Short answer
| Vinyl | Woven (polyester) | |
|---|---|---|
| Water and sweat | Copes with water and sweat | The material absorbs little water. Not tested by us in rain |
| Screen print in one colour | The colour sits in the fibre and does not flake off in normal use | |
| Against the skin | Smooth plastic | Soft fabric |
| Clasp | Snap button, single-use | Plastic clasp with barbs, single-use |
| Suits | Crew, stewards, clubs, one-day events | Multi-day festivals, VIP, cups, corporate events |
Vinyl in the rain
The vinyl wristband is made of soft PVC. It copes with water and sweat. That is why vinyl suits staff who work outdoors for the whole event, and one-day events where the weather is uncertain.
Woven in the rain
Polyester is a hydrophobic material: the fibre absorbs little water compared with cotton. The print is sublimated, which means the colour has gone into the fibre instead of sitting on top. That is why it does not crack or flake off in normal use.
We have not tested the woven band in rain and showers ourselves, so we promise nothing about how it feels after several wet days. If that is critical for your event, choose vinyl.
Heat and sun
- Chafing: people sweat more in the heat, and a band that is too tight chafes. Fit it so it cannot be pulled over the hand, but no tighter.
- Several days: the woven band is softer against the skin and less noticeable when it has to stay on for a long time.
- Sun and colour: we have no data of our own on how band colours and print cope with many days in strong sun, so we promise nothing about it.
Mud, sand and water
The single-use clasps are built not to open. The snap button on the vinyl band locks once, and the plastic clasp on the woven band has barbs that only let the band move one way. Both come off with scissors.
Mud and sand do not make a band invalid, but they can make the print harder to read. So let the colour carry the message and the text confirm it. See the guide to colour codes.
How to choose
- One-day outdoor event, uncertain weather: vinyl.
- Multi-day festival with camping: woven for the tickets, vinyl for crew and stewards.
- Staff working in the rain: vinyl.
- VIP and sponsors: woven, for the full-colour print.
You can mix both in the same order. Also read Vinyl, woven or Tyvek?
Questions and answers
Does the vinyl band cope with rain and showers?+
Yes. The vinyl band is made of soft PVC, which copes with water and sweat.
Does the woven band cope with rain?+
Polyester absorbs little water and the print sits in the fibre, but we have no tests of our own of the woven band in the rain. If you need a band that is guaranteed to cope with water, choose vinyl.
Which band is the most comfortable in the heat?+
The woven band is soft against the skin and least noticeable when it has to stay on for several days. Whichever material you use, do not fit it tighter than needed to stop it going over the hand.
Sources