Winter Wear PartII Goretex

Parent Cafe
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<p>The Goretex (or OmniTech or Ultrex or HyVent) coatings only serve one purpose: to keep wind and rain out.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, there are two conflicting goals. You want to keep rain and water out (waterproof), but you want moisture from perspiration to be able to escape (breathability).</p>

<p>A plain plastic poncho is 100% waterproof, but 0% breathable, so it’s like wearing a portable sauna.</p>

<p>At the other end of the scale, a cotton jacket is 100% breathable, but 0% waterproof.</p>

<p>The outer layer of all winter jackets (and sleeping bags) is a tight-weave nylon that has been treated with a water resistant coating that makes water bead up rather than soak in. </p>

<p>Goretex (or the others) adds a coating or laminate to the back of the nylon that is 100% waterproof. However, all of these coatings reduce breathability. While they all breath to some extent, nothing (even just plain nylon) breathes enough to dissipate water vapor from heavy exercise (like downhill skiiing). So the fact that one brand may be more “breathable” in a lab test is largely irrelevant. That’s why most of the good waterproof/breathable jackets have zip open vents incorporated along the underside of the arm and the various pockets. </p>

<p>As the first company to offer waterproof/breathable technology, Goretex established a brand name and commands a premium price. Whether that price is justified by real-world benefits is hard to say. </p>

<p>If it weren’t for rain, a plain nylon shell would be the most comfortable because it is the most breathable. However, in wet or windy conditions, a Goretex/Ultrex/OmniTech/Hyvent shell will be a better compromise, even though it doesn’t breath as well. New England is a pretty wet climate with a lot of cold rain/sleet days. So around here the waterproof/breathable fabrics are the way to go.</p>

<p>All of these still have the water-beading treatment on the outer surface. This can be restored with products that are added to the wash water. In fact, just washing these fabrics will restore the water-beading.</p>

<p>Here’s an interesting and humorous article discussing all of this as it applies to lightweight rain jackets. The author went to an Army fabric testing engineer who had found that all of the waterproof/breathable fabrics are pretty much the same, with Goretex testing out midpack.</p>

<p><a href=“http://find.slate.com/Default.aspx?id=2085417&[/url]”>http://find.slate.com/Default.aspx?id=2085417&&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>interesteddad - 4:27 am??? Winter wear is a more compelling subject than I realized.</p>

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<p>Winterwear seems to be this year’s X-long bedsheets and lofting equivalent. :)</p>

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<p>april, as cangel’s daughter… and a teenager who is “hip” and “with it”… That’s what girlfriends are for, making sure that they wear their sunscreen.<br>
But seriously, no one will know he’s wearing sunscreen… it rubs in. And it’s a lot less cool to look like a Maine Lobster, which he will.</p>

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<p>Aaahhh, “HIP?”, “With IT”, I don’t think so - you just like to rub sunscreen on guys’ backs, except your brother, you slap it on his back. April, it is probably not cool to wear sunscreen down here, but lots of guys do it , because A) Mama made them and B) They will become the lobster as described earlier. The DD (who is Greensleeves, in case you are confused) and I told DH about your son going from the NW to Miami, and he laughed. We have a blonde, fair, B-in-law from Kirkland, WA, who always has that lobster tint. Seriously, you will tell him and nag, and you will still get that lobster picture sent to you at some point. I would appeal to his vanity, and try to get him some controlled sun exposure before he gets down there, because he will develop tan lines just walking to class. If he is fair, as well as being from the NW, he will need to use sunscreen, not everyday, but anytime he is outside for longer than 30 minutes in direct sun. I’m very fair (redhead) and I’ve lived here most of my life, I wear a hat outside most of the time, because my face and neck are the most sensitive, and try to stick to the shade if I have to be outside for a longer period of time, and haven’t prepared.</p>

<p>Thanks IDad! I, too, am amazed at your ?insomnia?, ?interest?, but this is quite helpful, you are telling me what I needed to know. DD insists she doesn’t mind layering, and she has more than one fleece already, as that is the typical winter “jacket” down here. We may just get her the shell, we found a good one on sale yesterday, possibly a new windpro fleece to go under it. Thanks, the info was exactly what I needed.</p>

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<p>I need to get my S to read some of these posts - but he has no patience for my CC addiction. He did have two very painful lobster experiences on vacations but didn’t seem to learn from them. Ah, maybe now that he is older and wiser… Thanks for the tips. He is looking forward to meeting girls from the SE and keeps telling me he will bring home someone from GA or TX! Silly me - I thought he was going to bring home an education!</p>

<p>Just filled both DH and DS in on this thread, including ID’s long early morning post. DH said, “Ah, you have people online who are just like you!” DS listened and at least didn’t say “I’m not wearing sunscreen.” So I think we have made some progress here! Thanks!</p>

<p>As for the hat, Cangel, I too try to wear a hat in the sun. I will be sure to bring one for our Miami trip.</p>

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<p>How can I not add to a thread that talks about lobsters?</p>

<p>Seriously, the in item these days for college age kids is a North Face jacket… they have a Fleece jacket that I think might be Polartec 300 g fleece? It is an excellent wind blocker…and it zips into the Gortex shell outside layer if needed for skiing or inclement weather. The feature that makes all the kids want one is a zipper pocket just above the heart that holds an iPOD…so music is always at the ready. North Face has great pink ones these days…very popular with the ladies… and some of the quilting on the down jackets is very attractively stitched, flattering … </p>

<p>also, <a href=“http://www.skiershop.com%5B/url%5D”>www.skiershop.com</a> is a recommended site for you to consider…</p>

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<p>Have to agree w maineparent that, if you must by something in advance, a separable fleece/shell is a great way to go. The kids are more willing to wear fleece than anything else, so you’ll get that use out of it with the backup of the shell for worse weather.</p>

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<p>Same is true for the Pacific NW, if your S/D is heading up my way. Don’t bother with an umbrella. Very few people here use them.</p>