Physiological Responses and Thermal, Humidity, and Comfort Sensations in Wear Trials with Cotton and Polypropylene Vests

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Abstract
Relations were studied between skin temperature of the back as well as temperature and humidity inside clothing, and subjective estimates of thermal, humidity, and comfort sensations in 5 subjects wearing cross-country ski dress. The 2-h wear trials were performed in a climatic chamber at −2°C and simulated the actual circumstances under which such a dress is worn by alternating periods of intensive walking (20 min) on a treadmill with periods of resting (5–10 min). Each subject participated in 4 trials wearing alternately one of the 4 experimental, double-layer vests (double-cotton, cotton-polypropylene with cotton layer next to skin, same combination with polypropylene layer next to skin, double-polypropylene). Skin temperature of the back was during the experiments systematically lower (Pi.e., decrease during pauses and increase after walking was resumed. It is possible that the perception of local sensations was affected by superimposed, central perception of changes in the amount of heat delivered from muscles to the brain receptors. The sensations of comfort seemed to be affected mostly by perception of “warmth” when walking and “cold” when resting.