New SWK Nightstalker

[Caradoc]

yeah the dark color dosent help to much fabric is breathable

feels fine at 90

I hear that a lot from different people.

"Dark fabric makes you hot."

I'd think that if this were true 100% of the time, very few folks in the Middle East would be wearing dark blues, blacks, and dark browns all the time - which they do.

Here's the trick: if you're standing in direct sunlight, dark cloth will absorb heat faster, and if you're standing in the shade, the dark cloth will radiate the heat faster (see "black body radiation experiments" in any reasonable science textbook.)

I've found that by staying in the shade and wearing a belted plaid, I'm far cooler than if I'm standing in the sun wearing a tunic and a kaffiyeh.

Breathability is important. If you're in the direct sunlight, the color might be important - for me, most of the time, not so much.

I plan to get a Nightstalker from SWK soon.

[Beertigger]

Dark colors radiating faster doesn't help much if you've been cooked already.

I'm sure the Nightstalker'll do fine at 100, it's the 115 degrees that's a concern. But there isn't much that does well it that sort of weather.

Bob C.: Yeah, I labor trying to edumacate the befuddled masses by encouraging a democratic dialogue - I try to tamp down flames on our online comments, basically. And sometimes attempt to make sure we've got content for people to comment on....

[Caradoc]

I'm sure the Nightstalker'll do fine at 100, it's the 115 degrees that's a concern. But there isn't much that does well it that sort of weather.

Drink enough water, and you'll be fine.

I spent a day in the summer of 1990 (I think - it's gotten fuzzy) selling Electrolux vacuum cleaners door-to-door in 122 degrees F in Phoenix, Arizona.

My rubber-soled leather shoes were leaving smears of molten rubber on the curbs - I kid you not.

I was in a three-piece wool suit, in very dark blue, and I drank at least a gallon and a half of water in about three hours.

When I got back to the office, my boss told me that I was the last one to come in. Everyone else had gone home around noon.

I made three sales that day, and I still can't figure out if it was because they thought I was crazy, or because they felt sorry for me, or what.

After that, I'm reasonably certain I can wear a kilt darned near anywhere, wool or polyviscose.

Anything over 110 is just "really darned hot," and there's very little you can do about it.

I'm looking forward to a couple of SWKs to complement my one 16oz/8-yard tank...

[Beertigger]

I spent a day in the summer of 1990 (I think - it's gotten fuzzy) selling Electrolux vacuum cleaners door-to-door in 122 degrees F in Phoenix, Arizona.

Think that was '90. Only got up to 117 here. That was the day that they had to close down the airports, b/c commercial aircraft weren't rated to fly at temps that high.

[Caradoc]

Think that was '90. Only got up to 117 here. That was the day that they had to close down the airports, b/c commercial aircraft weren't rated to fly at temps that high.

The aircraft were just fine. The problem was that the fuel/air mix tables only went up to 120 degrees F.

They could have flown - they chose not to, citing safety reasons.

[Kilted KT]

Referring to the wearing of dark colors in hot climates...

one of the main reasons dark colors are worn is that they create thermal updrafts beneath them. The burka, for instance, a full body robe, when worn in the sun, will heat up as the sun shines upon it. the air directly beneath the cloth will also heat up and rise, to exit at the neck opening. This will create circulation beneath the garment, thusly keeping the person wearing the garment cooler.

does this apply to a kilt or belted plaid? I do not think so, as they are "sealed" at the top by a belt, preventing the warm air from escaping. this is one of the reasons wool kilts are so warm in the winter, as they trap the warm air within them.

[Caradoc]

does this apply to a kilt or belted plaid? I do not think so, as they are "sealed" at the top by a belt, preventing the warm air from escaping. this is one of the reasons wool kilts are so warm in the winter, as they trap the warm air within them.

It's not just the air trapped in the "bell," but the air trapped in the layers and folds and pleats.

If you rearrange things a bit in a belted plaid, you can get air circulating rather nicely.

[switchblade5984]

the robe thing is kinda cool never knew that

[michael steinrok]

Referring to the wearing of dark colors in hot climates...

one of the main reasons dark colors are worn is that they create thermal updrafts beneath them. The burka, for instance, a full body robe, when worn in the sun, will heat up as the sun shines upon it. the air directly beneath the cloth will also heat up and rise, to exit at the neck opening. This will create circulation beneath the garment, thusly keeping the person wearing the garment cooler.

does this apply to a kilt or belted plaid? I do not think so, as they are "sealed" at the top by a belt, preventing the warm air from escaping. this is one of the reasons wool kilts are so warm in the winter, as they trap the warm air within them.

The things you learn.....

[BLAZN]

The burka also has insulative properties, thanks to the same air pockets that give it cooling properties.

Discovery Channel rules!!!