5 Outerwear Technologies You Need to Know

Call it El Niño, call it climate change, or call it whatever you want, but with insane snowstorms wreaking havoc on the North America’s East Coast, and many normally subtropical regions even getting snow, Winter 2016 has been a doozy thus far — and it’s only really just begun. Staying warm on those cold days is important, and so is knowing how to properly dress for the weather and which materials you should be looking at to protect your from the elements.

Many outdoor enthusiasts rely on an “Alpine Layering System,” which starts with a windproof, waterproof outer layer (Hard Shell Layer), followed by a middle layer to help seal the temperature in and close to the body (Insulation Layer), and finally a thermal under layer (Inner Layer). The layered system allows for conduction and convection throughout to achieve optimal thermal effects. The following order of materials is listed from the outer layer to the innermost, and describes an optimal layering system to ensure you stay as warm as possible.

GORE-TEX

GORE-TEX was invented approximately 70 years ago, and is probably the most common and widespread of all functional fabrics: it has been applied to everything from highly technical outdoor clothing to streetwear staples and is noted for being windproof and waterproof and yet still breathable. The material was developed in collaboration between Wilbert L. Gore, Rowena Taylor and Robert W. Gore, and in 1976 was officially trademarked in the United States. GORE-TEX’s defining feature is a thin, porous fluoropolymer membrane that acts as the inner layer of the material. This membrane has about 9 billion pores per square inch, with each pore measuring about 1/20,000 the size of a water droplet. This makes the membrane impenetrable to liquid water, while still allowing water vapor molecules to pass through it. Some jackets may also feature GORE-SEAM, a type of sealing tape used along seams to ensure every tiny stitch and hole is sealed.

Down

Down is probably one of the most common materials that people think of when they want to keep warm. Down is a layer of feathers found in ducks and geese that acts as a natural insulating later. Between their bodies and the thick outer feathers is a layer of fluffy down that traps air molecules in small pockets, creating a thermal barrier. These are tiny pockets of air created by the clusters of tiny hairs—up to 2 million filaments for every ounce of down. When choosing a down the “Fill Power” is a key indicator of how warm it will be: Fill power is expressed as cubic inches per ounce (in³/oz); the higher the fill power, the more air an ounce of the down can trap, and thus the more insulating ability an ounce of the down will have. A fill of 400–450 is considered medium quality, 500-550 is considered good, 550–750 is considered very good, and 750+ is considered excellent.

Primaloft

In addition to down, Primaloft is another strong thermal material. It was developed by the US Army Research Laboratory and Albany Internation Corp. for use in military clothing and sleeping bags. Originally coined as a “synthetic Down,” PrimaLoft has proven to have an equally efficient thermal barrier, be of equivalent density, possess similar compressional properties, have improved wetting and drying characteristics, and have superior loft retention when wet. The latter points illustrate its advantage over down, not to mention the price is relatively cheap compared to its all-natural predecessor. In recent years, nanotechnology and photonics technology have further improved its functionality, making it one of the strongest options as an Insulation Layer. 3M’s proprietary material Thinsulate is also very similar to PrimaLoft.

Fleece

In its original form fleece was actually made from wool, but now that market features mostly man-made fibres. The “imitation” wool material that we now know as fleece was pioneered, researched and developed by Malden Mills in 1979. It can be divided into two categories — Polar fleece and Micro fleece — both of which possess all the other positive characteristics of wool in that they are soft, comfortable, and warm, but are more lightweight (especially Micro fleece). In recent years, technology has allowed for the development of new types of fleece including Eco-Fleece which is created from recycled materials including bottles. Another popular fleece material is Nike’s proprietary Tech Fleece, which features a knitted cotton layer sandwiched between a high-density breathable material that allows for the air to remain trapped creating warmth, while the material remains sporty and light.

UNIQLO HEATTECH

For the layer most close to our bodies, one that helps maintain overall warmth and comfort is key, and UNIQLO’s HEATTECH series is definitely a staple for everyone’s warm weather wardrobe. Made from a rayon blend, HEATTECH takes traditional, thick thermal wear and turns it on its head by providing an extra-thin material that works with your body’s natural heat to store it within air pockets deep within the fibres.  It also provides anti-bacterial, anti-static and deodorization functions. There are a number of variations within this sub-line: its Extra Warm version offers the same level of comfort with 50% increased warmth versus the regular HEATTECH products, and some of the women’s pieces feature added camellia oil to help keep skin moisturized.