The Science of Sports Performance Fabrics: Moisture-Wicking Explained
Moisture-wicking fabric keeps players drier by moving sweat away from the skin so it can evaporate.
How wicking works
Wicking relies on capillary action: liquid travels along the tiny gaps between fibres, the same way water climbs a paper towel. Performance fabrics are built so sweat moves from the inside of the fabric, next to the skin, to the outside, where it spreads out over a larger area and evaporates.
The result is a drier layer next to the skin. A dry jersey feels lighter, chafes less and doesn't cling the way a soaked shirt does.
Why synthetics beat cotton
Polyester and nylon fibres absorb very little water. Sweat moves along the surface of the fibres instead of soaking into them, so the fabric dries quickly.
Cotton does the opposite. It soaks up moisture and holds on to it, which makes a cotton shirt heavy and cold once you stop moving. That is why nearly all team jerseys are polyester.
Merino wool also handles moisture well, but it costs more, needs gentler care and isn't used for sublimated jerseys.
How the fabric is built
How the yarn is knit matters too.
- Knit fabrics stretch and have more open space for moisture to move than tightly woven fabrics. Almost all jerseys are knit.
- Mesh and textured knits, like birdseye, add surface area and airflow, which helps sweat evaporate.
- Tighter, heavier knits hold up better to contact but breathe a little less.
Our Classic and Fan hockey jerseys use Birdseye Ice fabric. The Pro cut uses Pro weight double-knit, a heavier fabric that is also an upgrade on Classic. [Confirm the moisture-wicking claim and fabric weights for Birdseye Ice and Pro weight before publishing.]
Staying comfortable on and off the ice
Sweat trapped against the skin makes you overheat during play, then chills you quickly on the bench or after the game. Moving moisture away from the skin evens that out.
In cold rinks and in winter outdoor sports, this matters most for the layer closest to the skin. A wicking base layer under your gear does a lot of the work; the jersey on top helps by letting moisture keep moving outward instead of trapping it.
Sublimation and breathability
Screen-printed ink and heat-pressed vinyl sit on top of the fabric. Large printed areas, like big numbers, can feel stiff and block air and moisture in those spots.
Sublimation dyes the ink into the fibres, so the printed areas feel and breathe like the rest of the fabric. There is no extra layer to crack, peel or trap sweat, no matter how much of the jersey is covered in colour.
Keeping the wicking working
Wicking that comes from the fibre and the knit lasts for the life of the jersey. Chemical finishes added to the surface can wear off with washing.
The biggest threat is fabric softener. It coats the fibres and blocks the paths sweat travels through. Wash jerseys inside out in cold water, hang them to dry, and skip the bleach and softener. Don't iron the print. Washing soon after games also keeps sweat and bacteria from building up, which is what causes odour.