So I've been enjoying my new BMW Cocoon Pro Parka that I got on the Gear Swap. Too bad I had to size down so much that now the hem is right at my waist.

Anyway, I'm greatly impressed by the Pertex Quantum Endurance shell fabric. Why haven't we seen more usage of this outside shells for insulated puffy stuff? Wouldn't this fabric make a great "hard" windshirt similar to the Montane Feather-lite / Lite-speed H2O garments? Those two have received some favorable reviews from people on these forums . . .

This stuff is so light and (based on reviews here on BPL) so water-resistant that I for one am hoping to see it show up in a single-layer piece like a windshirt.

Anybody know of any products out there like this already? Or any in the works?

I am not aware of any "windshirt"s made from Pertex Endurance, but you might find the perspective of Feathered Friends interesting:

http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/769014/1

Also, the fabric is used by RAB in their Ultra Bivy and was used by Marmot in their Helium EQ. I had and sold the Helium EQ due to breathability concerns here in the Northeast.
I am thinking that breathability and durability are simply not sufficient for a windshirt... or at least not when compared to various other fabrics with different degrees of encapsulation (Epic, Patagonia's Houdini, etc)

Are Pertex Endurance and Pertex Quantum not two completely different fabrics? Pertex Quantum is a downproof nylon with DWR, while Endurance is Pertex's waterproof breathable fabric. I have several WM sleeping bags, down jackets, and windshirt made out of Quantum and the foot end of my Golite Ultra 20 is made out of Endurance. Am I missing something?

Edited by Mocs123 on 12/07/2009 08:04:50 MST.

Brad

I think you are correct..
Pertex Quantum - is ultralight, non waterproof material
Pertex Endurance - has a waterproof / weatherproof membrane added to the material.

I have had a number of GT, eVent and Endurance shells, bivies and bagshells and tents since 1978. I have found eVent to be just outstanding for bivies, tents, shell clothing, but, for bag shells, Endurance is my favourite, by far.

These bags were all "top tier", FF, WM, ID and I have deliberately used my ID custom Himalayan bag in a pool of rainwater all night and it was bonedry in the morning. After, this test, I would trust it in any snow conditions and highly recommend it.

Michael,
Good link. Clears things up a lot.

Brad,
At one point, yes, Quantum and Endurance seem to have been completely separate variants. But the BMW Pro 60 Parka uses a relatively new Perseverance Mills product called Quantum Endurance (which Feathered Friends calls "EQ" == Endurance Quantum). It appears to be the Endurance polyurethane technology simply applied to Pertex Quantum.

The Pro 60 Parka gets great reviews from readers on BPL! Breahability seems adequate, and water resistance is applauded. Now, nobody's probly using this jacket as an active performance piece, but I wonder what would happen if we tried it? As said before, it might be not much different from Montane's use of their PU-coated FreeFlow fabric in their "highly-water-resistant" windshirts.

Pertex EQ *should* be at least as durable as regular old Pertex Quantum, which in many opinions has made a great windshirt. It's also possible that because of the extremely thin PU coating, breathability would be, well, not terrible. I'm just guessing based on what I observe from the skin of my Pro 60 Parka.

Rab is currently working on the Cirrus Windshirt, or "Rab Cirrus Pertex Quantum Windshirt". PTC got one and its 76 g in a great colour, no pockets, just a long collar zip and draw strings. Looks gooooood!

I've had a Rab Quantum windshirt for years. I don't know why they stopped making them.

There used to be a Pertex Quantum Endurance, and maybe still is. My Rab QE 250 sleeping bag (about 7 years old) is made from it.

Edit. Rab still uses Quantum Endurance. Details on the Rab website HERE

Edited by MikefaeDundee on 12/07/2009 10:28:37 MST.

That Cirrus piece looks awesome. What read in those comments makes me want to try something made out of Quantum.

Anyway . . . I guess this thread is going nowhere now.