Why Wicking Fabrics are chosen for Fire Poi's?

Answer 1

Fire poi need some kind of fuel to operate. Originally, fire poi were called water poi, and this fuel reservoir was held, in liquid form, in an open cup. The major drawback to this design is that the slightest mistake in form meant slinging fuel all about the place.

Modern fire poi replace the open cup of fuel with with some kind of wicking fabric. This prevents unintentional sloshing of fuel and makes the tool more forgiving. Sometimes this wick is a dense weave cotton, but hose wicks burn out in a couple of uses.

More frequently, a material that's nearly as absorbent but more resistant to flame is used to increase the lifespan of the tool. A very popular option is to use kevlar yarn woven into straps (or 'tape', as the industry terms it). Here's a common design:

http://www.bearclawmfg.com/catalog/medium-kevlar-fire-p-31.html