Cotton vs Nylon vs Perlon Stockinette — Which Should You Choose?

Complete Material Comparison Table

Cotton Stockinette — When to Choose It

Cotton tubular stockinette is a commonly specified stockinette in medical settings. It is often chosen when:

• Orthopedic casting — under plaster or fiberglass casts, cotton is the clinical standard
• Wound care — breathable and skin-gentle for patients with fragile skin
• Lymphedema (first layer) — standard choice for most compression therapy protocols
• Garment & apparel — cost-effective for industrial applications up to 40 cm

→ Cotton stockinette full specifications →

Nylon Stockinette — When to Choose It

Nylon is the preferred material when durability and repeated washing are required:

• Prosthetics & orthotics — daily-wear socket liners that are washed frequently
• Cotton allergy patients — synthetic alternative for skin-sensitive patients
• Long-term wear applications — where cotton would degrade

→ Nylon stockinette full specifications →

Perlon Stockinette — When to Choose It

Perlon (a form of polyamide-6) offers stretch-retention — the key property for compression applications:

• Lymphedema multi-layer bandaging — maintains consistent interface pressure
• Compression therapy systems — where elastic recovery is critical between applications
• German and European markets — perlon is the traditional specification in German lymphology protocols (Schlauchbandage)

→ Perlon stockinette full specifications →

Fiberglass-Compatible — When to Choose It

Specifically engineered for fiberglass cast applications where the rougher texture of fiberglass tape requires a smoother underliner:

• Under fiberglass casting tape to prevent skin irritation
• Pediatric orthopedic casting where skin protection is especially important
• Not for compression or P&O — designed specifically for casting applications

→ Fiberglass-compatible stockinette specifications →

Quick Reference: Which Material by Application