GearGuide Entry: Weatherproof vs. Breathable Gear: September, 2012
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Weatherproof vs. Breathable Gear
September 8, 2012
Deciding between waterproof or breathable gear is important, so here’s my take on it. There are basically two name brand options and then various similar products: Gore-Tex and Dri-Lex. Both are breathable and moisture wicking. The difference is that Gore-Tex is 100% waterproof. If you’re going to be in wet or muddy conditions often or for long periods of time, you’ll probably want Gore-Tex.
Gore-Tex uses a Teflon coating with a PU coating on top of that, but Teflon is more breathable by itself. It isn’t completely waterproof, but it is water resistant. That makes it a good choice if you’re going to do much physical exertion, regardless of the weather. Unfortunately, footwear doesn’t really have that option. Most of it will have Gore-Tex, Dri-Lex, or a generic of one of those two. There aren’t too many third brand name options. So really to make the best choice, you need to consider what you’re using your gear for: is it cold and wet? Go waterproof. Really if it’s going to be cold and you don’t plan on exerting yourself too much, it’s better to plan for any weather and go ahead and get Gore-Tex. But if it’s cold and you’ll probably sweat a lot or it’s going to be hot outside, probably go for just moisture wicking. Gore-Tex may be fancier and more versatile, but the desert or jungle is not the place for it.
On a side note, you can also keep more moisture away if you get footwear with perforations or vent holes or jackets with pit zips, as attractive as that sounds. And mesh pockets may not be the best idea if you want to keep dry and use your pockets in the rain…