Is Wool Warm When Wet?
In the 19th century, wool was the fabric of choice due to its ability to continuously conceal the skin, even when wet. And wool helps keep the body warm even when it is wet, a characteristic that few synthetic materials have.So we wonder if Captain Matthew Webb swam in a wool swimsuit during his seminal English Channel crossing in 1875, did he have any insulation advantages over modern-day swimmers who use synthetic swimwear?
Of course, he swam breaststroke and was venturing across a body of water in an unprecedented swim during an era when it was considered unfathomable to swim across, so there were definitely no practical advantages that he might have had.
Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff.
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