Engineering of clothing systems for improved thermophysiological comfort: The effect of openings

To evaluate the effectiveness of ventilation systems in outdoor jackets, two jackets were purchased and modified, one made of PTFE laminated fabric and the other made of polyurethane coated fabric. Six male subjects undertook exercise routines simulating fell walking while wearing these jackets. The skin temperature at four different locations and the amount of perspiration generated during exercise were recorded for analysis. The experimental results were analysed using two‐ way analysis of variance. From the analysis it was found that during the exercise the design of the pit zip openings, especially with pit zip openings at both sleeve and side seams, in a jacket has an effect on thermal regulation, limiting the rate of temperature increase; however, during rest it is the fabric that plays the more important role. The results for the period of exercise suggest that the provision of ventilation at appropriate positions in the jacket could contribute considerably to heat loss irrespective of the use of breathable fabrics.