Claim
Breathable and quick dry
Used by four of the 55 listings in this catalog
What it promises
Together these words promise that water vapor leaves the fabric, that liquid moves through it, and that it stops being wet quickly. They are usually printed as a group, and they are usually printed as adjectives rather than as results.
Who measures it, and under what
Not defined anywhere this site could find
There are published laboratory methods for parts of this. AATCC lists a liquid moisture management test method among its standard test methods and procedures, which measures how a fabric moves liquid across and through itself. What does not exist, as far as this site could establish from published documents, is a rule that fixes what a seller must be able to show before printing the words breathable, quick dry, moisture wicking or cooling on a garment listing. The Federal Trade Commission requires that an objective product claim have support behind it before it is made, which is a rule about evidence rather than a definition of the word. None of the listings in this catalog that use these words states a method, a figure or a threshold.
What it does not promise
- They do not promise a rate. No listing here states how quickly anything dries or in what conditions.
- They do not promise a standard. No listing here names a test method for any of these four words.
- They do not promise consistency between sellers, because each seller sets its own bar.
- They do not promise warmth or water resistance, which are separate properties measured separately.
The four words, and where they appear
Breathable appears on one listing. Quick dry, in one spelling or the other, appears on two. Moisture wicking appears on one. Cooling appears on one, printed as the seller’s own description. Four listings in this catalog carry at least one of these words, and none carries all of them.
Why they cluster on the same garments
Every one of the four listings using these words is either a rain layer or a hooded shirt sold for outdoor use, which is the part of a catalog where performance wording is expected. That is a fact about how listings are written, not about how the fabrics behave.
Who says it
| Listing | Category | What that listing states |
|---|---|---|
| ZITY Men's Lightweight Pullover Hoodie, UPF 50+ | Men's Hoodies | UPF 50+, moisture wicking, quick dry and use for fishing and outdoor activity |
| BASSDASH Men's UPF 50 Performance Fishing Shirt, Cooling Hoodie FS17M | Men's Hoodies | UPF 50, a cooling description from the seller, camo and long sleeves |
| FROGG TOGGS Ultra-Lite2 Waterproof Rain Poncho | Raincoats | waterproof, breathable, reusable, packable and describes it for men, women and kids — an adult catalog entry, and the mention of kids is not extended here |
| SaphiRose Adult Rain Poncho, Hooded with Zipper | Raincoats | OEKO-TEX certified 100% polyester, heat-sealed seams, a packable pouch and quick-dry fabric |
four listings, drawn from Men's Hoodies, Raincoats.
One of the listings quoted above states an OEKO-TEX certification. That is a private certification program run by an association of testing institutes, with its own published criteria. It is not a government standard and it is not a fiber content disclosure. OEKO-TEX — STANDARD 100
Sources
- AATCC — Standard Test Methods and ProceduresThe published list of AATCC test methods, including the ultraviolet transmission method and the hydrostatic pressure method by name.
- Federal Trade Commission — Policy Statement Regarding Advertising SubstantiationThe FTC statement that an objective product claim has to have support behind it.
- Federal Trade Commission — Advertising FAQ’s: A Guide for Small BusinessPlain-language FTC guidance on what an advertising claim has to be able to back up.