How Outdoor Sports Fabrics Can Enhance Your Performance

When you are engaged in outdoor sports, the fabrics used to make your apparel can help or hinder your performance. From a comfort standpoint, they need to be soft against the skin and dry quickly. But they must also withstand the rough treatment of rocks, extreme weather conditions and high impacts. The right fabric can stand up to these challenges, while providing you with the support you need for a good workout.

Performance fabrics come in a wide range of styles and constructions, and each has its own unique set of features that can enhance your experience on the field or in the woods. Some are made of natural materials like cotton or bamboo, while others use recycled fibers and plyrofoam insulation to reduce their environmental impact. They are also often treated to be waterproof and designed with a variety of stretch factors that can provide better mobility, wicking moisture away from the body to keep you dry.

Many outdoor fabrics are woven to include spandex and other elastane blends. This provides a high level of flexibility to move with your body and avoid injury. This type of stretch is especially important in activewear and sports clothing where your body moves with a lot of force. A good example of this is running or climbing, where the fabric will need to move with you and not restrict your movement.

Another critical feature of these types of fabrics is that they are usually breathable, so sweat can evaporate and the fabric doesn't overheat your body. This is essential to comfort in hot temperatures and can even keep you cool when working hard. Some are also designed to repel mosquitoes, which is a plus in some parts of the country.

While the technology of outdoor sports fabrics is evolving rapidly, some old favorites have remained popular for their durability and performance. This includes nylon and polypropylenes, which are used for everything from tents to sports field covers. They are durable, water- and mildew-resistant, and print well on digital printers.

Nylon and polypropylenes are often treated with anti-microbial and anti-odor technologies to make them even more comfortable against the skin. Another popular option is ripstop nylon, which is reinforced with a special technique to resist tearing and ripping.