The details:
Know your Laminate: There are two basic types of laminate construction: two-layer and three-layer. Two-layer features an outer layer bonded to the laminate layer with a third free hanging mesh layer that’s used to wick away moisture. In three-layer construction, all three layers (outer, laminate, and moisture-wicking) are bonded together. Two-layer is less expensive, while three-layer construction is lighter, stronger, and better for extreme conditions. Outerwear style: Outerwear designers are taking a cue from their high-fashion peers in Paris and Milan and slimming the silhouettes of their jackets and pants. “It’s waterproof and breathable, but now it also has an air of sophistication,” Sandra Rossi says. “They’re taking more of a street wear approach.” Earth tones are popular for hiking and mountain climbing apparel. Prints, including plaids, are big with the snowboarding and skiing set. Layering: If you plan on exercising outside this winter, a waterproof/breathable shell is just one component of a layering system that Rossi says should include insulating and moisture-wicking long underwear and a fleece mid-layer. “It’s always easier to take things off when you’re hot than put things on when you’re cold,” she says. Waterproof care: All waterproof jackets feature durable water repellant (DWR) finishes that eventually breakdown over time. When water stops beading up on the jacket and starts being absorbed into the outer layer, it’s time to refresh the DWR using products like ReviveX or Nikwax that will restore the waterproof finish. SOURCES: Fred Schoch and Sandra Rossi |
The right outerwear can make a difference
Before Fred Schoch slides his rowing shell into the Charles River, the executive director of the Head of the Charles Regatta slips into a critical piece of clothing: A waterproof, breathable jacket that serves as his first line of defense against anything Mother Nature can throw at him.
"When you're out there training, especially at the start of the season in late February, it can get really cold and wet," says Schoch, who has been running the world's largest two-day rowing event since 1991. "You need a shell that's going to be breathable, lightweight, and totally waterproof."
Rowers, runners, cyclists , and hikers are benefiting from advancements that have produced ultralightweight, breathable, and waterproof jackets that make training in the cold and wet more comfortable than ever .
Schoch, who grew up in a rowing family (His father, Delos, was on the 1936 US Olympic team.) and has been competing for four decades, typically wears three layers on a cold day: synthetic long underwear designed to trap heat and wick away moisture, a fleece jacket that insulates his core without overheating it, and a lightweight outer shell made from Gore-Tex and specially designed for rowing that's both waterproof and breathable.
"The science of athletic apparel has really progressed," says Schoch . "You used to wear three cotton layers and some sort of wax-coated outer shell to keep you dry. You could hardly move. Now, you hardly know you have anything on."
American adults spent $7.3 billion on performance outerwear during the 12-month period from Sept. 2005 to Aug. 2006, an 8.3 percent increase over the same period the year before, according to The NPD Group, a Port Washington, N.Y., market research firm.
There are two basic types of performance shells and jackets: Those waterproofed with chemical coatings and those waterproofed with laminated membranes, the most popular of which is Gore-Tex.
According to Eastern Mountain Sports' women's wear product manager Sandra Rossi, coated outerwear is generally going to breath better, be lighter, pack tighter, and cost much less. Coated jackets, which can be purchased for under $100, are appropriate for highly aerobic activities, like running and biking, and those that don't require prolonged exposure to the elements.
Outerwear featuring Gore-Tex and other laminates is going to offer better water and wind protection, be more durable , and cost more . Jackets utilizing laminates cost from $200 to $450 and are generally designed for hiking, sailing, skiing, or any activity that requires lengthy exposure to the cold and wet .
Schoch says it's critical to find outerwear specifically designed to fit your sport and training regimen. All of the half-dozen performance shells Schoch owns, for example, are totally waterproof for river use, extremely lightweight so they can be packed tight and stowed in his shell, and highly breathable so that he won't overheat during a long row.
"You always have to look at function over fashion," he says. "You want to have a clear idea of what the garment is going to provide in the conditions that you're training in. I think it's always helpful to have a couple of different items in your arsenal."
