Most of you might know this already, but I would like to re-iterate this: “Prevention is better“. Let me start by saying “cotton” is bad for running. When there is more “sweat”, cotton makes it worse. This is true for “socks” as well. In order to avoid chaffing, blisters, etc, I strongly urge everyone to go “synthetic”, running t-shirts and shorts/pants for running. Running t-shirts, socks doesn’t mean you are protected from blisters, chaffing, etc, but it definitely helps. We will discuss more about the discomforts and solutions in the coming weeks.
For the socks, I personally prefer “smartwool“. You should be able to find the running t-shirts/shorts, socks, etc in any sports store.
Reading the following note will give you more insights about why Synthetic is better.
Cotton vs Synthetic
Have you ever tried to buy a cotton running shirt from your local running store? Have you ever seen the people in the Olympics, or the winner of the Boston Marathon running in a cotton T. Guess what? You won’t. Ever! It’s all about performance.
Here are the simple rules about synthetics and cottons. A fabric’s breathability is measured by how much cubic feet of air flows through that fabric in one minute. It is measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm). A garbage bag has a breathability rating of 0 cfm. A cotton T-shirt has a breathability rating of 30 cfm. A synthetic T-shirt has a breathability rating of 150 cfm. The end result is that your body is allowed to breath, which means it can sweat efficiently which allows your body’s core temperature to stay down.
Synthetic materials are designed to move moisture away from your skin, channeling the moisture to a greater area of surface, so that evaporation can occur more rapidly. Believe it or not, wearing a synthetic shirt will actually keep you cooler than wearing no shirt at all.
