A Breathable Rainwear Experiment

[Ent]

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[sthughes]

What do you wash it with Brett (and no I don't mean the brand of washing machine)?
SARS - they use Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome?

[geoskid]

SARS - they use Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome?

Could be Brettspeak for Sard(wonder soap)?

[Ent]

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[sthughes]

Ahh good to here - I just got some of the Nikwax Tech Wash stuff and used it - haven't had a chance to try the coat since though.

After I posted that I thought maybe the typo version of Sard was more likely than the SARS virus.

[Nuts]

Yep, that's SARD Brett
We just use wool wash afterwards. You can buy the basic stuff from the organic s'market. I believe its just pure soap in suspension, so the additives (fragrances) arent really necessary (you can get lavender sard)..
Took the risk with some testing and it appears to have no adverse effect on any of the fabrics we use, no staining and with g'tex the fabric holds up well (put them in dryer on low heat most times). Coats have had perhaps 20 washes ea.

[slparker]

Is that right? NGX=not goretex... makes sense I suppose...

does anyone else make stretchy waterproofs? I've seen some stuff on a cycling website that was a stretchy 3 layer like the stuff I bought but I've never seen it anywhere else.

The top Ibought is very comfortable and snowproof - haven't worn it in extended rain or on a long walk yet but it's great in the snow. Ibought it to replace my Paddy pallin softshell which was neither breathable, waterproof nor light - but looks the part.
One caveat, like most kathmandu stuff (IMHO) it has limitations - doesn't fit tight around the neck ( i use a polarfleece muffler so doesn't worry me) it's hood is token and ridiculous (i never use a hood anyway I use a goretex hat and a muffler... hood only if the rain/blizzard is horizontal) but other than that it's probably the most versatile and best piece of kit I've bought in ages. The only thing that competes is my MD glacier pants.....now that's a piece of kit!

[blacksheep]

Is that right? NGX=not goretex... makes sense I suppose...

The only thing that competes is my MD glacier pants.....now that's a piece of kit!

yes.
thank you very much (but the ones I made at Macpac are better!)

[corvus]

Where are yours made ?? cam,
corvus

[blacksheep]

Where are yours made ?? cam,
corvus

our softshell pants? we use a Japanese fabric and a factory in China for the cut/sew.

[photohiker]

Interesting youtube video showing the vapour permeability of event vs goretex:

Event Vs Goretex

[Area54]

Is that right? NGX=not goretex... makes sense I suppose...

does anyone else make stretchy waterproofs? I've seen some stuff on a cycling website that was a stretchy 3 layer like the stuff I bought but I've never seen it anywhere else.

Netti make a few jackets out of 2 way stretch 2 layer Entrant. No mesh liner and feels okay, everyone seems to be moving away from mesh liners to save weight (cycling world anyways) as a big market is the adventure race crowd. I did see some really nice Vaude kit at a recent trade show, but I haven't used it. Will be using a new Entrant jacket (Netti D3) on an upcoming trip to Chicago/Arizona. It has a terrible hood attachment design. 370g, with zip off sleeves (for the ultimate gillet) back pocket and removable hood. The more basic 'Thunder' is 200g without the frills of hood and zip off sleeves.

[Ent]

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[blacksheep]

Interesting youtube video showing the vapour permeability of event vs goretex:

Event Vs Goretex

this demonstration only shows that with a massive temperature and humidity gradient that both allow water vapour to pass through the PU of Goretex. That is well known and accepted. What his demonstration so blatantly avoids is a real world scenario where these humidity and temperature gradients are much lower...to use this as evidence that Gore-tex allows moisture vapour to exit as well as event is a long bow to draw...

[photohiker]

Well, it was taken in a Goretex factory...

[sthughes]

Here's an interesting little graph I found: http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/breathability.pdf

[flatfoot]

For breathable jackets, I would love to see a comparison table that categorises jackets by performance level and includes details of features and price (RRP). Maybe a good topic for the wiki ...? Could even invite manufacturers to submit their product details each time they update their range. Key specs would be needed including weight, breathability, length. Any suggestions on specs?

It would certainly help the buying decision.

[corvus]

For breathable jackets, I would love to see a comparison table that categorises jackets by performance level and includes details of features and price (RRP). Maybe a good topic for the wiki ...? Could even invite manufacturers to submit their product details each time they update their range. Key specs would be needed including weight, breathability, length. Any suggestions on specs?

It would certainly help the buying decision.

You wish dream on
corvus