Top Performance
Sympatex-MembranE - 100% waterproof
In the great outdoors, people are directly exposed to weather conditions and need to be prepared for any eventuality. This means the clothing material has to be waterproof. How waterproof it is depends on the membrane, processing and type of coating used. A material's waterproofness is gauged using the water column (WC) which exerts sufficient pressure for the fabric to start letting water through. If the pressure is above 1,300 mm, the item of clothing is deemed waterproof according to the German industry standard (DIN EN 20811:1992, also known as ISO 811). Textiles that can withstand pressure of 400 to 1,300 mm are merely water-repellent. The Swiss materials testing institute Empa in St Gallen stipulates that a functional fabric is actually only waterproof from a water column of 4,000 mm (e.g. when sitting on damp ground = approx. 2,000 mm WC or when kneeling, crouching down or underneath rucksack straps). The Sympatex membrane exceeds the Empa requirements and withstands pressure of over 35,000 mm WC (using the WIWeB method).
Sympatex-MembranE - 100% breathability
Breathable clothing that wicks perspiration away from the skin as water vapour is needed to prevent a build-up of heat next to the wearer's body. The Sympatex membrane works using a physiochemical principle. The water-loving (hydrophilic) component of the membrane absorbs moisture from the body and releases it outwards by evaporation. The water vapour molecules are transported outwards along the chains of molecules as in a billiard system.
One benchmark used to quantify breathability is the MVTR (moisture vapour transmission rate). The higher the figure, the better: fabrics achieving an MVTR of >10,000 g/m²/24 h are deemed to have very good breathability. With its compact membrane technology, the Sympatex membrane boasts breathability of up to 35,000 g/m²/24 h MVTR. The RET rating (resistance evaporation transmission) is also used to measure breathability. This represents a fabric's resistance to water vapour. Textiles with an RET rating of less than 6 qualify as extremely breathable. Sympatex achieves an astounding RET rating of 0.5 - a top result.
Sympatex-MembranE - 100% windproof
The Sympatex membrane is absolutely windproof. This functional property is important to prevent the subjective wind-chill effect. To an athlete exposed to a gust of wind measuring around 25 km/h, an outside temperature of +5° Celsius feels like -6° Celsius. The higher the wind speed is, the lower the perceived temperatures. 0 litres of air/second penetrate 1 m2 of the Sympatex membrane. This makes the Sympatex membrane 100% windproof according to DIN EN ISO 9237, preventing the athlete's perceived body temperature and performance from dropping.
