Incredible Wicking and Breathability! Here’s How Montbell’s 'Wickron' Helps You Conquer the Sweltering Summer City

Ever-evolving outdoor gear is a reliable ally for surviving the harsh city summer. A prime example is the T-shirt made from Montbell's performance fabric, 'Wickron'.

It’s highly breathable, dries quickly, and blocks UV rays. It feels as soft as cotton and is incredibly easy to care for. In fact, it's a popular choice for city dwellers. We sat down with Tetsushi Hosako from Montbell's PR team to dive into the impressive capabilities of this fabric, Montbell's ace in the hole for summer.

A High-Performance Polyester Fabric Developed by Montbell

"Wickron was first introduced in 1987. Before that, T-shirts were typically made from natural materials like wool and cotton. While these fabrics are absorbent, they dry slowly, which can lead to a dangerous drop in body temperature from evaporative cooling, a phenomenon known as 'sweat chill'.

That's why we decided to develop a high-performance polyester specifically for outdoor activities like mountaineering."

The result was a fabric engineered with five key features: moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties, breathability, a soft texture, UV protection, and odor resistance.

Superior Wicking Power Thanks to Fiber Capillary Action

"The most critical feature is its moisture-wicking capability. When you're hiking, you encounter many situations where your gear can get wet, whether from sweat or rain. Leaving clothes damp is not just uncomfortable; it can also cause your body temperature to drop due to evaporative cooling, which impairs your physical performance. Wickron prevents this by effectively pulling sweat away from the skin and drying rapidly."

This superior wicking action is achieved by utilizing the capillary effect of the fibers.

"Wicking refers to the ability to draw up moisture like sweat and then spread it across the fabric's surface to evaporate. Wickron leverages the capillary effect—where liquid travels through the narrow, tube-like spaces between fibers—to rapidly disperse moisture, which allows it to dry much faster."

In addition, a specially shaped fiber helps boost absorbency.

"While a standard fiber has a round cross-section, Wickron uses fibers with a cross-shaped one. This unique cross-sectional shape significantly increases the fabric's ability to pull in moisture."

Its moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties have been demonstrated through experiments.

"We placed an equal amount of water on both a piece of cotton and a piece of Wickron and compared the results after a few minutes. As you can see, the water remains concentrated in a small area on the cotton, whereas it has spread out, or wicked, across the Wickron fabric."

"For this experiment, we created a special T-shirt—one half made of cotton and the other of Wickron. We then compared them after a wash and spin cycle. Immediately after being spun, the Wickron side was visibly less damp and had already begun to dry."

Compared to a standard cotton T-shirt, Wickron dries in about half the time.

"Drying quickly means the fabric is less likely to feel clammy, ensuring you stay comfortable for longer."

Another experiment demonstrates the effect of this 'sweat chill' on the body.

"Water conducts heat about 25 times more efficiently than air. This means that leaving your skin or clothing wet from sweat or rain is a major factor in causing your body to cool down.

In this test, a subject wore the same split T-shirt after it was spun dry, and we measured their body temperature after 15 minutes in front of a fan. You can clearly see a significant drop in temperature on the side with the damp cotton."

Less Fuzz Means Better Breathability and Durability

The issue of breathability was solved by using a low-fuzz yarn.

"We use a yarn that's spun with a special technique, unlike conventional yarns. Typical spun yarns have a lot of 'fuzz' or protruding fibers, which can hinder airflow and reduce breathability. By minimizing this fuzz, Wickron achieves excellent ventilation."

Another strength of this fabric is its resistance to pilling.

"Conventional polyester is made of long fibers, which tend to tangle and form pills when subjected to friction. Wickron, however, incorporates shorter fibers on its surface. These fibers tend to shed before they can ball up, which prevents the pilling that can degrade a fabric's appearance and feel over time."

The secret to its supple feel lies in the use of different materials on the front and back.

"Wickron is crafted from a composite of two distinct fibers. The side touching your skin features a material made from long fibers with a cruciform cross-section, while the outer layer uses short fibers. This innovative construction allows it to achieve both exceptional moisture-wicking capabilities and a soft, cotton-like feel."

UV Protection and Odor-Control: Essential for the Outdoors

UV protection is considered an essential feature for mountain climbing.

It's said that for every 1,000-meter increase in elevation, UV radiation levels rise by about 10-12%. Plus, mountains offer little shade, and the reflection from the ground is intense.

"That's why we've engineered the yarn's weave to boost the material's UV-blocking rate. Even our white fabrics achieve over 90% UV protection."

Better yet, this isn't a coating or spray that wears off. The material itself is structured to block UV rays, so its effectiveness won't diminish even after repeated washing.

You're also likely to sweat a lot while hiking, and frequent washing isn't always an option. This is where the odor-control feature truly shines.

"We also offer models of Wickron apparel equipped with a photocatalytic function to break down odors. Photocatalysis is a technology that uses activated oxygen, generated by UV or visible light, to decompose the substances that cause odors.

Because these photocatalytic particles are integrated directly into the fibers, the odor-fighting effect won't fade with washing and will last semi-permanently."

Four Series for Different Activities and Situations

Wickron is currently available in four distinct series, so you can choose the perfect apparel based on the temperature, your activity level, and the specific occasion.

The top seller for summer is the "Wickron Cool Series," which includes two models: "Wickron Cool" and "Wickron Cool Light."

"'Wickron Cool' is the model for all-around activities during hot weather. This Cool T features a dual-layer material that rapidly wicks and spreads moisture, keeping you comfortable at all times."

"'Wickron Cool Light' is a category that enhances the feeling of coolness and reduces weight by using an exceptionally thin-knit fabric. It's recommended for low-mountain hiking and trail running in the middle of summer."

Weighing an average of just 80g, the "Cool Light T" is the lightest T-shirt Montbell offers. This season, it has been updated with a redesigned collar for an improved fit.

"'Wickron ZEO' is a series that uses a material with moderate insulation, created by knitting Wickron into a 3D structure that forms an air layer. It's ideal for situations with significant temperature swings due to elevation or weather, and for scenarios where you're concerned about getting chilled from sweat."

The "Wickron ZEO T" features a sleek silhouette that doesn't restrict movement, making it perfect as a standalone active layer for spring and summer treks, or as a base layer in fall and winter.

The even more insulating Wickron ZEO Thermal category is exclusively available in jacket and zip-up shirt styles.

It uses a 3D structured material that traps air for insulation, making it suitable as a mid-layer for high-altitude summer climbs or as an active layer in spring and fall.

Nearly 40 years after its debut, the Wickron T-shirt has become an iconic summer item for Montbell.

"We offer a wide lineup of products for men, women, and children. Its use cases have also broadened; in addition to outdoor activities like mountaineering, stream climbing, and kayaking, it's also used for various sports such as cycling and running."

Increasingly Popular for Daily Wear

"Come summer, you see more and more Wickron T-shirts around town. The features perfected on the mountain trails prove their worth in surviving the harsh urban summer as well."

Montbell's Wickron delivers high performance in the mountains and on the streets alike. Its incredible moisture-wicking properties and breathability offer the undeniable benefit of "comfort" to life in the sweltering city heat.