Waterprrof Fabrics - "Breathalon" and Peter Storm gear
Mark Hanna
1. Several people have suggested to me that clothing made from
"Breathalon" fabric (Melbourne company, Maresa) is a challenger to
Gore-Tex. In fact they say it is vastly superior at a fraction of the
price. Does anyone have any experience with this stuff? What's it
like? Why is it so cheap? Is Gore-Tex all it's cracked up to be? Does
anyone know how much water vapour it passes?
2. Peter Storm raingear is touted by some sellers as the ultimate in
breathability. Also very cheap. They claim MVT, the material on the
inside of the coats, passes 10 litres/square metre/24 hours, compared
to about 6 for Gore-Tex. Any ideas about the veracity of this claim?
Has anyone used this stuff in steady rain and heavy scrub.
I live in southern Tas, and would like to avoid mortgaging my home to
stay dry. Any help appreciated on these subjects.
Mark
Huonville Tas
Mark
Huonville Tas Oz
David Noble
I would think that GoreTex is a fair bit better in terms of vapour
transmission than the MVT fabric used by Pete Storm. I have jackets made
from both - my Peter Storm jacket is however nice and light and fold up
into a small space - great for the Blue Mts (and it was pretty cheap).
The summer before last - I was hut bound in NZ and borrowed a magazine
from a Scottish gent - it had an interesting article with a comparison
between GoreTex and a new fabric called (I think) Triple Point Ceramic.
It is made by (again I Think) North Cape or Lowe (???) and a Japanese
company (they had found that adding some sort of ceramic powder to the
coating greatly improved its breathability). The conclusions in this
article were that Goretex is better in cold conditions (eg
mountaineering) and the new stuff is better in humid conditions (eg like
Tassie). I haven't seen it in Australia yet though.
--
David Noble
Email to- dno...@ozemail.com.au
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~dnoble/
Graeme Woodward
In article <3337a...@139.134.5.33>,
I have at times been amazed at just how good GoreTex can be, at keeping out
rain, as a windsheild and at being reasonably breathable. When I was
buying my jacket a few years ago, there was another fabric
'Hydronaught' (sp?), which was claiming to be almost as good as
GoreTex (the shop said it was better in really humid environs).
I went the GoreTex ($220), but a few friends bought the other ($150) - as
you can see, these were not cheap jackets (I think both models were Mont -
certainly my GoreTex one was). After a long, damp, overnight 12hr Rogaine,
I was only wet where the water had wicked up my trousers and arms. My
friend's jacket was glistening wet on the inside. In this case, the
GoreTex seemed vastly superiour to the other fabric. I think my other
friend was also unimpressed with the breathability of his jacket. He has
bought a GoreTex one since.
It IS expensive, but it DOES work. I'll be interested
to hear if any other fabrics can establish the reputation that
GoreTex has over the years.
Graeme.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Graeme Woodward. (gra...@ee.usyd.edu.au) Ph: +61 2 9351 4767
Communications Science & Engineering Laboratory. Fax: +61 2 9351 3847
Electrical Engineering, J13, Sydney University, NSW, 2006, AUSTRALIA
S.Inkson
>
> 2. Peter Storm raingear is touted by some sellers as the ultimate in
> breathability. Also very cheap. They claim MVT, the material on the
> inside of the coats, passes 10 litres/square metre/24 hours, compared
> to about 6 for Gore-Tex. Any ideas about the veracity of this claim?
> Has anyone used this stuff in steady rain and heavy scrub.
>
> Mark
> Huonville Tas Oz
I bought a Peter Storm jacket 6 months ago because I thought it would be
lighter and more compact during the summer instead of my Gortex coat. I
truly now believe that Peter Storm wet weather gear is total rubbish. If
you wish to stay dry while walking you can't beat Gortex.
Simon.
M Covi
In rain in the Peter Storm I am as wet inside as out. I tried to
return it to Mountain Equipment where I bought it, but they said
they couldn't as Peter Storm had gone out of business (but I don't
know whether to believe that). Margaret
Syorm had gone out of business
Roger Browne
Simon Inkson wrote:
> I bought a Peter Storm jacket 6 months ago because I thought it would be
> lighter and more compact during the summer instead of my Gortex coat. I
> truly now believe that Peter Storm wet weather gear is total rubbish. If
> you wish to stay dry while walking you can't beat Gortex.
I agree. I use my Peter Storm as a lightweight showeproof jacket for walking
to the shops (and sometimes for orienteering in foul weather), but I wouldn't
take anything but Gore-Tex on a serious bushwalk.
I saw somewhere a comparitive chart of the waterproofness and moisture
transmission of various modern fabrics. Gore-Tex was the most waterproof and
also the most breathable. Sorry I can't remember where I saw this chart,
but it was in some kind of outdoor publication (not in manufacturer's
literature) and it matches my own experience.
Regards,
Roger
--
--
-- Roger Browne, 6 Bambers Walk, Wesham, PR4 3DG, UK | Ph 01772-687525
-- Everything Eiffel: http://www.eiffel.demon.co.uk/ | +44-1772-687525
Peter Dwyer
In article <3337a...@139.134.5.33>, mha...@onaustralia.com.au says...
"2. Peter Storm raingear is touted by some sellers as the ultimate in
breathability. Also very cheap. They claim MVT, the material on the
inside of the coats, passes 10 litres/square metre/24 hours, compared
to about 6 for Gore-Tex. Any ideas about the veracity of this claim?
Has anyone used this stuff in steady rain and heavy scrub".
Mark,
I commute to work in Melbourne by bicycle and about 5 years ago, I bought a
Peter Storm MVT cycle jacket. Over the past five years, I've come to the
conclusion that it makes a good wind-proof jacket but it's useless in rain. I
get soaked every time it rains. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
It was also quite expensive at that time.
Peter Dwyer, Melbourne
Brian Richardson
This is not related to Peter Storm, but on the topic of experiences with
warranty for waterproof gear, I wore a Mont "Tempest" Goretex jacket for
bushwalking in Vic high country and it worked great for several years, then
it started leaking. I returned it to see if it was salvagable expecting a
bill as it was just out of warrnaty. Result was a new jacket - gratis.
Stick with reputable local companies.
Regards...
Brian Richardson <bri...@novanet.net.au>
----------------
Colin Farley <clfa...@bit.net.au> wrote in article
<5iuc7s$u...@troll.apana.org.au>...
> >Peter Dwyer, Melb.
>
> Here is my experience with a Peter Storm jacket. As to
> "breathability", not much. On a recent trip to the Central Highlands
> of Tassie I found that it sweated at the same rate as a plastcised
> nylon jacket.
>
> Durability, not real good. After very little wear the seam tapes are
> disbonding. I am trying to contact the manufacturer to see if they
> honour any warranty. But as it is made in the UK, I dont hold too
> much hope.
>
> Here is my PERSONAL opinion on jackets. In Australia severe extreme
> weather is rare. For most walking in SE QLD a nylon poncho does the
> job. When it rains in summer no jacket, breathable or otherwise
> will keep you dry on the inside. You might as well get wet walking
> and dry off when stopped.
>
> A mate of mine has a very expensive "brand deleted" gore-tex jacket,
> it leaked after a short time at the abraded parts caused by rucksack
> straps. The manufacturer assessed this as fair wear and tear, however
> at least the manufacturer can be contacted, so if spending heaps of
> loot, spend locally.
>
> In M very HO for most cost effective rain cover, for most OZ
> conditions it is hard to beat the old oiled japara.
>
> It can be reproofed easily, recipe follows
>
> 80% boiled linseed oil
> 20% terrebin (drying agent)
>
> or of course commercial prepared proofers are available.
>
> Let the debate roll on, look forward to other contributions
>
>
Roger Caffin
Brian Richardson <bri...@novanet.net.au> wrote in article
> > conditions it is hard to beat the old oiled japara.
> > It can be reproofed easily, recipe follows
> > 80% boiled linseed oil
> > 20% terrebin (drying agent)
and worn them in NSW, Victoria, SW Tassie and overseas, I would like to
suggest that a slightly different recipe be used for reproofing. About 98%
(boiled or not) linseed oil and 2% terebine! Well, up to 5% if you must,
but it isn't needed. The terebine is a drying catalyst, and very little is
needed. I have even used just linseed oil and sun-dried. I haven't tried
the commercial "dry-proofing" compounds.
IMHO, the MVT Peter Storm jacket is useful as a light emergency jacket for
stowing in your (day) pack just in case. The Peter Storm MVT trousers I
have taken ski-touring for extended trips, fallen over in them reasonably
violently while skiing, and find them excellent for that.
However, if you are going to use your jacket (or w'proof trousers) for
scrub bashing, then maybe an old piece of canvas would do. Fair go: you buy
an expensive light-weight high-tech material then belt the hell out of it
in heavy scrub and wonder why it gets pin-holes, tears and so on. Next
we'll have people complaining that Activent fails in SW Tassie scrub. :-)
--
Roger Caffin
Berrilee Consulting Services P/L
5 Charltons Ck Rd
Berrilee NSW 2159
Australia
All the usual disclaimers apply....