How to Know A Quality Evaporative Cooling Fabric From...Well the Other Stuff - All in One Place
- Ioannis Anastasakis
- Mar 26
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 31
I decided to put all of the information in one place to make it easier for customers and interested parties to review KewlFabric 7101 and what makes it the best evaporative cooling solution. Originally, it was a 4 part series. With the heat of summer around the corner, everyone is promoting their cooling solutions with not alot of data or research to back them up. I hope this helps, enjoy the read.
I was recently reminded when reading through some LinkedIn articles that people are promoting their various personal cooling garments based on rather incomplete information and claiming how great they are. So, how do you know you have a high quality evaporative cooling fabric that will be an #activecooling solution and not some cheap knock-off, made by some third tier manufacturer, out of who knows where?
It is actually pretty simple. You need to ask three questions (and of course get the certifications), and avoid being sucked into a single data point promotion, like how cold it gets during a single moment in time temperature measurement. So, what does this mean?
There are three basic tests I demand when considering/comparing an evaporative cooling technology, absorbency, cooling capacity and duration. Each data point drives the next, ensuring high capacity cooling for a long duration ensuring you have a real #coolingsolution. Of course, I also ensure that the fabric passes all applicable standards and certifications such as REACH, CA Prop 65, etc.
FIRST, ABSORBENCY
What is the fabric’s absorption rate both before and after 40 wash cycles? This measures not only how quickly the fabric will absorb water, but how much it will absorb. Absorption rate is usually measured in g/m2 with the GSM of the fabric as a comparison point. You want lots of absorption and a light or low GSM fabric. Absorbency rate is important as it is the first step in proving cooling capacity and duration.
We did an absorption test between KewlFabric 7101, a European manufactured non-woven fabric (A) and a Chinese manufactured non-woven fabric (B). These were all non-woven fabrics being promoted as high end, high quality evaporative cooling options by some big brand names.
As you can see, KewlFabric 7101 provides a light fabric with a very high absorbency due to our uniquely formulated super-absorbent fibers. But, don’t be fooled but just this number. What does it matter if you can’t wash the garment! What happens to absorbency after 40 wash cycles?
Well, most non-woven fabrics see a dramatic decline in absorbency after being washed once, as all of the absorbing materials get washed out. We put KewlFabric 7101 through a 40 wash cycle test and found that KewlFabric 7101 retained 80% of its absorbency. Both of the tests to measure absorbency are expensive and are not often done by manufacturers, or their customers, because of the cost and their high failure rate.
So, KewlFabric 7101 passes the absorbency litmus test, exceeding other supposed evaporative cooling fabrics by a significant margin both pre and post washing. Absorbency is crucial and drives cooling capacity and cooling duration. Afterall, it is hard to get a good evaporative cooling capacity score without being able to absorb water.
In an earlier post, I released a video (Cooling Capacity video) that discussed the cooling capacity of KewlFabric 7101 Cooling capacity is the second of three key evaluation metrics when looking at an evaporative cooling solution.
There is a specific test that can be run to measure cooling capacity in W/cm2 and the results for KewlFabric 7101 were very good. KewlFabric 7101 had an average score of 0.231 W/cm2.
What this means is that at a specific point in time a temperature measurement was taken of the fabric once activated. This usually occurs shortly after activation and is not a measurement of cooling over time.
This Qmax measurement tells you how much cooling the fabric kicks off when evaporating the water it has absorbed.
Many wicking fabrics conduct a cooling capacity test and present it as conclusive evidence that their fabric is the best on the market because it has a high cooling capacity rating (Qmax). The below chart reflects some testing done against some well known materials used in making cooling fabrics. Please note that I have left out specific brands, that use these fabrics, from this review. There are several wicking fabrics that get a higher Qmax score than KewlFabric 7101. Remember a high Qmax score only means that at a set point in time, the fabric reaches that specific cooling capacity.
No one talks about their cooling capacity after 3,4 or even 8hrs. Why is this the case? Because their cooling solutions are no longer cooling. They often dry out after about 1hr.
These wicking fabrics make great cooling towels, and to be fair, are sold as such, but they should not be used to make cooling garments such as vests, or neckshade or hats etc as some have tried.
We at KewlFabric Solutions are happy to discuss our cooling capacity over 3,4 or even 8hr durations when discussing KewlFabric 7101, but more on that later.
So, Kewl Fabric 7101 absorbs alot of water even after 40 wash cycles and has a very good cooling capacity helping you to create an #activecooling garment solution. What finally knocks it out of the park is when the absorbency and cooling capacity of KewlFabric 7101 are combined with its cooling duration.
KewlFabric 7101 passes the absorbency litmus test, exceeding other supposed evaporative cooling fabrics by a significant margin both pre and post machine washing. KewlFabric 7101 also passes the Cooling Capacity litmus test with a Qmax score of 0.23 W/cm2. But these two elements alone to do not make a superior #activecooling solution. Afterall, what does it matter if you absorb alot of water and have a high Qmax score, if your cooling solution only lasts 1hr in an 8hr work day or a two hour competition.
Thus, the final key element in a superior active cooling solution, DURATION. How long will your cooling solution cool you below the ambient temperature? Well, we at KewlFabric Solutions tested for that as well, and the results were pretty amazing when compared to other cooling solutions. We compared KewlFabric 7101 to a cooling vest made by a competitor using a microfibre material. For the first 90mins both items maintained a relatively equal temperature, but then the competition just … well just look at the below chart, where “A” (the yellow line) is KewlFabric 7101 and “B” (the purple line) is the competition.
KewlFabric maintained a steady temperature 12 degrees celsius below the ambient room temperature of 34 degrees celsius for 10hrs and counting. The competition stop cooling at about 90mins.
KewlFabric 7101 is the superior cooling solution on all three measures of Absorbency, Cooling Capacity and Duration. Now one last check. Is it safe? Well of course it is, and of course we at KewlFabric Solutions took the time to run the tests to prove it.
Well, we know that #KewlFabric 7101 is the superior #coolingsolution on all three measures of Absorbency, Cooling Capacity and Duration.
One last check, and one we should all make. IS IT SAFE? Afterall, you can probably make a cooling material that meets or exceeds KewlFabric 7101 standards for Absorbency, Cooling Capacity and Duration. But you have to wonder, what exactly is it made of and is it safe for human use? Of course, there are tests and standards out there to ensure the goods and services we purchase are safe for human use, and of course we at KewlFabric Solutions have tested our KewlFabric 7101 against these standards. It is a simple list, but a very important and compelling one, especially when your supplier cant provide it.
Dont settle for something less, … and less safe. Get the best evaporative cooling solution based on Absorbency, Cooling Capacity, Duration and Price. KewlFabric 7101 is the right solution for you and your customers. Be ready to deliver to your customers what they need for the summer of 2025.
I hope that you enjoyed the read. For more details check out our website at www.KewlFabric.com
Commentaires