Waterproof And Breathable Jacket

author: Florine.Zhang

2024-12-20

It sounds logical that where nothing goes in, nothing goes out. Easy, right? Well, not quite. After all, as already mentioned, good hardshell jackets are both weatherproof and breathable. How well this works, depends on a number of factors. Put simply, jackets with a PU coating are less breathable than jackets with a membrane.

However, there are also significant differences in terms of mechanism and efficiency when it comes to membranes. Gore-Tex membranes, for example, are membranes with a microporous structure. This structure is dense enough to prevent water droplets from penetrating inside, but large enough to allow the much smaller water vapour to escape from the jacket. Sympatex membranes, on the other hand, use a physicochemical principle that uses, among other things, the difference in pressure and temperature between the environment and the inside of the jacket.

Whichever technology is used, however, a membrane or hardshell jacket is nothing without a good dry treatment. This should therefore be renewed or refreshed from time to time. There are also different technologies for dry treatment, but ultimately they all have exactly the same effect, which is to keep water and dirt reliably away from the membrane.

This is important because otherwise the structure of the membrane could become saturated and clogged. As well as heavy rain, mud or simply sun cream and your own body fat can also block the membrane. This would then severely compromise the waterproofing and above all the breathability of the jacket.

A good dry treatment is therefore essential for the functioning of a hardshell jacket. If you would like to learn more about this topic, then read .

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