THE KNOWLEDGE

Breathability. It’s a word that gets thrown at us from all angles as soon as we step into the gear shop, but what does it really mean? First thing to say is it’s not really about stopping you from sweating, it’s about handling the sweat when it happens – and specifically, conducting it away from your body. The real challenge for clothing manufacturers is to achieve this while keeping moisture out AND preventing a build-up of condensation. Breathable clothes work best when they fit close to the body, as this means there are fewer pockets of colder air that create condensation on the inside of the outer layer.