions. They don't dry fast enough, so they trap cold air on you, causing rapid loss of body heat. These are widely known to be a main cause of making hypothermia worse. Remember cotton is all kinds of things, including flannel, many sweats, and many blankets and sweaters. So be careful

On the other hand, most synthetics are safer to use. They might not all be, but polyester is the most common synthetic and this is a superior fabric in the winter, particularly performance fabrics such as workout wear and under armor are made of. These wick moisture away from you when you sweat, making it harder to lose heat through perspiration.

Answer 2

Wool. Is hands down the most adaptable. You get wool that has been spun and woven in the "grease"-that is it has the natural oils and lanolin still intact, you will have a water repellent garment that will last for years. Wool, unlike other fibers, retains heat when wet. I have experienced this first hand during a rain storm in Portland, Oregon last year. I was wearing a kilt with a 13 oz wool tartan. From the waist down I was toasty, from the waist up, I was frozen. Wool is still issued to the military for winter usage due to this fact. You would want a good quality wool and not just the cheapest out there. Go for a good merlino or columbia wool and you will do fine.

Answer 3

theres a polar fleece blend...mostly synthetic fibers, light, and very heat retentive...that with a windproof gore tex shell is pretty much the construction for those zub zero jackets

Answer 4

Gortex works well

Answer 5

cloth? well i would ask more about the fill...promaloft is very warm-check out marmot...?