If one bevows himself from "covering," he is permitted (to cover himself with) sackcloth, tent-cloth, and chamilah (coarse stuff) [These are materials especially rough and thick, and people are not wont to cover themselves with them.] If he said: "Konam, if wool come upon me," he is permitted to cover himself with strips of wool. [For he intended only a garment of wool.] (If he said: "Konam) if flax come upon me," he is permitted to cover himself with stalks of flax. R. Yehudah says: All according to him who vows. [i.e., according to the time of the vow. If it is clear that he vowed because of the heaviness of the load, he is permitted to cover himself (with the material he is carrying). The halachah is in accordance with R. Yehudah.] (e.g.,) If he were carrying a load and sweating, and giving off a foul odor, and he said: "Konam if wool or flax come upon me," he is permitted to cover himself (with it as a garment), but forbidden to throw it over his back (as a load).
Bartenura on Mishnah Nedarim
בשק ביריעה ובחמילה (sacklng, curtain, blanket of thick, coarse stuff)- kinds of large andvery thick clothing but people do not regularly cover themselves with it.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Nedarim
Introduction
After having discussed at length vows of abstinence from food, the mishnah now discusses vows of abstinence from garments.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Nedarim
מותר גביזי צמר – that he didn’t intend other than for a wool clothing.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Nedarim
He who vows not to wear garments is permitted sack-cloth, curtain, and blanket wrapping. Sack-cloth, curtain and blanket-wrapping are not considered “garments”. Therefore, if one vows not to wear “garments”, he may still cover himself with these rough cloths.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Nedarim
הכל לפי הנודר – according to the time of the vow. Since it is recognized that as a result of the heaviness of his load he made the vow, he is permitted to wear them as clothing. And the Halakha is according to Rabbi Yehuda.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Nedarim
If he says, “Konam, if wool comes upon me,” he may cover himself with wool shearings; [Konam] if flax comes upon me”, he may cover himself with stalks of flax. In this section we learn that if a person vows not to cover himself with a finished type of material, he may still wear the unfinished product. Thus, if he vows not to wear wool, he may still wear unprocessed wool shearings. If he vows not to wear flax (linen), he may still cover himself with unprocessed stalks of flax.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Nedarim
Rabbi Judah says: It all depends upon the person who vows, [thus:] if he was bearing a burden [with wool or flax] and perspires and had bad odor, and he said “Konam if wool or flax come upon me,” he may wear them, but not throw them [as a bundle] over his back. Rabbi Judah states a general rule applicable to the interpretation of vows; the situation in which the person vowed must be taken into account. Normally, when one vows that wool or flax should not come upon him, he means that he shall not wear them. However, if a person was carrying a heavy bundle of flax or wool, and sweating and emitting a foul odor because of his intense perspiration, and then said, “Konam, if wool or flax come upon me”, his intention was that he should not carry them. In such a situation, he may still wear them, but not throw them behind his back as a bundle.
