FIND YOUR LAYER
Three questions.
Your system.
Choose your activity and pace: discover the layers to combine, picked from the range for you.
Answer the three questions to see your system.
Your selection
DRYHEAT LAB · FIBRES COMPARED
You can read
the difference.
Four measurements, six fibres. Polypropylene absorbs the least water, lets the most vapour through and loses the least heat; it insulates as well as wool.
That is why it is the basis of our base layers. In our warmest garments we combine it with merino (DH Drywool), which keeps you warm even when the temperature drops.
Liquid absorption
Weight gain of the fibre. The lower it is, the less sweat it holds.
- Polypropylene
- 0.13 %
- Polyester
- 0.72 %
- Nylon
- 2.11 %
- Acrylic
- 3.00 %
- Cotton
- 7.03 %
- Wool
- 13.09 %
Vapour permeability
The higher it is, the more vapour it lets out: the more breathable it is.
- Polypropylene
- 6.71
- Polyester
- 6.49
- Acrylic
- 5.58
- Cotton
- 5.04
- Wool
- 5.02
- Nylon
- 4.97
Heat transmission
The lower it is, the less heat it loses.
- Polypropylene
- 6.00
- Polyester
- 7.00
- Wool
- 7.30
- Acrylic
- 8.00
- Nylon
- 11.00
- Cotton
- 17.50
Insulating power
The higher it is, the more heat it holds.
- Polypropylene
- 21.8
- Wool
- 21.8
- Nylon
- 19.8
- Acrylic
- 19.6
- Cotton
- 19.1
- Polyester
- 18.1
A comparison between fibres: it does not measure the performance of the finished garment. Polypropylene also weighs about 30% less than wool and polyester.
Source and how to read the data
Standartex S.p.A. (Sovico, MB), “University” technical data sheet on 100% polypropylene fabric: fibre comparison tables for liquid absorption coefficient, vapour permeability, heat transmission coefficient and insulating power. Values are reported as in the data sheet, which does not state test method, conditions or units of measurement; absorption is expressed as the percentage weight gain of the fibre (sheet 7A). The weight figure comes from the DryHeat brochure (DHtech documentation).
- Made in Italy since 1971
- Field tested
- Free shipping in Italy over €90
- Free returns within 14 days