Why doesnt someone come out with a highly-relfective T-shirt for outside Workmen ??

I moved to Florida and practically live in White T-shirts and shorts ; the White T-shirts are far cooler than colored T-shirts ... but why hasnt someone come up with reflective T-shirts ?? Im sure Roofers, A/C repairmen, Landscapers, Boaters, and youre average person ... would buy them up like crazy. I sure would. Have you run across any such thing ? Thanks.

Reply to
ilbebauck
Loading thread data ...

Any runner's or biking store will have an assortment of reflective clothing, but I don't understand where you're coming from. Why would a roofer need reflective clothing? He's not going to get hit by a plane, right? Ditto with the AC repairman.

Instead of wearing reflective clothing all of the time (some people don't want to light up like a Christmas tree), get one of the reflective runner's sashes. Takes up no space, doesn't have to be washed every day and they're cheap.

R
Reply to
RicodJour

You won't find much that will reflect as well and still pass air, as white cotton. That has been traditional boating wear in sunny warm areas for centuries. Anything silvery would get very hot, and anything applied to the fabric would make it become like a sauna. A Cuban or Mexican style white open-neck cut fabric shirt is actually cooler than a white T, because it lets more air through, and doesn't hold sweat against the skin. Too bad white is impossible to keep clean. I go with light tan myself, so as to be able to go out in public at all. Coffee-stain tan also hides lawnmower dust and dried-in sweat stains pretty well. :^/

-- aem sends...

Reply to
aemeijers

He was talking reflective like a white roof versus a dark roof, to stay cooler in bright sun. My black Tees stay in the drawer all summer- noticably hotter to wear than light tan or light gray. I haven't got the guts to go out in public in a white Tee, and it wouldn't be white after the first day anyway.

-- aem sends...

Reply to
aemeijers

Thanks for the translation. ;)

R
Reply to
RicodJour

The reason a Roofer would want a reflective t shirt is to reflect as much sun off of him as possible thereby making him cooler ; not to make him noticed .

Reply to
ilbebauck

I wasn't sure. There've been a few roofers over the years that I wouldn't mind shooting!

As far as the shirts, the stuff about runner's and bikers still applies. Coolmax fabric does a great job of wicking away sweat so you feel drier than in a cotton shirt.

R
Reply to
RicodJour

My recent answer to this problem has been a fan and an extension cord...

Reply to
Larry The Snake Guy

then again, here's a new product which may be on topic

formatting link
no connection to the makers. there's other similar products which do the same thing. living in phoenix we need all the help we can get to avoid skin cancer. it doesn't help with the heat, but it's 115F today and nothing does.

regards, charlie

Reply to
charlie

These things are quite effective for deakling with a hot environment. Yes, they really do work.

formatting link

Reply to
salty

they're also ridiculously expensive, unless you catch a sale. T- shirts, well, I'm still appalled at the prices, but a good cotton T- shirt still sells for about $5 or so as opposed to 5-10x that.

nate

Reply to
N8N

The most reflective metallic and metallic-colored objects absorb more light than the whitest white ones. Metallic objects have another disadvantage - they tend to be poor radiators of thermal infrared.

I would go with white as the best choice for thermal considerations. However, I have found that when I wear white trousers, my bike chain likes to jam or come off when I am in a hurry and somewhere I can't wash my hands of the grease. If that does not happen, something else messy often does.

- Don Klipstein ( snipped-for-privacy@misty.com)

Reply to
Don Klipstein

Or buy them on eBay. You can pick up a Coolmax golf shirt for $15 including shipping. But I'm with you on not spending a lot on work shirts as they get ratty pretty quickly.

R
Reply to
RicodJour

Coolmax does cost more but shouldn't. It's just polyester, probably with a special finish. I suspect the garment makers rather than the fiber maker is cashing in. When they first started marketing it, I could buy Coolmax socks at Kmart for the same price as cotton socks. They were great for wicking moisture and not bunching up and feeling clammy like cotton.

Reply to
Frank

Stop by a running store. Runners need that kind of garment and the running stores have them Coolmax is the big name. It tends to wick away the moisture and evaporate it far better than cotton.

Reply to
sligoNoSPAMjoe

Upon reflection that's absolutely brilliant suggestion! And really throws some light upon the idea of increased safety while working. However there are civilian style reflective jackets/halters etc. sometimes worn by joggers and pedestrian crossing guards and of course the more official ones worn by police and rescue workers.

Reply to
stan

Why?

Because T-shirts are washed often and such washing would probably ruin the reflective stuff over time. There are already light weight reflective vests.

Reply to
LouB

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.