Staying dry (shirts)

I have settled on bamboo and silk.

Is that real bamboo or processed bamboo / rayon ? Some articles are advertised as bamboo, but processed bamboo isn't any better than cotton, as it's a form of cellulose. Actually some companies were charged because of false advertisements in the States. But production is much cheaper, as bamboo requires 1/3 water compared to cotton
 
Is that real bamboo or processed bamboo / rayon ? Some articles are advertised as bamboo, but processed bamboo isn't any better than cotton, as it's a form of cellulose. Actually some companies were charged because of false advertisements in the States. But production is much cheaper, as bamboo requires 1/3 water compared to cotton

Bamboo linen. I don't know how much bamboo viscose gets sold in USA.
 
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imagine going to a festival, 3 days parties and workshops, thats a lot of shirts but I got used to it by now, only shirts and shoes in my bag:D

I try to travel only using carry-on. Most airlines limit carry-ons to 10Kgs. My carry-on doesn't have wheels and weight about 1.5kgs. Add the laptop , phones and electronics that easily is 3 kgs. You end with 3 to 4 kgs left to pack all the clothes.
 
Guys, wicking fabrics are great for sports but not so good for partner dancing! They keep the wearer cool and dry by wicking all the sweat from the inside of the fabric and sending it to the outside surface, where it can evaporate. HOWEVER, the outside of the fabric is what your partner needs to touch, and trust me it can get really wet and gross. You may not feel how sweaty you are, but your partner will!

Personally I go for layering. I know it makes you feel even hotter and you sweat more, but at least you are not making your partner touch your wet shirt.

Good to know
 
Indeed. I use that kind of clothing only for hiking, where it's really handy - it is drying considerably faster than cotton while keeping you warm on the cold wind. However, it gets unpleasant smell much faster than cotton as well. Similar polyester fabric is used for jogging, bicycle etc shirts, different density. Some guys were wearing it on local salsa parties in the past (mostly those doing lots of bicycling and running) and girls were complaining about that. Now I don't see it much anymore

I'm using comfortable cotton shirts and T-shirts. I also have one or two linen shirts, but wearing them rarely, they are not as soft to touch and hardly any better for sweating if at all

Not sure about bamboo clothing mentioned by Offbeat. This seems to be better regulated in the States, while in my area, you actually don't know what you are buying as it is not specified, and it's most likely something viscose alike and/or blended with cotton, while advertisements try to make you believe you are buying something completely natural which is probably far from truth. In the States, type of bamboo has to be specified (viscose/lyocell/linen ...) so you at least get some clue
 
In the States, type of bamboo has to be specified (viscose/lyocell/linen ...) so you at least get some clue

The local shop do specify that. You got to remember, I live is hippster central :) Things are too politically correct. Local shops have to be careful of someone raising a stink. I bought one from Amazon that says it is bamboo but doesn't give info of manufacturing process. But most of my bamboo clothing are from local vendors who explicitly mention using bamboo fabric made from methods that employ harmful chemicals. They target environmental consciousness as big part of their marketing pitch. For me the practical utility is primary reason. The environment part is nice side effect of the utility. They also are one and half to twice as expensive as a good thread count cotton clothes. Higher thread count soft cotton also tends to be more expensive, but not as much as branded bamboo that is not rayon.

Good thing about bamboo and silk is they don't smell like synthetics or cotton when wet with sweat.

I recently bought a pair of shirts from Zara during the xmas. They feel like silk, look good,feel good and often get compliments. They had a mix of shirts on the rack Some said polyster and some said viscose on their label. Very similar designs and cuts. I tried to find what Zara viscose shirts are actually made from (which type of viscose and the method). I couldn't find any information. The floor people knew much less than I did!

For dancing I have now use bamboo for under clothing and silk for shirts. Still doesn't do much to combat sweating when dancing all out :D
 
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I bought a very nice T-shirt from Ibiza, Hi collection, special for clubbing. I use it to dance Kizomba as is close dance. Never got sweat wearing or T-shirt wet even after 3-4 hours in a warm room. It is also very nice design. Made by 65% rayon and 35% polyester. Wish to buy more if I am going back.
 
The local shop do specify that. You got to remember, I live is hippster central :) Things are too politically correct. Local shops have to be careful of someone raising a stink. I bought one from Amazon that says it is bamboo but doesn't give info of manufacturing process. But most of my bamboo clothing are from local vendors who explicitly mention using bamboo fabric made from methods that employ harmful chemicals. They target environmental consciousness as big part of their marketing pitch. For me the practical utility is primary reason. The environment part is nice side effect of the utility. They also are one and half to twice as expensive as a good thread count cotton clothes. Higher thread count soft cotton also tends to be more expensive, but not as much as branded bamboo that is not rayon.

It's hard to get any info what it is about. Out of several articles I checked, these two were most informative, but from that, it looks like real bamboo linen isn't something one would actually wear and that most of that stuff is coming from China in a form of viscose or lycell which seems to be similar thing, just made using less toxical chemicals ...

https://www.elkieark.com/blogs/eco-living-sustainable-living/organic-bamboo-bed-linen
 
I bought a very nice T-shirt from Ibiza, Hi collection, special for clubbing. I use it to dance Kizomba as is close dance. Never got sweat wearing or T-shirt wet even after 3-4 hours in a warm room. It is also very nice design. Made by 65% rayon and 35% polyester. Wish to buy more if I am going back.


Cothing can't dictate whether you sweat or not. Dictated by a activity level and ambient temperature. That is your body and biology.

Clothing can only help or not help after you sweat. That is fabric and chemistry.

All fabrics get wet.

European venues lack ACs whether congress or local dancing. In USA almost all venues have AC. Dancing Kizomba in a good airconditioned room will delay sweating.
 
It's hard to get any info what it is about. Out of several articles I checked, these two were most informative, but from that, it looks like real bamboo linen isn't something one would actually wear and that most of that stuff is coming from China in a form of viscose or lycell which seems to be similar thing, just made using less toxical chemicals ...

https://www.elkieark.com/blogs/eco-living-sustainable-living/organic-bamboo-bed-linen

I don't believe you can take the chemicals out totally for commercial viability. You can use more friendly methods rather than harmful chemicals.

One of local brands (I haven't used them):

 
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European venues lack ACs whether congress or local dancing. In USA almost all venues have AC. Dancing Kizomba in a good airconditioned room will delay sweating.

Actually, locally we had AC in some local salsa school / party rooms, but wasn't a fan of that - I was sweating less, but many times I got sore throat or similar, it looks like AC systems helped distributing viruses evenly on all participants :p
 
Actually, locally we had AC in some local salsa school / party rooms, but wasn't a fan of that - I was sweating less, but many times I got sore throat or similar, it looks like AC systems helped distributing viruses evenly on all participants :p

About once or twice a year I get sore throat right the day after dancing!
 
All fabrics get wet.

European venues lack ACs whether congress or local dancing. In USA almost all venues have AC. Dancing Kizomba in a good airconditioned room will delay sweating.
True, all fabrics get wet but some of them faster than the others.
They don't have many AC units as we have in the US. They say weather is nice and is not needed. Last summer was a nightmare with over 100F without AC for about two weeks.

Special dancing clubs have AC but don't use it all the time like in the winter\fall. I also saw some of them are turned off to save money...:(
 
I was sweating less, but many times I got sore throat or similar, it looks like AC systems helped distributing viruses evenly on all participants :p

Even more harmful than the average AC are those large, round fans placed at the sides... Seem to be used more and more. Air streams from them are very strong and at the height of a human, so blow directly on dancers. Great in case of strong immune system, otherwise a sore throat or worse is definitely guaranteed.
 
What is embarrassing for me is if I am soaked and I press my body against a lady who is wearing a light colored blouse which then gets a big sweat mark on her chest. So far it only happened with a couple of women I knew well already, but still, not good to be on either side if this problem! :)
 
I sweat a lot, in general not only when I dance. My go to Tshirts are merino tshirts. They evacuate sweat, dry fast and don't stink. Really a must-have as far as I am concerned.
On the other hand, they are quite expensive.
 
I sweat a lot, in general not only when I dance. My go to Tshirts are merino tshirts. They evacuate sweat, dry fast and don't stink. Really a must-have as far as I am concerned.
On the other hand, they are quite expensive.

Merino wool?
 
Yes, there are T shirts made of very thin merino wool, used also for hiking, very good material and not cheap either (I bought one a few months ago, didn't try it yet, but my GF is very satisfied with her). However, mine is quite tight, I'm not sure it would be good for dancing as well
 
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