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Winter is here, it’s really cold outside. Snow, wind and sub-zero temperatures will convince even the last survivors to dig out their winter coats from the basement. Or just buy a new one. The question many people ask themselves: Which clothes really keep you warm? Jan Beringer (51), scientific expert at the international textile testing service provider Hohenstein in Bönningheim, Germany, gives information about the warming effects of down, wool, merino, cashmere and polyester.
According to Beringer, we feel cold when we lose too much body heat in autumn and winter. Therefore, it is important to preserve the heat from our body. Beringer: “Whether a piece of clothing keeps you warm or not depends on how well it can trap heated air.”
The leader fell
Beringer says natural down provides the best heat retention. Unlike normal feathers, down is very thin and therefore stores a lot of heat in the underside of the bird’s feathers. The plumage of the eider duck, which lives off the coast of northern Germany, Scandinavia and Iceland, is considered to be of particularly high quality. But Beringer says the high price and animal welfare concerns will deter many people from purchasing such down jackets. But when it comes to heat storage, one thing is clear to him: “Nature does it best. “To date, humans have not succeeded in replicating heat storage comparable to textiles.”
Beringer says the next best alternative to down comes from nature: wool. “That’s why a cardigan or sweater made of wool will keep you very warm as long as there is no wind.” The only problem is that wool dries very slowly when wet. And for many people, wool causes skin rashes and itching.
Cashmere is no better than polyester
“Therefore, fiber wool made from chemical polyester is a good alternative,” says Beringer. They sit well on the skin and, because they are chemically produced fibres, they can be woven into complex textiles as desired. These textiles dry much faster than wool and provide better protection against wind. Additionally, production is relatively inexpensive. Beringer: “Polyester offers by far the best price-performance ratio.”
The opposite of cashmere or merino wool. Finely woven sweaters and scarves made from merino or cashmere wool are very popular during the winter months. “But these textiles don’t keep you warm any better than polyester or regular wool,” says Beringer. The popularity of these special wool knits is primarily due to the pleasant feeling they create on the skin. «But a truly warm winter jacket is rarely made of merino or cashmere wool. For a good cause.”
Source : Blick
I am Dawid Malan, a news reporter for 24 Instant News. I specialize in celebrity and entertainment news, writing stories that capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. My work has been featured in some of the world’s leading publications and I am passionate about delivering quality content to my readers.
