Do certain materials actually keep you cooler? | Field Proof

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Everyone has an opinion about the best fabric for hot weather—but do different materials actually keep you cooler? In this episode of Field Proof, our outdoors editor, Kai, tests six sun hoodies made from six different materials to find out whether one fabric really performs better than the rest. From natural fibers to high-performance synthetics, each hoodie is put through the same series of tests to discover what actually makes a material feel cooler. We test each hoodie for: Moisture wicking Drying speed Airflow Heat retention Real-world cooling feel after a one-mile run By the end, we'll answer whether some materials genuinely keep you cooler, why certain fabrics perform better than others, and which one we'd actually recommend for hiking, running, and hot summer days. ----------------------- 0:00 - Intro 0:52 - What makes clothing cooling? Outdoor Research interview 1:44 - Moisture wicking test 2:12 - Drying speed test 2:26 - Breathability / airflow test 2:49 - Heat retention test 3:04 - Verdict after indoor testing 3:49 - One mile hike test 7:31 - Final verdict ----------------------- When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Free Fly Shade Hoodie: https://rei.pxf.io/c/1442537/1448521/17195?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F234336%2Ffree-fly-shade-hoodie-mens&subId1=072926coolingfabricsyoutube Men's ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Hoodie: https://www.outdoorresearch.com/collections/mens-sun-shirts/products/mens-activeice-spectrum-sun-hoodie-322376

Published 2026-07-30 · Watch on YouTube ↗
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