Systematic review of selecting comfortable sportswear: Predicting wearing comfort based on physiological responses and materials properties

Purpose: There is insufficient research to confirm whether wearing comfort can be accurately predicted by physiological responses during exercise when wearing sportswear with functionality. This review investigated the possibility of predicting subjective comfort based on material properties when selecting sportswear. 

Design/methodology/approach: A systematic review was performed in accordance with PRISMA. Two independent reviewers searched six electronic databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, and EMBASE, for experimental studies published between 1 January 2000 and 31 January 2022. The included studies were analyzed for their study characteristics and evaluated for their risk of bias level. 

Findings: Twenty-five studies were selected from 5906 papers resulting from the initial searches. The results of the analysis suggested that considering factors beyond moisture management function in sportswear selection, such as type of activity, environment, individual habits, and prior experience, can help wearers better predict their comfort during exercise. 

Research limitations/implications: All included studies have a small sample size; the participants’ fitness level has not been properly defined and standardized; the dependent variables measured in these studies vary, and there is a lack of standard approach to measure comfort. 

Originality: The understanding and the correlation between wearing comfort and fabric characteristics is necessary because such relationships can be very complex. This review provides information to further advance our knowledge in understanding the dynamic interactions of the factors that may affect perceived comfort in selecting sportswear. A three-step conceptual framework consisting of material properties, physiological response, and comfort sensation is suggested to determine sportswear comfort. Copyright © 2023 The Author(s).