Bamboo versus synthetic sports fabrics in practice

Short answer: Synthetic sports fabrics dry faster and hold their shape better, while bamboo viscose feels softer and smells more slowly. The choice depends on how hard you train.

Drying time

Polyester moves water on the surface and dries quickly. Bamboo viscose takes the moisture into the fibre and dries more slowly.

Smell

Synthetic fabrics hold on to smell, because bacteria bind to the surface. Natural fibres typically smell later. See odour-free socks.

Shape stability

For hard training, technical fabrics hold their shape better. Bamboo viscose stretches more.

Comfort

Against the skin bamboo viscose feels softer. That is why many use it for strength training and calm sessions.

What you should choose

For running and hard cardio, technical fabric is best. For everything else, comfort is often more important. See bamboo training clothes for women.

The socks

For socks, bamboo viscose wins for many people, because smell matters more than drying time. See bamboo tennis socks for men.

See also

More on the subject in bamboo versus technical sports fabric.

Frequently asked questions

Is bamboo good for training?

For calm training and strength training yes. For hard cardio, technical fabric holds its shape better.

What smells least?

Natural fibres typically smell later than synthetics.

What dries fastest?

Synthetic fabrics. They move the water on the surface rather than in the fibre.