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Why do outdoor folks say 'cotton kills' about cold or wet trips?

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  1. Cotton attracts bears
  2. Cotton is too heavy to pack
  3. Wet cotton stops insulating and dries slowly

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References

  1. National Park Service: The Narrows Safety www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/narrowssafety.htm Checked 2026-10-09.
  2. NOLS: When You Should Wear Cotton in the Outdoors www.nols.edu/blog/when-you-should-wear-cotton-in-the-outdoors Checked 2026-10-09.

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