Temperature control fabrics

The popularity of cold winter sports such as alpine climbing, ice climbing and recreational skiing has spurred the demand for fabrics and technologies which help to keep the outdoor enthusiast dry, warm and comfortable.

Cold temperatures are less of a problem for people pursuing outdoor activities than they were in the past. Advances in insulating technologies have led to the creation of clothing systems which keep the wearer at a comfortable temperature, even in some of the coldest weather conditions.

Technological developments have also made it possible to create fabrics which maintain comfortable temperatures for the wearer without adding significantly to the bulk of the garment. A key trend in this performance wear category is the use of lighter-weight insulation which offers greater comfort without sacrificing warmth. Duvet-like ski jackets are becoming a thing of the past with the growing popularity of lightweight soft shells which combine insulation with the durability and weather resistance of a hard shell.

One of the most noteworthy developments in the field of temperature control fabrics has been the use of phase change materials (PCMs). Unlike traditional insulations, PCM-based fabrics work interactively with the body to prevent overheating when activity levels or ambient temperatures increase. Although PCM technology has not taken off as rapidly as its proponents had expected, the range of textile applications to which it is being applied has broadened considerably in recent years.

Over the past decade, with the advent of wearable technology, battery powered heating devices have begun to enter the temperature control market. However, while great work has been done to improve the temperature control, expense and wearability of these garments, much has yet to be achieved.

Other temperature control technologies are also attracting the attention of outdoor enthusiasts and include silver-based fabrics, adjustable insulation systems and bionic climate membranes.

For the future, research into temperature control systems for the performance apparel industry is set to grow in importance as efforts are stepped up to develop all-weather clothing systems which provide optimum comfort.