What are infrared textiles?

An infrared textile is a fabric that has been specially designed to trap your body’s natural heat and send it back to you to keep you extra warm, or even help your muscles feel better after you play sports. They can be used in winter jackets, gloves, pyjamas, bedding, or the shirts and leggings that athletes wear, to name a few examples.

How do they work?

Infrared textiles are typically coated in millions of tiny, microscopic minerals (like special rocks or ceramics) that act like tiny mirrors. These mirrors reflect back the heat/infrared radiation that our bodies are constantly releasing, to help keep us warm. Herschel accidentally discovered infrared radiation in an experiment you can read more about.

How is it different from my blanket or winter coat?

Your winter coat keeps you warm by acting as a physical barrier to trap the heat, so the heat just hangs around the top surface of the skin. However, an infrared textile acts like a slingshot, so the heat can’t just hang around on top of your skin. Instead, through reflection it is catapulted deeper in to reach your blood vessels. These blood vessels then expand from the heat, which helps to deliver more oxygen and nutrients to your muscles. Infrared textiles also tend to be thinner thanks to its special design.

Are there any disadvantages?

1. Over time, heavy washing and drying can slowly wear down the microscopic minerals embedded in the threads, making the clothes less effective at bouncing back heat.
2. Unlike an electric heating pad that gets hot instantly, infrared textiles rely entirely on your own body generating heat first, so they can take a while to start working.
3. A small number of people might experience mild itching or redness from the specific minerals used in infrared textiles.