Hiker's & Backpacker's Gear School

Why Cotton Can Kill You on a Hiking Trip

Cotton Kills Hikers
If you haven't heard the outdoor adage "cotton kills," pay attention and you may just save your life.
Sure cotton is fine to wear while shopping for groceries and looking "outdoorsy" but wear it in the great outdoors and it may kill you.
Every outdoor organization from the Boy Scouts to The Mountaineers warns vehemently against wearing cotton while hiking and backpacking.
Despite multiple warnings from these experts, people perish each year from inadequate preparedness whilst in pursuit of outdoor adventure.

Hypothermia - How Cotton Kills
Wearing cotton doesn't leach dangerous chemicals into your skin or make you more prone to being mauled by a rabid beaver, it kills through hypothermia.

Wetness Equals Death
The major problem with cotton is that its hydrophillic nature causes it to dry very slowly and absorbs moisture like a greedy sponge.

Loss of Thermal Properties
Cotton is an outstanding insulator while it is dry and probably why we love flannel sheets on our beds.
However, once cotton becomes wet, it loses 95% of its thermal properties, yes it will make you colder, a lot colder.

"Cotton: It's comfy when dry,
And cheap to buy.
But to wear it in winter,
It's a good way to die."
-John Dunn Winterwise

Read more here: http://hubpages.com/sports/Why-Cotton-Will-Kill-You

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