NW Alpine Eyebright Dyneema jacket

I wonder how it would compare to the zpacks cuben rain jacket w.r.t. durability and breathability.

I like there R1 clone and softshell pants maybe might have to try those for ice season

Several manufacturers are claiming the WP/B cuben stuff to be a Dyneema and eVent sandwhich. I presume this is also what Zpacks is using. With that said, I don't understand how they're making dyneema breathable.

On another related note, NW Alpine makes great stuff, offer solid prices, are 100% sourced in America, and are a great group of folks by all accounts. I proudly sport some of their gear.

"Several manufacturers are claiming the WP/B cuben stuff to be a Dyneema and eVent sandwhich."

The pictures of the NWAlpine jacket didn't look like cuben. Looked like actual dyneema fabric.

edit: I stand corrected. Looks like the eyebright is made from non-woven dyneema, which is cuben fiber, right?

As far as I know, Cuben is Dyneema fibers laminated with various synthetic films. It's those films that create the waterproofness of the material, not the Dyneema. So, if you change the properties of the film, you change the waterproofness of the material.

How they're doing that is beyond my understanding of the process, but it's entirely possible that they've found a face film that has the same breathability level as eVent or something similar.

I checked this jacket out, because I'd like to support NW cottage manufacturers. The price made me put this in the "no way!" category. I'm not sure if it's the same material (although I think it is), the Zpacks rain shell is half the price at slightly less stated weight. Joe makes no commentary about abrasion resistance, though, so I'd like to know how it holds up to pack straps.