Figuera Jr, A., Andrade, D., Araujo, T., & Matsudo, V. K. 1998). Influence of clothing on physiological response in top level athletes. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 30(5), Supplement abstract 1626.

Top Brazilian triathletes were evaluated under standardized exercise conditions wearing different types of clothing fabric: cotton, polyester, poliamida, Coolmax, and Supplex. It was found that Coolmax extended performance to allow a higher workload to be tolerated to exhaustion and also supported a lower body temperature. The absorption of sweat by clothing fibers (cotton absorbed the most, Coolmax the least) could increase heat stress and ultimately limit performance.

Implication. The fiber in athletic clothing can affect performance. Those that do not absorb sweat and allow cooling are best.

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