ProCool Wicking Technologies Compared: TransWICK vs Dri-QWick vs Cooling vs Foundation Wicking
The Decision You're Making
You've chosen ProCool for your project's moisture-wicking performance — now you need to select which wicking technology matches your specific requirements. ProCool Performance Technology spans four proprietary wicking systems, each engineered for different performance priorities and independently validated by AATCC laboratory testing. All four achieve the same core goal: moving moisture away from skin to keep the wearer dry and comfortable. The difference is how aggressively each technology moves that moisture, whether it controls direction, and what construction trade-offs come with each approach.
This decision is about wicking speed, directional control, construction type, and application demands — not about whether the fabric wicks, which is consistent across the entire ProCool line. The performance differences are measurable: in AATCC 197 vertical wicking testing, ProCool's fastest technology transports moisture more than 9× farther than its foundation technology over the same 30-minute test period.
If you're not yet sure ProCool is the right brand for your project, start with What is ProCool? The Complete Guide to Performance Moisture-Wicking Fabrics.
How Wicking Technology Works — And What Makes ProCool Different
Moisture-wicking fabrics all solve the same problem: moving perspiration away from skin so it can evaporate rather than pooling against the body. The textile industry uses three fundamentally different approaches to achieve this, and understanding them explains why ProCool fabrics perform the way they do.
The first approach is chemical surface treatment — applying a water-repellent or hydrophilic finish to conventional fibers. This is the simplest method and delivers real wicking performance when new, but the treatment is a coating on the fiber surface rather than a property of the fiber itself. With repeated laundering, the treatment gradually washes away — typically retaining 70–80% effectiveness through 50 washes before declining further. Chemical-treatment approaches are common in cotton-based wicking fabrics where the underlying fiber has no natural wicking architecture.
The second approach is engineered fiber cross-section — manufacturing synthetic fibers with non-round profiles (four-channel, six-channel, or other geometries) that create 20% or more additional surface area compared to conventional round fibers. The increased surface area generates capillary action that pulls moisture along the fiber channels. This is the approach used by industry-standard wicking technologies like CoolMax, and it's legitimate, proven technology — the wicking is built into the fiber geometry and doesn't wash out. However, engineered fiber cross-section alone produces bidirectional wicking: moisture moves equally in all directions through the fiber channels with no preferential direction.
The third approach — and what defines ProCool — is construction-engineered architecture. Rather than relying solely on fiber cross-section geometry or chemical surface treatments, ProCool integrates fiber selection, knit structure, and surface engineering into complete wicking systems where the fabric's physical construction creates the moisture management behavior. This is why ProCool can offer technologies ranging from one-way directional transport (TransWICK) to smooth-to-textured moisture gradients (Dri-QWick) to fiber-engineered evaporative cooling (Cooling Technology) — each using different construction engineering to achieve different moisture management outcomes, all validated by independent AATCC testing on the actual finished fabrics.
Key Distinction: Many wicking fabrics in the market rely on a single mechanism — either a chemical treatment or an engineered fiber. ProCool's four technology tiers each combine multiple mechanisms (fiber selection, knit architecture, surface asymmetry) into integrated systems. The AATCC test data measures the finished fabric's actual performance, not a theoretical fiber property.
Understanding Your Four Options
Head-to-Head Comparison
Criteria
TransWICK
Dri-QWick
Cooling
Foundation Wicking
Wicking Speed (AATCC 197, 30 min)
5.5 inches
2.7 inches
1.1 inches
0.6 inches
Initial Response (30 sec)
2.0 inches
1.0 inch
0.2 inches
0.3 inches
Relative Performance
9× Foundation
4.5× Foundation
1.8× Foundation
Baseline
Directional Control
True one-way (blocks reverse flow)
Primarily outward (smooth→textured gradient)
Bidirectional with surface delivery focus
Bidirectional wicking
Fiber Content
Polyester/nylon blends or cotton/poly blends
100% polyester
Nylon/polyester/Lycra blends
100% polyester
Stretch Performance
20–40% (varies by construction)
15–20% (varies by construction)
Up to 75% four-way with Lycra recovery
10–35% (varies by weight)
Skin Feel
Mesh texture (skin side) / smooth (exterior)
Smooth (skin side) / textured (exterior)
Smooth both sides or structured knit
Smooth flat surfaces both sides
Orientation Required
Yes — critical (mesh to skin)
Yes (smooth to skin)
No
No
Construction Selection
5 families
3 families
2 families
2 families (widest variant range)
Silver Available
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
FoodSAFE Available
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
All fabric specifications may vary ±10% due to textile industry manufacturing standards. All four technologies require proper care — never use fabric softeners or dryer sheets, which coat fiber surfaces and permanently destroy wicking performance across every ProCool technology.
Which Technology Is Right for Your Project?
If maximum directional moisture control is the priority → TransWICK. This is the right choice when moisture must never return to the skin surface once removed — period underwear, incontinence products, high-exertion athletic wear, and applications where reverse moisture migration is unacceptable. TransWICK's one-way transport mechanism provides the highest level of dry-feel maintenance in the ProCool line, validated by AATCC 195 testing showing nearly 4× more moisture absorption on the exterior than against skin.
If rapid directional transport with construction versatility is the priority → Dri-QWick. This is the right choice when you need faster-than-baseline wicking (4.5× Foundation) across jersey mesh, textured pique, or fleece constructions. Dri-QWick's smooth-to-textured architecture creates directional transport without the strict orientation sensitivity of TransWICK. Excels for athletic jerseys, performance polos, and wicking fleece for cooler conditions.
If evaporative cooling combined with stretch and compression is the priority → Cooling Technology. This is the right choice for yoga pants, cycling jerseys, sports bras, compression garments, and full-coverage athletic wear where the cooling effect during activity matters as much as moisture transport. The highest stretch specifications in the ProCool line (up to 75% four-way with Lycra recovery) make these the only option for true compression-fit garments that must also actively cool.
If broad product selection, ease of sewing, and versatility are priorities → Foundation Wicking. This is the right starting point when you need the widest range of variants (Standard, Silver, Print, Heavy, REPREVE, ReInspire, FoodSAFE), the most beginner-friendly construction, and reliable moisture management across the broadest application spectrum. Foundation Wicking serves everything from athletic wear to stay-dry liners to food storage.
Application-Specific Routing:
If you're making period underwear or incontinence products → Start with TransWICK for maximum directional control. The one-way transport prevents reverse migration that would compromise comfort.
If you're making athletic jerseys or performance polos → Start with Dri-QWick for the textured pique or mesh constructions with rapid directional wicking.
If you're making yoga pants, sports bras, or compression wear → Start with Cooling Technology for the stretch performance combined with evaporative cooling.
If you're making cloth diaper stay-dry liners → Any ProCool technology works — choose based on construction preference. TransWICK offers highest directional control. Dri-QWick offers textured options. Foundation Interlock offers the easiest sewing.
If you're making travel clothing that needs to dry fast → Foundation Interlock (Standard weight dries rapidly) or Dri-QWick Jersey Mesh for slightly faster transport.
If you're making food storage products → Choose FoodSAFE variants available across all technology tiers.
Recommended Products by Technology
Critical Care Requirement: Never wash any ProCool fabric with fabric softeners or dryer sheets. These products coat fiber surfaces and permanently destroy wicking performance across all ProCool technologies and constructions. Use a zero-residue detergent without additives, and rinse thoroughly to prevent buildup.
