Technical Description of Capilene ?

Basically, it is polyester with a hydrophilic surface finish. Then Patagonia adds Gladiodor, an antimicrobial finish to inhibit bacterial growth and offensive odors. It is an environmentally friendly additive that is naturally derived from amino acid chains… nonpolluting and safe for humans.Is it really a lot different than everyone else making polyester clothes?I don't all the other brands and their process.

Your question is unspecific. There are 4 types of capilene, each one which has several iterations over the years. It's baselayer fabric. For the most part it's all pretty much the same thing with just different weights. Is there a specific question that you are looking to have answered?

It's hard to quantify but just buy a shirt on sale, or find the fabric online, and test it. It's for the most part just rebranded Malden Mills fabrics, sometimes with a few proprietary tweaks.

"Is there a specific question that you are looking to have answered?"

I'm of the opinion that Capilene no different than all the other "named" polyester fabrics. Patagonia then adds "named" features for odor control, and other stuff. And the names are registered to give Patagonia a marketing edge, but that's it. Nothing significantly unique.

I understand that you can weave it denser, and thicker, and gridded, etc, but when the term "Capilene" gets applied to all those fabrics it implies that there is a fundamental difference in the structure of the fiber that makes up the garment.

Is "Capilene" somehow different than the polyester that makes up, for instance, "PowerDry"?

I believe Dustin's answer is "No".

Cap 2, 3, and 4 are all listed as being different weights of Polartec Power Dry on Patagonia's website. So it won't be any different than other garments made of the same fabric. Even the odor-control they use, Polygiene, isn't proprietary to Patagonia.
I've got this shirt from REI is very similar to my Capilene 2:
http://www.rei.com/product/842729/rei-lightweight-polartec-power-dry-long-sleeve-crew-mens

Adam

Adam,
Thank you.

"Cap 2, 3, and 4 are all listed as being different weights of Polartec Power Dry on Patagonia's website."

That is all I was looking for.

Gladiodor was the old antimicrobial treatment they used. They have since switched to Polygiene (silver salt) treatment which is supposed to be more effective and more or less permanent whereas gladiodor was more temporary.

But as far as the basic material, most of it is just recycled polyester with a dose of spandex for stretch. Nothing too special about the material itself as far as i can tell, being a bit of a fabric freak as i am. The structure of Cap 4 grid fleece is pretty ingenious and effective in some simple respects. I guess some of the "specialness" is more in how well they sew and pattern the garments and the polygiene treatment they use.

The material being made by Polartech, it's supposed to be more durable and hard wearing than some others.

Link –
"Basically, it is polyester with a hydrophilic surface finish."

I understood this was the original premise.
Is it still the case?

Is a hydrophillic finish used on all/most PowerDry fabrics?

And if so, just how durable is it?

I don't think the above is fully accurate. They now more rely on the physical structure of the material to create a hydrophillic effect. They do this primarily through bi-component fabric and capillary action via denier gradient (smaller fibers on the inside to larger fibers to the outside).

In those cases, no need for a chemical treatment.

I accidentally bumped the other 'more-moral-than-you' Capilene thread, so bumping this technical one, which is interesting, and what I'd like to read more of. Please carry on. I have the same questions as the OP.

So the sliver treatment really is permanent, more or less?

theres no functional difference between those made of powerdry fabrics and one made of the exact same fabric by any other company

i own both the old cap4 and the T2 … the fabric is made by malden mills

the only difference is on the garment fit, "features", price and marketing … and warranty

;)

"They now more rely on the physical structure of the material to create a hydrophillic effect. They do this primarily through bi-component fabric and CAPILLARY ACTION via denier gradient (smaller fibers on the inside to larger fibers to the outside). "

Thus the trade name "Capilene"?

"So the sliver treatment really is permanent, more or less?"

So the company that created Polygiene claims. I don't know one way or the other myself and have the same question of, just how permanent. I only have two items with the Polygiene treatments, but they are relatively new.

I suppose one of us could figure this out by sacrificing one of our polygiene treated garments, and wash the He!! of it to see how well it lasts. But how many washes equal lifetime of the garment?

Quite possibly Stephen, does seem to make sense.

This is not exactly technical, but might be useful info. I have used a couple generations of Capilene – including the very first, which I still have in the form of a shirt that is half capilene and half polypro, given to me by the Patagonia rep around 1983-ish when the stuff first came out. I've also used various other polyester base layers, from REI, Wickers, etc. Cannot tell any significant difference in performance between most of them, with the exception of my current favorite, some Terramar stuff that unfortunately they don't make anymore. That wicks noticeably better. none of the polyesters I have used – including both generations of Capilene – lost any of their properties (other than shrinkage with some) over long periods of use and laundering. All durable as hell. Some slightly stinkier than others but not enough to matter to me.

How/when do most of you use Polartec Powerdry (of the Cap 2/4 or MEC T2 variety)? As a base layer next to skin or as a midlayer? How do you layer with it?

I have what I would categorize as three different weights of PowerDry pants and tops. The first is a thin, smooth surface lightweight fabric. The second is an open-weave, thin lightweight fabric. The third is a heavier open-weave midweight 1/4 zip with a bit of grid texture on the inside.

All three get worn as baselayers, next to the skin. The smooth finish stuff is basically like a long-sleeve tech t-shirt and often gets worn as the only layer.

The open weave stuff isn't that great as a single layer, but is terrific as a base layer under other stuff in cold weather. It's surprisingly warm and seems to wick sweat pretty well. Basically, it's just really good synthetic thermal underwear.

"How/when do most of you use Polartec Powerdry (of the Cap 2/4 or MEC T2 variety)? As a base layer next to skin or as a midlayer? How do you layer with it?"

I usually wear the heavier stuff as a mid-layer. With the Cap4/R1 versions, it really comes down to the cut, IMHO. For example, an R1 Flash pullover has a slim cut and is designed as a heavy base layer, where an R1 jacket has a much fuller cut and should be considered a mid layer. I haven't had a chance to compare the Cap 4 versions.

Any of the versions would be comfortable against the skin and could be worn as a base layer if your usual base was wet or being laundered.

If they fit you could layer them up anyway that you like, BUT, as much as I like fleece, there is a loosing return for too many fleece layers as a deliberate layering system for a hike with a wide range of conditions. If you are expecting colder weather, a puffy takes over. Then the question is, do I take base/mid and puffy? One combo I've come up with is to boost the thickness of my base layer so I'm comfortable hiking with a load, adding a wind/rain shell as needed and also adding a fleece vest to cover some of the colder weather while under way. That would look like a Cap3 long sleeve 1/4 zip top supplemented an R1 vest and wind/rain shell and the puffy for rest/camp.

How/when do most of you use Polartec Powerdry (of the Cap 2/4 or MEC T2 variety)? As a base layer next to skin or as a midlayer? How do you layer with it?

for the T2/Cap4 … its either a cold weather base layer …or a warmer weather/moderate output mid layer

it shines when its next to the skin or with a VERY thin base shirt/brief thats skin tight

while the current powerdry doesnt exactly stink like in ages past … its not merino … however the new supposedly permanent polygiene is gaining traction for odor control

the MEC T3s all have this as does the cap1 … i suspect that the new MEC versions of the T1/2 may well have polygiene as well …

if polygiene really does work and last … and the folks at prolite are quite enthusiastic about it … maybe sheep will be saved from being sheared !!!

;)