Clothing
Outdoor clothing selection principles
The main cold factors in outdoor activities:
Convective heat dissipation: when the cold wind penetrates the inner layer of the clothes , which removes the heat from the warm air on the surface of the skin; therefore the outer layer of clothing must be windproof.
Conductive heat dissipation: The heat dissipation is caused when the body is in direct contact with cold objects, especially when the inner layer of clothing is wet, the heat dissipation is more rapid; therefore, the outer layer of clothing must be able to prevent the infiltration of rainwater, and has high air permeability to prevent To prevent moisture from accumulating in the clothes, the inner layer of clothes can actively transfer the moisture caused by sweating to the outer layer for discharge.
Three-layer scheme of outdoor clothing
Outer layer: must be windproof, waterproof and breathable; pay special attention to the waterproof tightness and stitching of hood, pockets, cuffs, zipper Sealing treatment; the size is based on the principle of being able to move freely after wearing the thermal layer and perspiration layer. Outerwear with Gore-Tex fabric is ideal.
Insulation layer: Provides insulation by blocking the air in the pores of the clothes; multi-layer clothes are more adjustable than single-layer thick clothes, and can be increased or decreased at any time according to the weather or the amount of activity. Brushed fleece made of Fleece, such as Polartec, is the most popular. It is more warm than wool of the same weight. It has a thermal insulation effect even when it is wet, and it dries quickly and does not absorb water.
Sweat-wicking layer: Special weaving or chemical treatment makes the inner layer hydrophobic and the outer layer hydrophilic, which wicks sweat away to the outer layer to keep the skin dry. Common Polypropylene, Coolmax, Thermastat and other materials have good perspiration effect.
NORTH CAPE sweat-wicking clothes series
NORTH CAPE sweat-wicking clothes from British high-tech has three series for different weather:
Thermastat series
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Hollow fibers are the secret to Thermastat’s success. It can quickly discharge the moisture on the body surface, and use the air layer between the fibers as insulation to reduce the convection with the cold air outside and achieve the effect of keeping warm. So Thermastat can still make you feel comfortable even after prolonged use. Thermastat is best for winter mountaineering, skiing and other activities.
Rhovyl Sportswear Collection
Rhovyl clothing is the most ingenious design. Through the combination of Rhovyl and Modal technology, it can achieve the function of breathable and warm. It even has an antibacterial treatment to avoid the odors of long journeys. Do not doubt, this is the most popular general basic equipment, which can be worn directly or with other clothes. Rhovyl Sportswear is best for outdoor activities with different climates, including mountain climbing, hiking, self-guided travel, and more.
Coolmax series
Coolmax function principle is very simple, quickly expel the sweat from the skin surface and keep the body dry all the time. Its unique fiber shape forms a fast perspiration and breathable function, and the quick-drying and breathable performance is more than twice that of ordinary cotton fibers!
Cleaning and maintenance of outdoor clothing
1. In principle, general fabric clothing can be washed in the washing machine
2. In order to avoid fluff on the surface of the clothing GORE-TEX and other clothes should be soaked and washed with special detergent
4. Wash and dry with an electric iron The dried GORE-TEX windbreaker can maintain the surface of the fabric to be waterproof and water-repellent.
5. The place where the clothes are stored should be kept dry, and the clothes should not be squeezed and stored for a long time
6 . Sun exposure clothing should be in moderation and avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight UV rays
Gore-Tex
Gore-Tex is a film with 9 billion tiny pores per square inch. These pores are 1/20,000th the size of liquid water molecules, but 700 times larger than water vapor, so water droplets cannot penetrate it, but water vapor can escape. The Gore-Tex film is bonded to the inner side of nylon or other fabrics, and the resulting clothes, shoes, gloves, hats, etc. are wind-resistant, waterproof and breathable, keeping outdoor exercisers dry, warm and comfortable. The original Gore-Tex factory also provides complete and strict seam sealing technology for authorized clothing manufacturers to make the clothes truly waterproof.
Gore Tex fabrics can be divided into two types: ‘two-layer fabric’(2-ply) and ‘three-layer fabric’(3-ply). The ‘two-layer cloth’ is to bond the Gore-Tex film to the inner side of nylon and other fabrics, and the ‘three-layer cloth’ ‘Two-layer cloth’ has the advantages of soft material and better air permeability, but it needs to add a layer of lining, which brings more weight, which is suitable for general outdoor activities and mountaineering. “Three-layer cloth” is more durable, not easy to wear, and quick-drying, but the material is harder and less breathable, which is suitable for climbing and lightweight requirements on harsh terrain.
FAQs with Gore-Tex
Q: The Gore-Tex jacket
I bought two years ago doesn’t seem to be waterproof anymore! Whenever it rains when climbing the mountain, the jacket absorbs water and becomes heavier, and the inner layer of clothes gets soaked.
Answer: In order to enhance waterproofness and breathability, the surface fabric of Gore-Tex outerwear has water-repellent treatment, so that rainwater can form water droplets and slide off the clothes, and it will not become heavier due to water absorption, and keep the surface clean. , so that the sweat can be smoothly discharged through the pores. However, over the years, the water repellent treatment will wear out, and the surface of the clothes will no longer form water droplets, and the fabric will absorb some moisture. But the Gore-Tex film under the cloth still has the function of waterproof and breathable. As for the dampness of the inner layer of clothes, it does not come from the infiltration of rain, but because the sweat cannot be discharged smoothly.
The way to restore the water splashing effect is to iron with a medium temperature steam iron after cleaning and drying. Breathable function. Since there is no permanent water-repellent treatment technology, the original water-repellent treatment will eventually fail after long-term use and cleaning. At this time, it must be treated with a spray-type or water-washing water-repellent agent.
GTX Buying Guide
What is ‘waterproof fabric’?
General outerwear is more or less capable of repelling water, but fabrics that can stay dry after prolonged exposure to harsh environments are rare. According to the standards set by the U.S. Army, a fabric must be able to withstand a water pressure of 25 pounds per square inch without leaking to be called ‘waterproof’. That is, the fabric must be able to block the penetration of water under high water pressure.
The test results show that ordinary fabrics can withstand 3 to 5 pounds of water pressure per square inch, while Gore-Tex can withstand 65 pounds of water pressure per square inch without water seepage. Excellent water resistance.
What is ‘breathability’?
When your outerwear is not breathable enough, the hot and humid gas caused by the activity will accumulate inside, besides making you uncomfortable, when the temperature is low and windy, it is easy to take it off catch a cold. At this time, no matter how waterproof the clothes are, it is all in vain. The criteria for judging the quality of air permeability are different from each other. At present, the most accepted one is: measuring the moisture evaporated from the surface area of one square meter of fabric within 24 hours. Under the condition of rest, there must be an evaporation of 350 grams to 600 grams; in the case of moderate exercise, it needs to have an evaporation of 2000 grams to 3000 grams in order to be called excellent ‘breathable’.
According to the test: the air permeability of Gore-Tex fabric is 2800 grams, which meets the requirements of excellent air permeability. Therefore, products made of Gore-Tex fabrics are waterproof, windproof and breathable, allowing you to engage in a variety of outdoor activities in comfort.
How do I wash my Gore-Tex outerwear?
Oil contamination can reduce the waterproof and breathable properties of Gore-Tex, so keep it clean to make it most effective. Although Gore-Tex can in principle be washed in a washing machine and dried at medium temperature, according to the experience of actual users, and to avoid the cognitive differences of each person, we still recommend hand washing and drying naturally. (After all, it’s not too cheap. If you wash it once, it’s too much for your wallet!)
The following is the basic cleaning procedure:
1. Use about 30 ?? warm water and washing powder to clean, and use a soft brush (such as a toothbrush) to scrub the dirty parts of the surface.
2. Rinse the dirty water and change the water several times to make sure there is no residual washing powder.
3. Use a dehydrator to dehydrate at a slow speed, preferably no more than 3 minutes.
4. Hang it in a ventilated place to dry.
Gore does not recommend the use of liquid laundry detergents or water-repellent/breathable laundry detergents.
Water-repellent treatment on the outer fabric
In order to enhance waterproof and breathability, the surface fabric of the Gore-Tex outerwear has a water-repellent treatment, so that rainwater can form water droplets and slide off the clothes, not Heavier due to water absorption, and keeps the surface clean, allowing sweat and body heat to escape smoothly. The water-repellent treatment also keeps the clothes dry and avoids the loss of body heat due to the evaporation of moisture. However, over the years, the water repellent treatment will wear out, and the surface of the clothes will no longer form water droplets, and the fabric will absorb some moisture. But the Gore-Tex film under the cloth still has the function of waterproof and breathable.
The way to restore the splashing effect is to iron with a medium temperature steam iron after washing and drying, being careful not to iron in the same place for too long. As long as the water-repellent treatment of the cloth itself is still there, it can make the rainwater on the surface form water droplets.
Since there is no permanent water-repellent treatment technology at present, the original water-repellent treatment will eventually fail after long-term use and cleaning. At this time, it must be treated with a spray-type or wash-type water-repellent agent. .
Common Misunderstandings of Gore-Tex
The problems caused by the wear and tear of the water splashing surface are often mistaken by users as the failure of Gore-Tex technology. Here are some common misunderstandings:
Common misunderstandings about Gore-Tex p>
1. The surface fabric looks damp? This is because the water repellent treatment wears out, and the surface fabric absorbs moisture.
2. Feeling heavier? Same reason as the previous case.
3. There is moisture in the inner layer of the clothes? This is because the moisture on the surface of the clothes evaporates and dissipates heat, which reduces the temperature of the clothes and creates a temperature difference between the inner layer and the part of the inner layer close to the body, which makes the inner layer ‘ wet The’.
So, before you consider changing to a new Gore-Tex, please make sure that it is not for the above 3 reasons before updating. (Although there is no harm in buying one more!)
In the event of serious leakage
If the inner layer of the clothing has obvious moisture and water seepage in the first few minutes of the rain, it may be It is because the waterproof seal of the stitching part has fallen off, there are holes in the clothing, or the problem of the fabric itself. Please leave it to Gore for inspection and processing.
