37.5 Technology by Cocona: What it is and why you should care - VIDEO
37.5 is the new name for Cocona which is a technology that’s designed to keep the optimum relative humidity in the microclimate found next to your skin. For the average person this relative humidity and ideal core body temperature just happens to be 37.5°, and hence the new name for Cocona. By maintaining these optimum comfort zones you can theoretically perform better and longer. As you sweat, moisture builds up in your apparel and makes you feel clammy and uncomfortable, 37.5 helps remove this water vapour from your apparel’s microclimate.
How it works
37.5 uses activated carbon particles which are permanently embedded in the fibres of apparel to effectively capture and release moisture vapour. These particles will not wear out or wash out over time so they continue to work for the life of the garment. By increasing the surface area of the fibres (by up to 800%) these active particles can capture more moisture and then absorb the infrared energy from your body heat to accelerate the vapour movement and convert liquid to vapour which increases drying time. It’s stated that 37.5 increases drying time of garments by up to five times, which is quite substantial.
37.5 technology can be found in knit fabrics, merino wool, fleece, woven fabrics, insulation, footwear and even a breathable waterproof laminate such as the one pictured below.
So what does this mean for the average weekend warrior or elite athlete? You’ll stay drier, more comfortable and be able to perform longer (according to a study conducted at the University of Colorado at Boulder). In addition to all this, 37.5 inhibits the growth of bacteria in fabrics so you won’t stink—at least not as fast as garments with out 37.5.
At the 2016 Outdoor Presscamp in Deer Valley this June I got to test out 37.5 technology first hand while hiking in the heat of the mid day Utah sun. While I still got sweaty I did feel cooler over all and the Rab base layer I was wearing dried out quicker and didn’t smell, even after two-plus days of wear.
Look for 37.5 technology in products from Point 6, Under Armour, Adidas, Bauer, Victornox, Salomon, Tommy Bahama, Asics, Puma and Rab to name a few.