Cotton isn't cotton... T-shirts, jeans and the like have absolutely no purpose outdoors. They're the real target for the "cotton kills" slogan.

An outer shell layer of thightly woven cotton is wind proof and can actually be somewhat water resistant (for a while). In cold climates (dry snow) it breathes much better than goretex and the like.


When I was a kid, skiing above the three line required heavy-duty COTTON anoracks. There was no alternative, and how to impregnate the cotton to make it more water resistant was a hotly debated topic.

Of course, Goretex and other membranes really shines when things get wet... when snow turns to sleet and rain, a cotton shell won't kill you if it is a heavy-duty old school anorack we're talking about - but a modern material shell layer will work much better.