Peak Performance: Deciding between Cotton and Synthetic Shirts for the Southern Outdoor Enthusiast

Any true Southerner knows that one of the best parts about living in the Southern United States is the beautiful weather, year round. There are also endless outdoor activities that exist in the south, that make use of the constant sunshine and balmy temperatures. There also some drawbacks to the warm climate, such as risk of sunburn, overheating, and bug bites. Choosing a proper performance shirt can help to prevent these ailments.

Cotton Was Once King

Cotton was once the golden standard for outdoor wear in the South, due to its comfort and breathability. Cotton is also grown abundantly in the Southern United States, which also makes the fiber an obvious choice for outdoor wear, due to its availability. Cotton is a classic fabric in the South for staying cool on a hot day while one is outside golfing, fishing, boating, or doing yard work. Even in a long sleeve shirt, cotton can keep you cool and also protect you from the sun.

However, cotton also had its drawbacks. It becomes quite heavy when wet, and it also takes a long time to dry. This can be an issue on a hot day when sweat is inevitable during vigorous outdoor activities. 

Synthetic Options

While it took awhile for synthetics to catch on in the South as performance wear, synthetic performance shirts make sense for many outdoor sports and activities in the South. Today's synthetic performance shirts have air vents in the arms to prevent overheating. They also have wicking technology that keeps the wearer dry by quickly evaporating sweat away from the body. While it may seem counterintuitive to wear a nylon or polyester long sleeve shirt in the South on a hot summer's day, a synthetic performance shirt will stay dry during gardening, running, fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities. Synthetic shirts can also be washed and line dried during a camping or boating trip; the shirt will be clean and dry in a few hours.

How to Decide Between Cotton and Synthetic Performance Shirts

Cotton will always be a timeless and classic option for southern long sleeve t-shirts. Cotton is also a great choice for wearers with sensitive skin. Synthetic shirts are a great option for people spend a lot of time outside and need to protect their skin while staying dry. Performance shirts today come in many different designs. There are even synthetic button down shirts that are designed to go from day to night. In the end it comes down to personal preference.