Outdoor Research Synapse Wind Jacket — Silnylon? PU coated?

[P S]

I just received the Outdoor Research Synapse jacket. I thought I had found the perfect wind jacket: it's very light, it has a hood and hem cord. When I put it on, it felt smooth…a little too smooth.

I dumped some water on the inside of the jacket; it didn't go anywhere and the outside was dry. I rubbed the water into the inside, thinking the DWR must be very good; the outside was still dry.

Is this jacket made of Silnylon? Or a light PU coat on the inside?

[P S]

I'm right: the jacket has a slim coating of PU on it.

I called Outdoor Research, and got a call back saying that their DWR is a thin layer of PU. Washing the jacket a few times would improve breathability (basically, wear away the PU).

Most DWRs aren't applied as heavily in my experience to form a continuous coating. Usually, they're thin enough that the coating is discontinuous and more breathable.

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