Proper Clothing

[Sandy]

The Running and Racing Report

     When I teach running classes we always discuss proper clothing.  You can spend a little or a lot on athletic wear which raises the question, ?why you would spend a lot of money on a pair of (insert item here).?  So what is proper running wear and when does an expensive piece of attire become fiscally responsible?
     Proper athletic wear is specific to the sport you are engaged in whether it?s hockey, skiing or running.  When purchasing athletic wear you absolutely get what you pay for.  Most companies today have spent a ton of money and time on product development to add features to their clothing that are not only innovative but also functional and increase the overall enjoyment of your sport.  If you are purchasing clothing for your sport and the company spends more on advertising then on R and D, you can be assured that they use old technology even though they charge a premium price.
     So what do you get for your money?  Mizuno and Zoot both have materials that heat up by about 4 degrees in the presence of body vapour which means when you sweat your sweat is turned into heat. Pearl Izumi, Desoto as well as others are using cool blacks which provide active cooling.  As you perspire the fabric reduces body surface temperature by up to 5%, helpful in the heat of the summer.   The company should be weaving their fabric with the innovations in it not producing the material and treating the fabric. Treatments applied after will wash away.  Other worth paying for upgrades are the highly visible colours.  Brooks, Saucony, Gore and Pearl Izumi not only have highly reflective garments but they also have ?glow? colours that act like construction vests.
     Finally, how can an expensive piece be fiscally responsible?  Good quality clothing doesn?t shrink, stretch or become misshapen.  If it?s not treated it will perform like new until the end of its life which is usually when you get tired of it rather than it wearing out.  As an example I have an original piece of Mizuno Breathe Thermo that is 10 years old.  It cost me $50, I wear it on average three times a week and machine wash and dry it every time.  Conservatively it?s a ?go to? piece from October until the end of March.  Therefore it has had approximately 720 wearing?s and washings at a cost of $.07 per and continues to work like new.


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[Newt]

G'day Sandy,
I'm the first one to advocate performance clothing, designed for the sport, and as you know I practise what I preach as I own more than a few mortgage payments worth of high tech clothing. It can make the sport you love more enjoyable in a variety of weather conditions. I also have a few pieces of Breathe thermal garments purchased from your store that like you say stand up well for the price you pay and have yet to disappoint me.
But.... Not to be a fly in the ointment I have a question that I can't seem to answer and was wondering if you could help. I completely understand need for the increased warmth/insulating ability of the garments once they get wet for items like gloves and socks, as many times they can get wet from sloshing through puddles and grabbing a hold of wet things and increasing the warmth then is a plus. But I don't understand why you would want something to get warmer when it's getting wet from sweat as usually that's when I'm wanting a garment to breathe and wick to cool me down? I could understand if your sport requires a lot of stop and starting were you would need to prevent a chill after working up a sweat but most times in our sport we stop once we are done either at home or at a place where we can put on additional and dry layers. I was curious on your thoughts on the matter. Again I love my Breath Thermal wear I'm just wanting to understand the point of it more. As my grandfather used to say "There is no such thing as bad weather just improper dress"
Peace
Peter

[Cheryl M.]

Hello!
Being kinda new to the sport of running and loving every minute of it. I had no idea the knowledge that you can absorb with the sport. Clothing is one of the things I had no clue about. Being told by a friend to wear some runners tights in the winter I thought, your crazy and I am gonna freeze my butt off. But it is very true with what you are both saying. If you pick good clothing, good names and technology it does truly make a difference when in use. I have not been cold once while out running in the winter and I wear less clothing then I would normally while out and about. 

[Sandy]

Good question Peter but don't confuse this warmth with not wicking.  In the winter the purpose of wicking is to keep you dry which helps you to regulate your body temperature.  If an athlete requires "cooling" in the winter I would suggest that they are overdressed as the rule is to dress as if it's 10 degrees warmer than it is.   

Continuing the Breath Thermo example, the material is woven with a propriatory fabric that as soon as there is body vapour (the beginnings of sweat) begins to provide heat WHILE wicking sweat and continues to keep up with the production of sweat.  This technology was developed to reduce layers.  Instead of having a wicking base layer then a warmth layer such as fleece then a jacket, you could eliminate the warmth layer allowing you to go out in the coldest of environments with only 2 layers.  In every situation you would have previously used a wicking base layer and a warmth layer you are now down to one.

Having Reynauds I have even found it very helpful to change into Breath Thermo immediately after running, while still sweating which helps to keep my core warm, essential in lessening painful Rayneauds symptoms.

Let me know if this doesn't answer your question or I missed the point.

[Newt]

Thanks Sandy, I can completely understand why you would like to change into the Breathe Thermal after a workout when your core is still ramped up from the exercise, that is an excellent application of the the product I hadn't considered. As well the reduction of layers principal is how I typically use Breathe Thermal. I still don't see the need of the product to get warmer when you are starting to sweat though while exercising.
Peace
Peter

[Janet]

Thinking I'm going to need some breath thermal and layers for tomorrow, I'm blaming Kristie for the weather. She comes to Ontario and it gets cold (not as cold as it is where she is, but I'm feeling pretty wussy after being spoiled for so long )

[Sandy]

You want a product to make heat so you can wear less.  If you're sweating so much that a warming product provides too much heat then you are wearing either too many layers or the wrong layers.

Can anyone explain this better?

Janet, wore BT top and Firewall jacket today and was perfect.

[Newt]

Thanks Sandy.

[Sandy]

Hey Peter, I've been thinking about this some more as I don't think I answered your question.  Maybe it's in perception of warmth. For you sweating indicates you are warm enough and therefore do not need a garment that adds heat.  I totally get that and would suggest most men are this way.  I however do not equate sweating with "warm enough".  Example: this am after I had driven from Belleville to Trenton with my winter coat on, heat pumping and was quite comfortable, although sweating a little.  Jeff had on a fleece, hopped in the car and said "holly it's hot in here."  I honestly did not notice!

[Newt]

Ya Got it, Sandy. I equate sweating with too warm, so if I start sweating the last thing I need is for the garment to increase it's insulating qualities. I try to keep as dry as possible in the cold. Though I love your "put it on after the workout application" as that's when I'll get a chill.
I also agree that in my experience women and "girlie" boys tend to be more sensitive to the cold. 
Peace
Peter

[Sandy]

Perfect.   

[klowe]

Well people I have to say that I have been trying numerous different tactics for the cold and still have not found the best.  I have BT stuff and firewall and it does not come close to doing the job.  I have actually gone to running with a windbreaker type jacket on and sweating my butt off but using the BT stuff to keep me warm.  The wind cuts into you so bad that nothing stops it.  I have spent lots on different stuff and for me right now I just have to start layering.  4 pant layers and 2 shirts with a coat. 
BUT Janet, today in the warm I wore tights, a shirt and my firewall and it was perfect no hat no goggles and no mittens.  I am loving running in the warm.  I know you think I brought this cold weather down with me but I am loving it.   Sorry for you luck with the whole You got some snow in the winter thing.  :)  Oh how I miss you guys!  Hopefully I will see you this weekend.
K

[Sandy]

I don't know if anything would keep me warm at -49 though Kristi...good on you!!