Influence of fabric permeability and clothing fit on local wetness perception in warm and cool environments

Abstract

This study was aimed at an investigation of the effect of ambient temperature coupled with clothing fit and fabric permeability on overall and local skin wetness perception. Twelve participants followed an incremental exercise protocol during eight experimental conditions: clothing (tight-fitting permeable clothing; tight-fitting impermeable clothing; loose-fitting permeable clothing; loose-fitting impermeable clothing) × environment (warm: 30 ± 0.5°C, relative humidity (RH) 35 ± 5%; cool: 15 ± 0.5°C, RH 87 ± 5%). During the test, heart rate, core and skin temperature, physical skin wetness, overall and local wetness sensation, and overall thermal and comfort sensation were recorded. The results show that the influence mechanisms of intensity and sensitivity of wetness perception are different; the intensity is mainly influenced by the skin’s physical wetness, whereas the sensitivity is influenced by both cold and mechanical inputs. In the cool environment, the thermal sensation explained a total of 54.6% of the variance of thermal discomfort, and the wetness sensation contributed to another 21.3%. However, in the warm environment, thermal sensation alone explained a total of 98.1% of the variance of thermal discomfort. In order, the body parts representing the most frequently perceived wetness were the upper back, chest, lower back, upper arm, forearm, abdomen, buttocks, thigh, and calf; this was consistent with the regional sweating rate, independent of the clothing type or environmental conditions. The findings provide a reference for the design of products where wetness sensation is the dominant factor affecting wearing comfort, such as protective or sports clothing.