Re: [Paddlewise] PFD's & Hot WX

Sandykayak_at_aol.com wrote:
 
> I suspect we'll have another thread going on this one.  It seems to me that
> since cotton is now considered not the best thing for backpacking etc..
> perhaps we should think about using things like CoolMax.  Anyone out there
> care to comment on this?
> 
> Sandy Kramer

I'll bite.

Generally, even in summer, I like to wear quick-dry T-shirts of things
like Coolmax or Coolmax equivalent such as Intera treated polyester. 
But when it is getting really hot, then cotton is my choice unless I
expect rain and sudden cooldowns in the weather even down to the 80s F.

I was once wearing cotton on a trip in this area on a day in which
temperatures hit 98 with horrid humidity until a severe storm caught us
off guard on the water with no place to land for hours.  (BTW, it
started hailing pea size pellets that stung all flesh that wasn't
protected by the PFD; another reason to wear one...cushioning against
sharp raindrops and hail, :-) . My arms, head and neck developed little
welts all over from the impact of the hail.)  After the storm blow over,
the winds remained strong and the temperature dropped into the 80s.  All
of us felt quite chilled in our cotton T-shirts even under PFDs.  I was
still wet at the end of the day when the sun dropped.  And while I
finally was able to get at my nylon wind breaker it took some time to
warm up  (I was wishing I had brought some light fleece; I since bring
some even on the worse days of summer).  If I had been wearing Coolmax
or equivalent, I would have felt warmer and gotten dry in a flash.  Of
course, I would have also felt a bit warmer than I was in cotton at the
high 90s temperature until the storm hit.

So as a rule of thumb for myself I have found that Coolmax and the
equivalent functions pretty well through into the mid-80s.  But above
the high 80s and through the 90s degrees, cotton is superior unless I
think that I might get real wet in rain with no sun to dry out and
temperatures dropping suddenly. (I also, as mentioned, always bring a
warm layer of light fleece; and a change of shirts as well as rain
gear.)

A lot depends on your own metabolism and tolerance for cold and heat. 
You might want to wear a Coolmax singlet or tank top made for runners
but also bring along a cotton top.  (Some people don't cotton to
Coolmax. :-))  If you find the Coolmax feels too hot on the water, then
switch to the cotton when you get a chance.  But wait until you are out
on the water to determine how the Coolmax is feeling.  Don't judge by
its feel while sitting around on land at the launch site.

ralph diaz
-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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