Biased against Cotton??

[Boasun]

You know of all the years that I have sailed, including the North Atlantic and the Bering Sea. I have worn cotton dungrees (21 years Navy), Jeans and sweats. Along with cotton socks. It is only in the last couple of years that I have noticed a bias toward cotton. I do have the appropriate woolen gear also. But then again I have become endured to the cold and wet climes when in those regions and layered up warmly.
The trick is not to let the seas flow into and under your wet gear and boots. Also wool is about 5% warmer when wet...But I greatly prefer my gear to be dry. Keep your soul lashings snug but not to tight or loose. Having dry gear below decks is a good thing for you may need it.
The modern clothing is wonderful... But there are quite a few of us who have gone and done without it for many years before they (modern materials) came on the market.
I wear Jeans all the time, but then I'm not going to worry about another's bias opinions. In clothing or politics.

[SEMIJim]

Technology advances, Boasun. In the cold: Wet is your primary enemy. Cotton absorbs wet and retains it. This includes wet caused by sweating. For comfort in average conditions I much prefer natural cotton to just about anything. But in the cold, and particularly in the wet and cold, there's hardly anything worse than cotton.

Btw: I think you mean "bias against cotton," not "bias toward."

Jim

[PBzeer]

Being a person who sweats rather easily, I try to avoid cotton in colder weather. Mostly I wear fleece and wool blends.

[christyleigh]

I believe there is a phrase in Mountain Climbing or maybe just cold weather survival - Cotton Kills. Get it wet when it's too cold to let it air out and it's wet forever.... along with your cold wet .... and maybe dead body.

[tommays]

Is polypropylene still in favor or has the tilt gone back to other natural fibers

[sailingdog]

Polypropylene and other synthetics, as well as wool and silk, are preferred by most cold weather sailors over cotton. The various fleece derivatives are excellent, since they don't absorb much water, keep you warm when wet and are easy to maintain/clean.

[CaptKermie]

I kinda like Nylon myself especially with a bit of spandex for ease of movement. It can be a bit difficult finding pants other than rain gear ones but I have managed to find a few pairs of nylon pants with zip off legs for shorts. Even in the summer spray can get in the cockpit and get your pants wet and I find that nylon dries very quickly in a summer breeze. Nylon coats are everywhere but nylon tops are a bit scarce, usually polyester & nylon or some othr blend. I still like cotton for comfort but I usually avoid it while out on the water. Anything beats cotton on the water, even in summer. I reserve cotton for land base use.

[sailingdog]

Might want to look at Mountain HardGear and Columbia. They make quite a good selection of convertible pants that have the legs zip off. So does ExOfficio. I practically live in convertibles all spring, summer and fall...

Originally Posted by CaptKermie

I kinda like Nylon myself especially with a bit of spandex for ease of movement. It can be a bit difficult finding pants other than rain gear ones but I have managed to find a few pairs of nylon pants with zip off legs for shorts. Even in the summer spray can get in the cockpit and get your pants wet and I find that nylon dries very quickly in a summer breeze. Nylon coats are everywhere but nylon tops are a bit scarce, usually polyester & nylon or some othr blend. I still like cotton for comfort but I usually avoid it while out on the water. Anything beats cotton on the water, even in summer. I reserve cotton for land base use.

[sailaway21]

Cotton is a leisure fabric. It's for when you have the leisure to dry out your clothing versus dying from hypothermia within it. Wool may be equaled by some synthetic materials but I know of nothing superior to it. Polypro undergarments seem to have successfully supplanted silk although perhaps more from cost than efficacy. The most often overlooked area of clothing seems to be the socks. Feet alternately warm and chill and there is possibly no worse material than cotton for dealing with such. Wool socks are superb for both winter and summer wear. (I've wear a pair of "cheap" Gore-Tex lined, Thinsulite insulated, work boots with wool socks year round in complete comfort. Breathability is the key and the wool provides additional cushioning as well.)

[Coldwater]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Might want to look at Mountain HardGear and Columbia. They make quite a good selection of convertible pants that have the legs zip off. So does ExOfficio. I practically live in convertibles all spring, summer and fall...

I think you mean Mountain Hardwear. Also, Patagonia, Marmot, North Face, all make a wide variety of styles and weights of great synthetic clothing and zip off pants. Ibex for modern wool applications. Oh, REI too for inexpensive zip offs.

In mountaineering, it is an accepted fact that not only is cotton inferior where cold wet conditions are concerned, but I have seen tests that proved that you are actually better off naked that in wet cotton. Wet cotton causes you to lose body heat faster than bare skin.

The OP is saying, keep the cotton dry. As long as you do that fine, but in my world I don't count on that kind of control over the elements or my environment. In cold, wet, windy conditions, particularly in the backcountry, or on the water, I do not risk hypothermia. It is the leading cause of death in the mountains. I always carry extra layers. But, we are always in cold water here.

That said, I love cotton in the right conditions, and in hot weather. I will wear it specifically for its cooling ability in the summer.