Absorbent Clothing – How Much Moisture Can Bamboo Hold?

Short answer: Absorbent bamboo clothing can take up large amounts of moisture relative to its weight, more than cotton. What makes bamboo viscose special is that it both absorbs the moisture and passes it on, so the fabric does not feel wet against your skin.

What does absorbent actually mean?

An absorbent fabric takes moisture into the fibres themselves. That is good when sweat needs to get away from your skin, but only if the fabric can also get rid of the moisture again. Otherwise you end up with a wet, heavy top, the way you know it from cotton.

Bamboo does both

The fibres in bamboo viscose draw the moisture in and release it quickly to the air. That is why a bamboo T-shirt feels dry long after a cotton top would be clammy. Read more about the mechanism in the post about bamboo and temperature regulation.

From the wardrobe to the bathroom

That absorbency also makes bamboo an obvious choice outside your wardrobe: bamboo towels dry effectively and feel soft, and bamboo bedding handles night sweats better than ordinary cotton. See more in the post about bamboo towels and bedding.

Frequently asked questions

How much moisture can bamboo viscose take up?

Bamboo viscose can take up considerable amounts of moisture relative to its own weight and is considered more absorbent than cotton.

What is the difference between absorbent and moisture wicking?

An absorbent fabric takes the moisture into the fibres, while a moisture wicking fabric moves it on to the surface. Bamboo viscose does both.

Are bamboo towels any good?

Yes, the absorbency of bamboo fibres makes towels in a bamboo blend both effective and soft against your skin.