You all were really helpful on my last thread/project concept, so i figure i would seek some more collective wisdom on another project that i'm about to start.
I have some Ponchos from Sierra Designs, they are made of polyester and I'm assuming urethane coated, so they are completely waterproof.
So i'm looking to increase breathability by adding in some WPB or highly WR fabric in on the front, especially around the core. Originally i was thinking of doing eVent, but i'm fairly broke right now and eVent is expensive and furthermore i can't seem to find any lighter stuff. Owfinc's eVent ranges from 3.84-4.71oz per sq/yd, which is on the heavier side.
Currently, i already have a couple of fabrics that *might* work "ok". I have some coyote brown Epic fabric (sourced from Rockywoods) that weighs 3.5 oz per sq/yd (still on the heavier side than i would like). I don't know what the HH is on this stuff. I've heard with Epic it can vary a bit. Since i will be likely wearing a Houdini under the poncho i'm not worried about getting wet.
Epic appeals because it's pretty durable, doesn't need a DWR to be refreshed, can be cleaned in the field (and i'm looking for long term application here), and is fairly breathable.
The other fabric i have is Maxima ESD fabric, which is 99% polyester/1% carbon tightly woven and then calendered under intense pressure–this weighs 2.7 oz per sq/yd. It has an initial HH of 850 surprisingly, and i think it doesn't have any kind of coating or DWR. It's water resistance is also fairly durable. After 25 washes, it's stays relatively the same, and after 50 washes it dips down to 755, after 75 it dips down to 750, and after 100x washed it dips down to a range of in between 500-700. Original cfm is 1.21.
I don't know what the CFM of the Epic material that i have is. From breath test, it appears less breathable.
I'm leaning to the Maxima ESD fabric so far. I'm wondering if spraying it with a very light coat of silicone would do any good? Or, is it possible to do a sort of DIY self epic like process? Stretch the material out, apply a light coating of not so well diluted silicone caulk or adhesive, take an edged blade an scrape it down the fabric?
I'm going to cut down the weight some since i'm adding heavier fabric, i will be cutting off some of the back of the poncho and sewing on some silnylon (which i also already have).
Since i have two ponchos (one for my wife and the other for me) i may try the epic with one and the maxima esd fabric with the other.
