The last thing to consider is DWR, or Durable Water Repellency, the chemical treatment that is applied to the outside of waterproof garments to make water bead up and roll off. This treatment wears off over time and although its disappearance in no way affects the performance of the membrane, without it rain will sink into the face fabric and significantly impair the breathability of the garment.
Therefore in order to maximise the breathability of your jacket you should wash it in special soft detergen t to maintain the DWR and reproof it regularly.
Now that you know what's going on, the following table lists some common membrane brands that you may come across in Australia, along with their waterproof and breathability ratings.
Hopefully this will give you an idea of what to look for next time you are replacing a jacket, pants or boots. Mont Supersonic Jacket. Hoka One One Tor Summit. OR Clairvoyant Jacket. OR Foray Jacket. Salomon Bonatti WP Jacket. Older Post Newer Post. Measuring Waterproofness. Or maybe kneeling on a wet rock. The higher the HH figure, the more resistant the fabric will be. So what are you looking for? Is higher better? Is that a problem?
Well no and yes. By reducing outright waterproofness, Polartec has increased comfort and breathability — more about that in a minute — but at the same time reduced durable waterproofing. When new, NeoShell is fine and as waterproof — except in lab tests — as anything else, but as it ages and wears, the HH figure drops off.
When Gore-Tex launched Gore-Tex Active a few years ago, they provided figures that showed the fabric was — in tests at least — more breathable in terms of MVTR than a cotton tee-shirt. How does that work? Presumably cotton traps the evaporating vapour rather than allowing it through, but does that make cotton less breathable than Gore-Tex?
Hmmm… Thinner waterproof fabrics tends to score better here too. Each have their own merit, and will perform depending on the conditions the garment is used in and for. Gore has continued to pave the way as a market leader and now produces a number of different fabrics to cater to the outdoor market. Even though Gore is the most well known of the WPB manufacturers, what continues to be seen in the outdoor market is that the absolute top brands in outdoor garments continue to use Gore products as their mainstay of WPB garments.
The smooth texture of the knit backing is soft to the touch, and makes the garment easier to slide on and off over other layers. Designed for sustained use in severe environments and for those that abuse their jackets. It is made up of multiple layers of ePTFE bonded to the face fabric — usually a high abrasion resistant denier fabric and a gridded backing textile.
Jackets made from this fabric are ultimately very durable and reliable in the most severe conditions. The 2 layer fabric has a separate mesh style liner which drapes nice against the body and breathes well. The 3 layer is similar to the older well known XCR fabric that was around for a few years. This version is the tried and tested laminate. It is used in everyday outdoor garments and is usually found in the more affordable range of Gore shellwear.
The most used laminate in the Gore range, it still offers the same combination of waterproof and breathable attributes but at a more reasonable price than Pro. Whilst the Marmot Bleeker Component uses a lighter 2-layer fabric. This fabric is a 2. By doing this eVent remains air permeable. Rather than moving moisture out of the garment by means of diffusion, eVent fabric vents moisture directly to the outside of the fabric.
If the user can look past this, eVent fabric has for many years been used in some of the best made garments from the very best brands such as RAB. An example of this is DVstorm.
This 3-layer membrane is designed to be lightweight, maintain a solid waterproof rating, but offer exceptional levels of breathability. Of course a lightweight garment using DVstorm will likely be less durable compared to a traditional tougher eVent alternative. Made in 2, 2. The 2 layer version uses a hanging liner to protect the PU film, whereas the 2. The 2 and 2. This 2. Patagonia H2No: The 3-layer H2No Performance Standard shell fabrics are completely waterproof, windproof, breathable and highly packable.
Additionally, a distinctive raised print layer is applied for decreased surface tension when layering and increased moisture management. Garments using this fabric are usually aimed towards the value conscious customer who wants a light, breathable waterproof jacket at a reasonable price. Their Precip jacket is a fantastic example of a mid-priced, well-functioning WPB jacket for everyday use.
In the past they have used other companies fabrics, but their greatest success has been won using their in-house membrane based 3L Hydronaute fabrics. A big part of what makes Mont outerwear so ideal for rough conditions is the face fabrics that demonstrate excellent abrasion resistance, tear strength and pinhole resistance. Developed by Rab, Proflex is a new 3-layer membrane fabric that is essentially a hard-soft-shell. Constructed using a new propitiatory membrane sandwiched between a face fabric and lining that are knitted, not woven as is the norm.
Durability, and the ability to resist wetting-out are the two obvious trade-offs. In this day and age, realistically — there are no really bad and good fabrics. If you are purchasing from one of the top tier outdoor shops, no matter what you buy, you are going to get a garment that will keep you dry.
However, as this article shows, there is a huge difference in durability, breathability and long term waterproofness. A poorly designed and ill-fitting jacket will never perform or be comfortable, no matter its fabric qualities.
0コメント