Water Resistant Fabrics

Dane, if I had to “rank” some common fabrics in order of most breathable to least breathable, based solely on field perceptions, it would be this:

– mosquito netting (!)
– 2 layer supplex nylon (eg the lightweight railriders stuff)
– pertex quantum/microlight
– epic malibu/alpine
– 0.85 oz nylon
– event
– goretex xcr/paclite
– 2L PU (eg, precip (marmot))
– silnylon (nonbreathable)

we are running tests in our bozeman lab now on breathability of non waterproof fabrics. it’s really interesting! this will be published in the spring.

the biggest thing that i notice in the field that conflicts with the preliminary lab tests is that epic “feels” more breathable than event, but event tests more breathable in the lab. in addition, epic seems to be fairly breathable when worn as a jacket but event smokes it when used as a bivy fabric – event bivies stay drier in temps below freezing.

I would modify Ryan’s list a bit. My experience in the field is:

– mosquito netting (!)
– 2 layer supplex nylon (eg the lightweight railriders stuff)
– Cloudveil Inertia
– Schoelller Dryskin
– eVENT
– Propore (Rainshield 02)
– pertex microlight
– epic malibu/alpine
– PowerShield Light
– goretex xcr/paclite
– 2L PU (eg, precip (marmot))
– silnylon (nonbreathable)

I would note that if it is above 50F and really windy that Propore, microlight, and epic feel more breathable than eVENT. I believe this is because eVENT provides more protection from the wind. It’s not really less breathable, but it keeps me warmer, so I sweat more. So really it is more breathable, but under certain conditions it has move moisture to move which makes it seem less breathable.

Ryan and Mark thanks for your lists, it is a great reference tool to use but I am wondering if you two forgot about one membrane. In the BPL test Entrant G2-XT scored very high, just below eVENT I think. I think this needs to be added to the list because this spring there will be two new lightweight jackets on the market using it (Patagonia & Mont-bell) I believe.

It is also very interesting to see that both of you think Epic feels like it breathes better than eVENT in moderate conditions. Perhaps you are right Mark because eVENT does provides more protection from the wind so one would feel warmer while wearing it and sweat more. Also with wind entering the Epic jacket it would also help push the vapor out making it breath better. Kind of like a softshell made from a 98% windproof fabric vs one made from 100% windproof. The small amount of air that gets in helps to drive the moister out. So judging from this an eVENT jacket would be best for the colder months and an Epic better for 3-season use. Any comments?

I am looking forward to those tests of the breathability of non waterproof fabrics Ryan, keep up the great work BPL.

> I am wondering if you two forgot about one membrane… Entrant G2-XT

Entrant isn’t a membrane… but it is very promising. I didn’t list it because I don’t have a personal experience using a shell made from Toray’s latest version of Entrant.

You are right that in 2005 there will be two very interesting Entrant jackets, the revised Patagonia Spectra, and the Montbell Peak. I was really impressed by the Peak Jacket I saw earlier this year… but have no experience wearing it in the field.

> So judging from this an eVENT jacket would be
> best for the colder months and an Epic better
> for 3-season use. Any comments?

Lets keep in mind that eVENT is actually waterproof (as good as Gore-Tex in my personal experience), but my EPIC shell (Patagonia Essenshell) will wet out in a storm in less than 30 minutes.

I know this is pretty subjective, but this kind of “ranking” is actually pretty helpful – and surprisingly difficult find. I appreciate both of you putting up your perceptions. A couple of follow-ups:

1) I’m assuming the .85 nylon is what is commonly referred to as ‘uncoated’ nylon – is that correct or are you referring to a DWR coated version?

2) Where would you place Gore’s Windstopper in the list?

Thanks for the input!

-Curt

Can anyone with experience with both Quantum and Endurance (old one or Quantum version, doesn't matter) fabrics try to compare them?
All reviews of Endurance bags focus on their usage as combined bivy sac & sleeping bag, when sleeping with limited or no shelter from the elements. However, I'm interested in it's application on prolonged trips with nights spent in a tent.

Is endurance considerably better in resisting very humid air, not only water in liquid form? If so, in what conditions and temperature ranges? I can easily imagine, it offering virtually no improvement over ordinary quantum, when sleeping in a ventilated tent. After all, membranes may actually suck water inside in humid environments, and don't perform too well in freezing conditions.

Furthermore, being a much bigger vapor barrier then very breathable Quantum, it may cause water to condense on the inside of the shell, and even freeze.

So, does it bring better overall performance in a universal package at the cost of increased weight, or is it limited to specific applications, like sleeping under the stars?