Goretex Outer Shells

[norts]

I used my Macpac Event jacket when walking unto the walls 2 weekends ago. Wore it all the way into Wild Dog Ck and all the way out. It was not at all dampunder the coat, i usually get a bit sweaty going up to Trappers hut. Weather conditions were light rain near the car park but turned to snow by the time I was getting to Trappers.
First impressions are, seems to breathe very well. The design of the jacket is very good. I have a large size, I am not that large except in girth, sleeves are nice and long, could walk with no gloves but have my hands covered by the sleeve. It is shorter than my other jacket (Oringi grampian which is the longest jacket I have seen in the market but I still got wet shorts with it) but I just walked in cut off water proof pants. I prefer to walk in shorts unless I am doing alot of bush bashing.
Blacksheep, my only query is that the one sleeve cuff seemed to wet out, one small area wondering if DWR was not properly applied to this spot.
Also it says to wash often, this is a bit ambiguous for me, do you want to wash it because of outside dirt(which mine hasnt after 2 days) or does it need a wash because of perspiration. How long is the DWR going to last if I am washing it after every 2 day walk?

Roger

[Ent]

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Last edited by Ent on Thu 11 Nov, 2010 3:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[blacksheep]

Blacksheep, my only query is that the one sleeve cuff seemed to wet out, one small area wondering if DWR was not properly applied to this spot.
Also it says to wash often, this is a bit ambiguous for me, do you want to wash it because of outside dirt(which mine hasnt after 2 days) or does it need a wash because of perspiration. How long is the DWR going to last if I am washing it after every 2 day walk?

Roger

Hi Norts. Good to hear you are pleased with the jacket. The DWR is applied onto the fabric before it is cut/sewn, so it is unusual to have a spot missing. One possible explanation (assuminmg the jacket didn't come into contact with any contaminents that may have stripped the DWR)is that heat from a cross over machine (used to ensure best adhesion of seam tape) may have affected the DWR at that point? If that is the case, then a re-application of a suitable DWR spray will deal with it immeditely. I assume you bought this from Hobart store? If so- please print out this note and take in with you - I'll word Phil up to look after you on this

[Ent]

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Last edited by Ent on Thu 11 Nov, 2010 3:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[norts]

Thank you Blacksheep. I wasn't too concerned about this as it only a small area but was more concerned about washing?

Roger

[blacksheep]

Well, in short, washing is good. the DWR (which causes water to bead on the outside of the fabric, and is not related to water proofness) can contaminate- especially with fine particles like smoke from an open fire and fine soil. if the water doesbn't bead, then the outer fabric "wets out"..the issue here is that the wet outer fabric is cold and the ability for water vapour to exit drops off (needs a humidity gradient to drive through the membrane). So washing helps performance. (not every use of course, but as needed) Be sure to follow the care instructions, use mild soaps etc (you don't want to strip off the DWR prematurely) And of course, like all water proff fabrics, eVent benefits from having a DWR reapplied from time to time (for me, in reasonabl use it's about once a year)
You'll find that Gore and eVent are basically saying the same thing- keep it clean for best performance, and to keep breathability at it's best a good level of water repellancy on the face fabric should be maintained.

[rsser]

Re membranes in boots: my experience is that they're a waste of time and it would seem in principle also to be counter-intuitive.

If the boot is mostly leather or cordura and that is not proofed, it will absorb moisture and so the membrane can't breathe.

If it is proofed the membrane can't breathe either.

...

Goretex needs a pressure differential to breathe so if it's as humid outside a jacket as inside presumably you don't get much transfer.

[blacksheep]

Goretex needs a pressure differential to breathe so if it's as humid outside a jacket as inside presumably you don't get much transfer.

Yes, it needs a reasonably substantial differential because it is a wet system. moisture vapour condenses to liquid, then absorbed by the PU then needs to convert back to vapour to exit to the outside. eVent is like an open sytem, (like fly screen door) therefore has much less resistance and is less dependent on strong driving forces of pressure differentials.

[rsser]

So Gtex is pretty useless in warm humid env'ts like the tropics.

[Ent]

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