Editor's Note: This article was opened to the public on July 22, 2010. To subscribe and see Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010 articles as they are published, click here.
Pertex Shield is a new family of durable waterproof-breathable fabrics from Mitsui (who purchased the Pertex technology from Perseverance Mills in 2006). It is based on a polyurethane membrane technology from Mitsui laminated to Pertex face fabrics. The constructions are Shield 02 (2-layer), Shield DS (2.5-layer), and Shield 03 (3-layer), all waterproof-breathable fabrics with very good breathability that cost less than either eVENT or Gore-Tex Pro Shell. The two- and three-layer fabrics will provide about 20,000 g/m2/day breathability levels (according to the JIS 1099 B1 standard). That's pretty respectable compared to eVENT (~27,000 g/m2/day), Gore-Tex XCR (~21,000 g/m2/day), Entrant (about 21,000 g/m2/day), and most polyurethane coatings (5,000 to 15,000 g/m2/day). The lightest versions of Shield weigh about 2.0 oz/yd2 (2-layer) and 3.0 oz/yd2 (3-layer). Pertex Shield is not the lightest, most breathable, or cheapest of the waterproof breathable fabrics, but it is the right balance of breathability, light weight, and price to win a solid position in the market.
We found several lightweight rain jackets and pants made of Pertex Shield that will hit the market in spring 2010, from different manufacturers.
The Outdoor Research Helium Jacket (6.8 oz, $140) is made of 2.5-layer 20 denier Pertex Shield DS ripstop fabric. It has a single pull hood adjustment, water-resistant full front zipper, one zippered Napoleon pocket, elastic cuffs, and single drawcord hem adjustment. The women's version weighs 6.1 ounces.
The Rab Positron Pullover (left, 7 oz, $130) is made of 2.5-layer Pertex Shield DS. It has a water-resistant half-height front zipper, fixed hood with external drawcord adjustor, one internal mesh pocket, and elastic cuffs The Kinetic Jacket (9 oz, $140) has a full-front water-resistant zipper, helmet compatible hood with wire brim and external drawcord adjustor, two side pockets, Velcro cuff tabs, and hem drawcord.
Rab also has a very light Pertex Shield DS 2.5L rain pant called the Off Limits Pant (7 oz, $100). They have an elastic waistcord, calf-high leg zips, and stretch fabric on seat and knees.
GoLite representative Ashley Devery models the new GoLite Tumalo jacket (8.6 oz, $150) made of 100 g/m2 Pertex Shield 2.5 DS. It has an attached hood with cordlock adjustors, water-resistant two-way front zipper with storm flap, two side pockets with water-resistant zippers, pit zips, drawcord hem, and elastic cuffs. The Tumalo Pant (not shown, 6.7 oz, $100) has an elastic waistcord, rear cargo pocket, calf-high zips, and Velcro cuff tabs. The combination gives a rainwear set that weighs less than one pound.
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Forum Index » Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2009 » Lightweight Pertex Shield Rainwear Hitting the Market (Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2009)
(addiebedford) - BPL Staff - MLife
Locale: Montana
Companion forum thread to:
Lightweight Pertex Shield Rainwear Hitting the Market (Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2009)
(bfornshell) - MLife
Locale: Southern Texas
hi,
If anyone would like to read more about this fabric their was a thread here about Pertex Shield back in 2007.
Pertex Shield Link
Edited by bfornshell on 08/04/2009 14:52:33 MDT.
(maurer) - F - M
Locale: Oregon
Hey all,
Why would anyone buy a rain jacket that doesn't have a waterproof zipper, just to shave a couple of grams? A whopper of a rainstorm and you're pretty wet in front.
Mike
(retropump) - F
Locale: The Antipodes of La Coruna
"A whopper of a rainstorm and you're pretty wet in front."
Proabably depends on climate. If you are just expecting afternoon thunderstorms or mild drizzle, you might be fine.
(adrianb) - MLife
Locale: Auckland, New Zealand
Or if it's so wet you know you're going to get wet anyway...
(retropump) - F
Locale: The Antipodes of La Coruna
"Or if it's so wet you know you're going to get wet anyway..."
In which case you don't need a raincoat!
(adrianb) - MLife
Locale: Auckland, New Zealand
No I think they're still useful to keep water pouring over your body (cold!), and stop wind.
(Mocs123) - MLife
Locale: Southeast Tennessee
I have to admit I haven't tried a eVent Jacket, but I have used Gore-Tex Packlite, Marmot's Precip Plus, and Dry Ducks, and here in the southeast USA, if it is raining when I am hiking I am going to get wet. The jackets just don't breathe or vent well enough to keep up, however they do keep you warm.
(adrianb) - MLife
Locale: Auckland, New Zealand
I used an eVent jacket for several months. I didn't notice any difference from my Paclite jacket.
(arborrider08) - F
Locale: SouthShore of Lake Superior
Still searching for my concept of of a "perfect" rain top. Given up on tops without functional pit/torso ventilation. GoLite looks interesting. Outside of additional cost and a few extra grams of weight what's the issue with the manufacturers of lightweight "breathable" rain gear for not installing pit zips?
(AngelaZ) - F
Locale: New England
Outdoor Research has a few rain jackets with full side zips... I'm pretty happy with mine.
(retropump) - F
Locale: The Antipodes of La Coruna
Yeah, I like the looks of the OR full side zips. Can unzip and waer the jacket *poncho style*. Still get wet from perspiration and wind driven rain, but nice to have the vent options. I'm gonna install some side zips in my DriDucks...
(brianpeck) - MLife
Locale: North America
Here are my thoughts on eVent. Like many, I've used all the various forms of Goretex from the first versions (a Weatherman Storm from Sierra Designs), and most recently Paclite from Arcteryx on one of their light jackets. However I wasn't very happy with the paclite breathability, though the pit zips helped somewhat. Following different BPL articles, I decided to try eVent and bought an ID Thru Hiker Jacket before a Oct 2008 3-week hike through Bhutan, which stress tested the jacket with drizzle, rain, sleet and snow just about every day. The Thru Hiker was a revelation for me, though perhaps it was the combination of cold and damp that made it fucntion so well compared to paclite's breathability.
(rcaffin) - BPL Staff - MLife
Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe
> Why would anyone buy a rain jacket that doesn't have a waterproof zipper,
One reason might be so they cn do the zip up EASILY! Especially when wearing gloves in the snow. Sigh.
Cheers
(Danepacker) - MLife
Locale: Mojave Desert
Cabela's Rainy River Pac Lite parks sells for $99. and is very high in qualiy and design. Plus the parkas come in many colors and sizes, FAR more than any other retailer.
My Rainy River rain suit has held up over many trips ans in-town uses and still looks and works like new.
Eric
(But given my "druthers" I'd rather have an eVent parka.)
Edited by Danepacker on 02/09/2010 20:53:57 MST.