The use of cotton in clothing intended for physical activity in general, and for outdoor activity in particular, has notorious weaknesses:

• Cotton fibres are extremely effective at absorbing moisture; however, Cotton is unable to expel moisture easily, therefore, clothing will stay moist for longer. This characteristic makes cotton a particularly bad choice for use in trekking or hiking socks, since it will not keep the foot dry, which can result in a soften of the skin and can lead to chafing and blisters.
• It offers poor thermal regulation. Unlike wool, cotton doesn’t have insulating properties, therefore it will provide a poor protection from exterior conditions. Since it is unable to expel moisture, this moisture will act as a conductor of both cold and external heat towards the body. It could be especially dangerous in cold conditions, as it could lead to hypothermia.
• Although cotton is a natural and odour resistant fibre, cotton plantations require a huge amount of water to be productive. About 10,000 litres of water are needed to produce a kilo of cotton. Even though, there are alternatives such as the so-called “organic cotton”, the regulation of this type of fabric is undermined due to the numerous counterfeit versions that reach the market, in addition to a lack of consensus on the criteria to determine whether a cotton is organic or not.

At Skaapherder, we only recommend the use of cotton for undemanding activities or for relax moments after the activity, in temperate climates. Nevertheless, cotton is a natural fibre and it will provide greater comfort than any synthetic fibre in addition to keeping bad odours away.