Mid Sweden University

Sensor nodes containing pairs of temperature and humidity sensors were assessed as a mean of garmentperformance and comfort studies. Modern sensors are small, low weight and produce minimal disturbancewhen placed under the garments and in the footwear. Four sensor nodes were used to provide dynamicinformation about heat and humidity transfer properties of garments during the tests in realistic conditions.Pilot studies were carried out for the few models of cross country skiing garments and waders. Main studieswere carried out in the wind tunnel at Mid Sweden University having pivoted treadmill, temperature controland rain capacity. Additional experiments with the waders were carried out in a large water tank. Studies ofthe temperature and humidity dynamics under the garments containing microporous membranes illustratethe importance of recognizing main features of such materials. In particular, such membranes can onlytransport moisture from the side where humidity is higher. It means that garments and footwear containingsuch membranes will potentially behave differently when ambient air humidity changes. In particular,modern garments with incorporated microporous membranes being superior at low ambient air humidity canbe dramatically less effective for moisture transfer from the body in the rain.