Should avoid polyester and other synthetic clothing materials?

[Steve123]

Merry Christmas!

I've only worn cotton/bamboo/wool/leather for past few years.

T-shirts/jeans/underwear are not a problem, you can easily get them in cotton.

But it does limit you on nice jackets, its hard to find lots of nice jackets, (especially winter jackets) in a healthy material, their mostly all polyester/polyamide etc..

How bad would it be to wear, for example, a 100% polyester jacket? When one is wearing cotton everything else (T-shirts, Underwear, jeans etc)

 

[laleto12]

I too cant find many options for jackets but I think it's not bad as the other ones since it doesn't touch my skin.

 

[-Luke-]

I can't really say anything about the downsides, but since it doesn't come in direct contact with the skin (except maybe a little on the wrists and neck), I'm not too worried. I also have a jacket made of some synthetic bs and cotton for underwear etc.

 

[i_nomad]

Synthetic fibers are, at the very least, endocrine disrupters. At least one study showing men who wore polyester underwear for a year saw a near complete loss of sperm count (if I’m remembering correctly). Bad for women too. I’m sure hats and other clothing, even blends with cotton, can do similar if worn daily.

 

[aniciete]

There are plenty of 100% cotton, leather, suede and wool shearling jackets. You just have to look for vintage or used ones on eBay/Etsy/local thrift stores for good prices.

 

[Steve123]

Synthetic fibers are, at the very least, endocrine disrupters. At least one study showing men who wore polyester underwear for a year saw a near complete loss of sperm count (if I’m remembering correctly). Bad for women too. I’m sure hats and other clothing, even blends with cotton, can do similar if worn daily.

Yeah I've seen that, but what about a jacket thats over a t-shirt or a jacket thats even over a hoodie

 

[akgrrrl]

Where are you shopping all this synthetic stuff? There are plenty of wool jackets and coats. I buy wool mens sportcoats, baseball jacket style, bomber style, peacoat style, trenchcoat styles all the time in garage sales, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Ebay, Poshmark, Mercari, and our two consignment shops. 2 small towns only 10k ppl.

 

[:M :B.]

I think Nylon is the safer option of the synthetics. One of the major issues is the DWR durable water repellant garbage they coat on pretty much every synthetic fiber for outdoor things. It's a Fluorocarbon coating in most cases. Nasty.

I started researching cold weather gear a lot recently and figured out a way to make my own jacket with good reasons for each component of it. It's about being vapor permeable and using synthetic materials that don't hold onto moisture so you stay warmer. I've noticed I put off way more moisture than I used to so just wearing wool stuff in a cold climate is not as comfortable as having very good loft insulation that lets vapor leave.

Anyway, the scary thing I learned sourcing materials for these jackets is that 99.9999999% of nylon fabric or any synthetic fabric sold on the market is DWR coated. It's completely expected by everyone that the fabrics have water repellant coatings. It's everywhere. Totally everywhere.

Days of searching later and I finally found a "pure finish" nylon for a liner material. I only found one pure finish nylon fabric that was perfect for jacket liner.

These DWR coatings just wash off after a while. Just another way to dispose of the fluoride.

The only way I could get a minimal poison very warm winter jacket was to DIY it.

 

[akgrrrl]

I think Nylon is the safer option of the synthetics. One of the major issues is the DWR durable water repellant garbage they coat on pretty much every synthetic fiber for outdoor things. It's a Fluorocarbon coating in most cases. Nasty.

I started researching cold weather gear a lot recently and figured out a way to make my own jacket with good reasons for each component of it. It's about being vapor permeable and using synthetic materials that don't hold onto moisture so you stay warmer. I've noticed I put off way more moisture than I used to so just wearing wool stuff in a cold climate is not as comfortable as having very good loft insulation that lets vapor leave.

Anyway, the scary thing I learned sourcing materials for these jackets is that 99.9999999% of nylon fabric or any synthetic fabric sold on the market is DWR coated. It's completely expected by everyone that the fabrics have water repellant coatings. It's everywhere. Totally everywhere.

Days of searching later and I finally found a "pure finish" nylon for a liner material. I only found one pure finish nylon fabric that was perfect for jacket liner.

These DWR coatings just wash off after a while. Just another way to dispose of the fluoride.

The only way I could get a minimal poison very warm winter jacket was to DIY it.

Textile specialist here.
Nylon does not breathe. It was one of the first petroleum based textiles right next to Dacron.
Wool breathes, esp as there are 30 different types of wool, different weaves of wool, and huge differences between say, the wool from a sheep in Missouri and wool from a sheep in Tibet.
Wool keeps sheep warm in winter and cool in summer.
Mens spring and summer sportcoats are made of "new wool" (the first wool shorn of a young sheep), constructed with minimal lining for comfort. Yes, there are summer woolens and winter woolens, then arctic fibers.
There has been a long and protracted discussion in Anchorage from the mountaineering organization that hosts international hikers who come to attempt the summit MTmcKinley. Whether to wear synth layers or different wool layers when you life could depend on it, that was the question.
Wool won. It is a fur fiber with many varieties and weaves suitable for every purpose and any garment.
Alpaca wool, sheep wool, camel, yak, quiviat, llama, mohair, angora, cashmere etc

 

[Steve123]

Where are you shopping all this synthetic stuff? There are plenty of wool jackets and coats. I buy wool mens sportcoats, baseball jacket style, bomber style, peacoat style, trenchcoat styles all the time in garage sales, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Ebay, Poshmark, Mercari, and our two consignment shops. 2 small towns only 10k ppl.

Main stream shops, Zara/Asos/Bershka etc, more trendier jackets.. Most of them are synthetic

 

[sunny]

Besides the thrift shops and online vintage goods sellers, Filson would have some good options. Patagonia, while still having nylon and such, are PFC free:

"

• Durable 2-layer 100% Recycled Fabric Is PFC-Free​

  Durable H2No® Performance Standard 2-layer 100% postconsumer recycled polyester shell with waterproof/breathable and windproof protection that's fully PFC-free—that means the fabric, membrane and DWR finish do not contain perfluorinated chemicals; smooth lining for comfort and layering

 

[sunny]

Where are you shopping all this synthetic stuff? There are plenty of wool jackets and coats. I buy wool mens sportcoats, baseball jacket style, bomber style, peacoat style, trenchcoat styles all the time in garage sales, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Ebay, Poshmark, Mercari, and our two consignment shops. 2 small towns only 10k ppl.

What is your best defense against wool pests, carpet beetles, and wool moths?

 

[Inaut]

Textile specialist here.
Nylon does not breathe. It was one of the first petroleum based textiles right next to Dacron.
Wool breathes, esp as there are 30 different types of wool, different weaves of wool, and huge differences between say, the wool from a sheep in Missouri and wool from a sheep in Tibet.
Wool keeps sheep warm in winter and cool in summer.
Mens spring and summer sportcoats are made of "new wool" (the first wool shorn of a young sheep), constructed with minimal lining for comfort. Yes, there are summer woolens and winter woolens, then arctic fibers.
There has been a long and protracted discussion in Anchorage from the mountaineering organization that hosts international hikers who come to attempt the summit MTmcKinley. Whether to wear synth layers or different wool layers when you life could depend on it, that was the question.
Wool won. It is a fur fiber with many varieties and weaves suitable for every purpose and any garment.
Alpaca wool, sheep wool, camel, yak, quiviat, llama, mohair, angora, cashmere etc

Great post

 

[:M :B.]

Textile specialist here.
Nylon does not breathe. It was one of the first petroleum based textiles right next to Dacron.
Wool breathes, esp as there are 30 different types of wool, different weaves of wool, and huge differences between say, the wool from a sheep in Missouri and wool from a sheep in Tibet.
Wool keeps sheep warm in winter and cool in summer.
Mens spring and summer sportcoats are made of "new wool" (the first wool shorn of a young sheep), constructed with minimal lining for comfort. Yes, there are summer woolens and winter woolens, then arctic fibers.
There has been a long and protracted discussion in Anchorage from the mountaineering organization that hosts international hikers who come to attempt the summit MTmcKinley. Whether to wear synth layers or different wool layers when you life could depend on it, that was the question.
Wool won. It is a fur fiber with many varieties and weaves suitable for every purpose and any garment.
Alpaca wool, sheep wool, camel, yak, quiviat, llama, mohair, angora, cashmere etc

the nylon i got breaths. Low thread count liner material. I can see through it and breath through it. I'm experimenting with wool vs specific synthetic materials because I froze last year trying to sleep in wool blankets. Didn't breath enough.

 

[sunny]

the nylon i got breaths. Low thread count liner material. I can see through it and breath through it. I'm experimenting with wool vs specific synthetic materials because I froze last year trying to sleep in wool blankets. Didn't breath enough.

Are you in an unheated environment, or you keep your heat low? I have down comforters, a light weight and a heavy weight, and often have to remove them because I am too warm.

 

[:M :B.]

Are you in an unheated environment, or you keep your heat low? I have down comforters, a light weight and a heavy weight, and often have to remove them because I am too warm.

It was out camping in February. I was trying to be Mr natural fiber guy and got so freaking cold. I think it was all the moisture I was putting off getting trapped. I notice that in down blankets too. Lots of humidity get's stuck can freeze you in the cold or make you feel clammy hot inside.

 

[sunny]

It was out camping in February. I was trying to be Mr natural fiber guy and got so freaking cold. I think it was all the moisture I was putting off getting trapped. I notice that in down blankets too. Lots of humidity get's stuck can freeze you in the cold or make you feel clammy hot inside.

Yeah, camping in February you might need to take advantage of some technology

 

[:M :B.]

Yeah, camping in February you might need to take advantage of some technology

yea. It's this Climashield apex insulation super lofty polyester poison continuous strand filament coated in silicone so it doesn't stick to moisture very well. and pure finish nylon liner that does breath. It's so freaking comfortable.

Comforter

Manufacturer of the finest sleeping bags and outdoor gear in the world. Nothing keeps you you warm & dry in cold, wet conditions like Wiggy's!

www.wiggys.com

I have been using this instead of down. on my bed. Been very comfortable

 

[JamesGatz]

When you think of a jacket, this is something you will wear OFTEN, therefore, it is a worthy investment to pay more money for one of safe materials, higher quality - buy it new and not from a DUSTY thrift shop

Any polyester jacket is automatically 24/7 stress, the jacket LITERALLY DRAINS your body of electrons and turns you into an energy vampire

Polyester is THAT BAD - all clothes are stressful and the best way to do it is no clothing at all but if you have to wear clothes then for jackets - wool and leather are best

 

[:M :B.]

The weird thing is I found out about Wiggy's through something Ray said on this forum. In the email exchange Ray mentioned this guys website for information on safe computers:

Conrad BioLogic | Links

In this guy's website under "other links" he mentioned wiggy's and I learned all the stuff he talks about...the whole concept of getting being a heck of a lot warmer when your vapor can get away from you. Made me mad because I was only into wool at the time but this was after I had 2 nights of freezing camping so I figured I'll give it a shot and these sleeping bags feel incredible. Never felt so comfortable.

Yes I know the synthetics are lame and bad, but at least this guy is calling out the poison coatings and calling out all the other companies for being idiots and providing a less toxic product that has saved lives out in the cold.