Fabric composition and weight both have a lot to do with staying cool on a hot day or staying dry on a wet day. We’ve been told (repeatedly) that “cotton kills” and synthetic fabrics have better moisture management properties thanks to their wicking ability. So what factors should you consider when deciding which fiber is best for you? The possibilities get even more complicated once you start blending one fibre with another or adding nontraditional fibres, such as hemp. To help answer some of these questions we decided to test three different Outdoor Research casual shirts each made from a different fabric or fabric blend. We chose the Outdoor Research Harrelson Long Sleeve Shirt which is made with a hemp/ organic cotton blend, the Outdoor Research Jinx Short Sleeve Shirt which is made primarily of cotton with a pinch of spandex for improved stretch and finally the Outdoor Research Growler Short Sleeve Shirt which is made almost entirely of nylon.
