# 100% Polyester Shirts-Work of the Devil! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 13, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593 "2011-08-13T18:13:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/1 "2011-08-13T18:13:12Z")
I cannot understand why people are allowed to sell these shirts-they do not breath at all. I tried wearing one once (it was about 85 F out)-I felt like I was being grilled alive! They do not allow your body to cool. They look nice, and hold their shape, but I will take 100% cotton anytime, over these garments. Why are they so popular? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/2 "2011-08-13T18:30:20Z")
Don’t wear them when it’s 85 F out. You clearly aren’t ready for polyester. Meanwhile me, my suit, my giant lapels, and my cool medallion are going to tear up the disco. It’s already going to be hot there, you just deal with it and drink, uh… whatever you drink in the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/3 "2011-08-13T18:36:12Z")
Are you getting the 100% _sportswear_ polyester shirts? Most comfortable shirts ever. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/4 "2011-08-13T19:32:45Z")
Polyester is one of the most common fabrics for athletic apparel because it wicks sweat and dries quickly. Sometimes, it’s not the material is the design of the fabric. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/5 "2011-08-13T20:19:38Z")
_Lawsie_, Miz Scarlet, were you around in the 1970s? The worst clothing decade since the 1830s (really, look up the 1830s, fashions were terrible then, too). Thank goodness was old enough to buy vintage clothes in thrift stores, because the only new things you could get were platform shoes, plastic-like Qiana, or spongy triple-knit polyester. I was so pathetically grateful when the '80s rolled around. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/6 "2011-08-13T20:40:20Z")
One of the reasons to wear them in the heat is that when you sweat, it doesn’t show through the fabric. No wet spots under the arms or on the back. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/7 "2011-08-13T20:52:35Z")
That’s because the sweat is NOT wicking off but is running down your back and into your underwear. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/8 "2011-08-13T22:23:11Z")
True to above – I only sweat outside in 100% synthetics, but they’re sport shirts (tee-shirts, long-sleeve zipper-necks, those styles). Gave myself near-hypothermia hiking a mere 20 miles or so around town wearing a cotton T – disorientation, uncontrolled shaking, pallid color. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/9 "2011-08-13T22:36:44Z")
The OP is a mystery to me. I’m in the mountains a bunch, and cotton is not my friend. My poly hiking shirts are little more than comfy sunscreen. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/10 "2011-08-13T23:59:42Z")
My work shirts are polyester - freezing next to the skin in winter and like wearing a plastic bag in summer. I hate them but have no choice. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/11 "2011-08-14T00:06:47Z")
I live in Texas. I only buy 100% cotton, if I have any choice at all. Rayon looks great and dyes beautifully and has a wonderful hand. And it shrinks. Polyester is freezing in the winter and boiling in the summer. As a fat woman, spandex is NOT my friend. Nobody wants or needs to be able to see every dimple on my body. Wool makes me itch. If it’s not 100% cotton, I generally won’t even look at it. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/12 "2011-08-14T01:40:08Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Don’t wear them when it’s 85 F out. > > You clearly aren’t ready for polyester. Meanwhile me, my suit, my giant lapels, and my cool medallion are going to tear up the disco. It’s already going to be hot there, you just deal with it and drink, uh… whatever you drink in the 70s. Harvey Wallbangers and Tequila Sunrises, mainly. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/13 "2011-08-14T02:19:56Z")
Cotton kills. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/14 "2011-08-14T03:31:05Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Don’t wear them when it’s 85 F out. > > You clearly aren’t ready for polyester. Meanwhile me, my suit, my giant lapels, and my cool medallion are going to tear up the disco. It’s already going to be hot there, you just deal with it and drink, uh… whatever you drink in the 70s. Wine Coolers. Preferably Bartles and Jaymes. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/15 "2011-08-14T06:37:25Z")
Make the distinction between polyester (of the '70’s) and microfibers of today. Polyester of the leisure suit era was total crap. It’s only benefit was that it didn’t need to be ironed. Microfiber, on the other hand, is pretty amazing. It wicks away sweat, doesn’t wrinkle, holds it color and can be very comfortable. Most of the athletic gear the has contact with the skin is now polyester microfiber. It is far superior to a cotton material that absorbs moisture and holds it against the skin. UnderArmour successfully marketed the stuff and every major athletic equipment manufacturer has followed. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/16 "2011-08-14T12:53:27Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Preferably Bartles and Jaymes. In the 1970s? I assumed B&J were from the 1980s. It seems to me that TAB was new and fab in the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![OneMissedPost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@OneMissedPost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneMissedPost)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/17 "2011-08-14T17:31:41Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > They do not allow your body to cool. > They look nice, and hold their shape, but I will take 100% cotton anytime, over these garments. Same here. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/18 "2011-08-14T19:44:05Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Wine Coolers. > > Preferably Bartles and Jaymes. > [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > In the 1970s? I assumed B&J were from the 1980s. It seems to me that TAB was new and fab in the 70s. They were. And they thank you for your support. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/19 "2011-08-14T20:08:25Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > Make the distinction between polyester (of the '70’s) and microfibers of today. > > Polyester of the leisure suit era was total crap. It’s only benefit was that it didn’t need to be ironed. > > Microfiber, on the other hand, is pretty amazing. It wicks away sweat, doesn’t wrinkle, holds it color and can be very comfortable. Most of the athletic gear the has contact with the skin is now polyester microfiber. It is far superior to a cotton material that absorbs moisture and holds it against the skin. UnderArmour successfully marketed the stuff and every major athletic equipment manufacturer has followed. Well, maybe I just haven’t found a “modern-enough” one, then. Got a pricey biking jersey, 100% PolyEvil. Maybe the wicking thing works, but I haven’t noticed while I’ve been basting in the thing! I swear, a half mile in the sun and I’m on the verge of heatstroke. A light cotton T-shirt is 20 degrees cooler, because it breathes. And the wind I generate (oh, yeah… that wind that I’m as fast as) evaporates the sweat just fine. So even cotton is pretty dry. But should I keep trying poly jerseys? ---
**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593/20 "2011-08-15T01:41:09Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > In the 1970s? I assumed B&J were from the 1980s. It seems to me that TAB was new and fab in the 70s. TAB actually came out in the 60’s, maaybe even the late 50’s. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-polyester-shirts-work-of-the-devil/592593.md?page=2)