The essence of all PTFE (PolyTetraFluoroEthylene) membranes is to allow water molecules to escape in the form of steam, but not to allow water itself to leak inside. Simply put, this is a bag with microholes. Steam escapes (the membrane breathes), water does not enter (the membrane protects).

The most famous PTFE membrane is Gore-Tex. Marketing is power. Everywhere and on every corner we see and read GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY. I checked. Sometimes it gets wet. I have owned a lot of products made from this membrane.

The most mysterious PTFE membrane - eVent.

Everyone has heard it, but few have tried it for themselves.

Who is eVent? How does it differ from others, besides the “bag with holes”? It turns out than. This is an oleophobic membrane. That is, oil-rejecting. It’s even simpler - dirt and grime don’t stick to it. And since they don’t stick, the “holes in the bag” don’t get clogged and the process of removing moisture goes on continuously.

Personally, I encountered this membrane once. And even then, in the second echelon. That is, in fleece. Usually, the first echelon is Hard Shell. Storm jackets and trousers. The second echelon is Soft Shell. Windproof yet breathable fleece.

I used Satila's products for some time http://www.satila.ru/

This is the only company in Russia working with soft shell eVent.
This is the jacket I wore.

Well, in pants, respectively.

Here it is written about it:

I really enjoyed walking in it then. Then the suit was given “to try” on some of the “old friends” and stayed there. I still can't get around to buying another one.

I asked myself the question: “Why are there so few products made from this magical membrane?” And I decided to find out the opinion of those who are directly involved in the production of various kinds of shmurdyak about the eVent membrane.

BASK company.

"eVent is more expensive than GORE-TEX and several times more expensive than Polartec NeoShell. It is not profitable for us to work with it. The membranes have similar characteristics. We work with Polartec."

Andrea Cattaneo- Mondeox Spa http://www.mondeox.it
My friend since AKU. Extra class specialist in outdoor footwear.

"Yes i know e Vent membrane.
It a membrane introduced in the market something like 10 years ago.
It is a good membrane but they don’t use a specific construction like Gore-Tex does.
It means that they are unable to guarantee a waterproofness as Gore is doing by forcing the brands that use their membrane to produce shoes by using a specific and controlled procedure.

It’s just an expansive branded membrane that make advertising for their characteristics but in reality is just a membrane as many others on the market."

In short, it's not technologically advanced.

"Splav" company

"This membrane was chosen based on the sum of quality indicators. In our opinion, the characteristics are no worse than Gore-Tex, but it was easier to negotiate with them. And it was rolled onto a fairly strong base. Otherwise, today’s fashion for thin fabrics that fly apart at the sight is somewhat sad ".

“Everyone has their own taste: one likes watermelon, another likes pork cartilage.” - wrote the Great A.N. Ostrovsky.

"Fusion" makes two jackets and pants out of eVent. One jacket is simpler, but I liked the one that is more complex.

Technological highlights of eVent fabrics® as an alternative to traditional GORE-TEX technologies

eVent fabrics®positions itself as a company whose technological developments have made waterproof and breathable membrane clothing for athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, extreme sports enthusiasts and those who have to operate in adverse conditions more functional.

The company was founded in 1999 in the USA as a manufacturer of ePTFE membranes. Today its activities are classified into three areas: the production of waterproof membranes, windproof membranes and membrane coatings that protect against harmful chemicals and open fire.

It is clear that at the time of its introduction, eVent was not the only laminate manufacturer in the functional clothing market. However, the company's unique technological development - Direct Venting™ - allowed it to immediately stand out among other suppliers of membrane products for outdoors and even seriously compete with GORE-TEX technologies. The eVent brand very quickly gained popularity among buyers of functional clothing and equipment.

Although both eVent and GORE-TEX use the same stretched polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) as a membrane backing, the technologies used to produce laminates and protect their membrane layer are different. These differences result in eVent membranes generally exhibiting higher vapor permeability values ​​than GORE-TEX membranes. In theory, this means that for the same degree of waterproofing, clothing with eVent will breathe better than clothing with GORE-TEX. Why is this so?

Direct Venting™ is the main know-how of the company

All eVent fabrics® products are united by the use of technology Direct Venting™(DV), the so-called dry system, the company’s unique know-how. The main feature of Direct Venting™ is that the porous ePTFE membrane in the membrane sandwich is not protected by an additional PU layer.

But what should the membrane be protected from and why doesn’t eVent cover it with a PU layer?

Without a protective layer, the ePTFE membrane quickly becomes contaminated with fats, since polytetrafluoroethylene is an oleophilic material, that is, it retains oils and fats. Fats accumulate in the membrane, causing its breathing properties to deteriorate or disappear altogether.

One way to protect ePTFE pores from grease is to apply an additional PU layer to the membrane. This layer covers the membrane and protects it from the penetration of polluting particles. uses Gore (except for class products).

Another protection option is to apply a special coating to each web membrane. This process can be figuratively represented as immersing the “spatial structure” of the membrane in paint to give it protective properties. It’s not the paint that protects the membrane, butfluorosilicone- an elastomer with very high chemical resistance to fats. After such treatment, the membrane film becomes oleophobic, that is, repels fat. It is this method of protecting the ePTFE membrane from contamination that eVent has chosen, which is the essence of the innovative development eVent fabrics®.

The fundamental basis of all membranes that eVent produces is Direct Venting™ technology. According to the company, laboratory testing of Direct Venting™ membranes shows that, with a maximum water resistance of 30,000 mm water column (Mullen Test), their breathability averages 3-5 RET points, which is very close to Gore's most breathable membranes . However, the characteristics of specific membranes based on Direct Venting™ in terms of water resistance look somewhat more modest.

Let us recall that RET is a characteristic of the resistance that a material has to the vapor passing through it, so the lower the RET value, the higher the breathability of the material under study. A RET value of zero is the free evaporation of moisture from bare skin. RET 30 or more means complete blocking of evaporation, for example with a layer of polyethylene.

Let's look at what specialized eVent membranes are.

Waterproof membranes DValpine™ and DVstorm™

DValpine™- the first development of eVent in 1999, with which, in fact, the production of membrane materials of the company began. DValpine™ 3-layer construction is used to create garments designed to keep you dry, comfortable and protected from the elements.

Waterproof DValpine™: 20,000 mm water. Art.

Vapor permeability of DValpine™: 22,000 g/m2/24 h

Intended use of DValpine™

It is used to create equipment for activities such as mountaineering, hiking, winter sports, hiking, expeditions, trekking, cycling, as well as in everyday wear.

DVstorm™- on the contrary, one of the latest developments by eVent. This technology is specifically designed for aerobic activity in temperate climates. The 3-layer DVstorm™ material has a 10 denier face fabric, making it approximately 20% lighter and 15% more breathable than DValpine™ technology.

Waterproof DVstorm™: 10,000 mm water. Art.

Vapor permeability of DVstorm™: 31,000 g/m2/24 h

Purpose of DVstorm™

It is used to create equipment for running, hiking and cycling, winter sports, tourism and urban clothing.

DVlite™ waterproof membranes

DVlite™- lightweight technology created by eVent specifically for moderate activity in mild climates. Clothing made from a 2.5-layer DVlite™ laminate without lining, is thin, weighs little, is easy to pack, but at the same time retains all the basic properties of Direct Venting™, that is, it has good waterproofness and excellent vapor permeability. The compactness and lightness of DVlite™ is achieved due to the absence of a lining, and the membrane is protected by a special print applied directly to the surface of the membrane film.

DVlite™ Water Resistance: 10,000 mm water. Art.

DVlite™ vapor permeability: 18,000 g/m2/24 h

Purpose of DVlite™

It is used to create equipment for running, hiking, cycling, skiing, as well as in everyday wear.

Comparison of the characteristics of eVent and GORE-TEX membranes

Both eVent and GORE-TEX are recognized authorities in the production of ePTFE membrane-based porous laminates. They use various technologies to protect the membrane layer, which is reflected in the characteristics of the final products - membrane laminates used for the production of outdoor clothing. This article is not intended to compare the products of the two companies, but for an intelligent choice of membrane clothing it is useful to compare their main characteristics.

Comparison of the characteristics of eVent and GORE-TEX membranes

Product class	Waterproof, mm water Art.	Vapor permeability*
eVent DValpine™	20 000	22,000 g/m2/24 h
eVent DVstorm™	10 000	31,000 g/m2/24 h
eVent DVlite™	10 000	18,000 g/m2/24 h
GORE-TEX®**	28 000	< 9 RET***
GORE-TEX® Pro	28 000	< 6 RET
GORE-TEX® Active	23 000	< 3 RET
GORE-TEX Paclite®	28 000	< 6 RET

* Vapor permeability indicators indicated by manufacturers are measured by different methods: eVent indicates test results using the MVTR method, Gore uses the RET method. It is difficult to draw a correlation between them. In general, eVent specifies an RET rating of 3 to 5 points for its waterproof membranes, depending on the type of product.
** In the GORE-TEX® product class, data is provided only for a three-layer laminate with a conventional lining, since eVent does not have analogs for other membrane structures in this class.
*** The lower the RET value, the higher the breathability of the material under study.

From the table above it can be seen that eVent membranes are generally inferior to GORE-TEX in terms of water resistance, but are noticeably superior in breathability. From this we can conclude that eVent membranes are more suitable as clothing for intense aerobic activity with a lot of sweating, and where reliable protection from extreme weather is required, GORE-TEX products remain the most suitable.

Windproof membranes DVwind™ and DVstretch™

eVent fabrics® wind protection technologies are DVwind™ and DVstretch™. Their general purpose is to provide comfort during active activities in the wind.

DVwind™— original eVent technology, which protects from wind, breathes well and removes excess moisture from the body into the environment. Garments using DVwind™ membrane construction help keep you dry and comfortable during intense physical activity in strong winds.

Vapor permeability of DVwind™:

Purpose of DVwind™

It is used in the manufacture of equipment for hiking, camping, and everyday wear.

DVstretch™ like DVstorm™, this is one of the latest developments of eVent, which is the pride of the company.

The innovative features of the new material with an ePTFE membrane are its high elasticity. DVstretch™ membrane sandwiches stretch up to 85% without permanent deformation, that is, they fully recover after such significant stretching.

Functional stretch fabrics created using DVstretch™ have entered the cycling market primarily. This became possible largely thanks to the collaboration of eVent fabrics® designers with the Italian textile house ITTTAI-Bel Punto S.r.l.

Vapor permeability of DVstretch™: 18,000 g/m2/24h (JIS 1099-B1).

Purpose of DVstretch™

It is used to create equipment for activities such as running, cycling, winter sports, as well as in urban clothing.

Summary

The American company eVent fabrics® positions itself on the market as a manufacturer of high-performance waterproof, breathable and protective laminates based on ePTFE membranes.

All eVent laminates are based on Direct Venting™ technology, the company's proprietary invention. This technology provides high waterproofness and excellent vapor permeability.

eVent fabrics® technologies with an emphasis on waterproofing - DValpine™, DVstorm™, DVlite™.

eVent fabrics® technologies designed for wind protection - DVwind™, DVstretch™.

• The use of DVstretch™ technology allows you to create elastic clothing that fully recovers its shape and maintains its performance even after 85% stretch.

March 20th, 2016 , 06:18 pm

Recently I began to notice that manufacturers are trying to use membrane fabrics for all possible and impossible reasons. A stereotype about the extreme usefulness of these fabrics in clothing has been introduced into the minds of consumers. The stereotype is that the main thing is protection from precipitation and wind, as well as the declared vapor permeability, which gives comfort when using these things. I wonder what the share of marketing is in the trade of membrane fabrics?

As a result of my search, I came across a series of articles in backpackinglight.com magazine from 2011. The article is still relevant today. I’ll try my hand at translation).

Now there are two concepts: Soft Shell and Hard Shell. Hard Shell is what is traditionally called a storm jacket in Russian. The jacket is built around a waterproof membrane, while protecting against wind, but has limited ventilation and steam escape capabilities. SoftShell, on the contrary, are built around the concept of windproofing, and have limited waterproofing capabilities.

This article will talk about Hard Shell technologies.

A new revolution in waterproof, breathable fabric technology.

About 35 years ago, W. L. Gore & Associates developed a thin waterproof material called PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene or Teflon) and patented it under the brand name Gore-Tex. The eVent technology is more breathable, but due to marketing, Gore-Tex still remains as the gold standard for a waterproof, breathable jacket. Finally, after many years, the status quo began to change. Gore-Tex's dominance is being challenged by new players in the market. They are introducing new technologies and making sufficient marketing efforts to change the balance of power in the market in this niche. These technologies are designed to improve comfort for outdoor enthusiasts, i.e. for our readers.

We're seeing the beginning of a revolution in waterproof, breathable fabrics, where innovation is based on differences in manufacturing techniques rather than just marketing gimmicks. Market share contenders are trying to explain to consumers the differences in technology that may make them better than Gore-Tex.

Rivals

Traditionally on the market we are already familiar with Gore-Tex and eVent with their products. They are by no means standing still: Gore-Tex introduces a new Active Shell for outdoor activities with “exceptional breathability”, eVent is expanding the business by offering customized solutions for clothing manufacturers. New players: Columbia with Omni-Dry, Polartec with NeoShell, Mountain Hardwear with DryQ material.

There are a total of five major players that are developing new technologies in the field of membrane fabrics. They all claim to be different and more breathable than Gore-Tex. Many focus on thin, lightweight fabrics that are best suited for high physical activity.

This is the largest wave of new membrane fabric technologies in history. What are their differences?

Key differences

Through marketing, Gore-Tex has become the gold standard in waterproof, breathable fabrics. But we know that classic Gore-Tex puts more emphasis on the word "waterproof" ("guaranteed to keep you dry") than on the word "Breathable." Indeed, this membrane is waterproof, at least for the first year. But "breathable" is an exaggeration. Gore-Tex's vapor permeability is based on vapor diffusion. The inside of the garment must be warm and humid enough for water vapor to be absorbed into the membrane and evaporate on the other side. In the classic article Waterproof Breathable Fabric Technologies: A Comprehensive Primer and State of the Market Technology Review by Alan Dixon, Gore-Tex is the most effective technology for transferring moisture at high humidity levels to one side. This means that the wearer of the jacket must first get hot and sweaty, and only then get the “High” from the moisture escaping. And here a natural question arises: “Do they call this breathable fabric?” Further in the article I will distinguish between vapor permeability and air permeability.

Construction of a traditional Gore-Tex membrane. The bottom layer is protective, a thin layer of polyurethane to protect the membrane from contaminants (sweat, sunscreen, insect repellent, etc.). It is the weak link and minimizes the air permeability of the membrane.

To solve this problem, many manufacturers add additional ventilation elements (for example, zippers in the armpit area) to jackets using classic Gore-Tex. This helps remove moisture and improves comfort. However, it should be noted that additional ventilation reduces the humidity inside the jacket, and actually turns off the removal of moisture through the membrane itself. If this is so, then why the membrane?

Products from eVent and three newcomers. The main difference between their technologies and classic Gore-Tex is breathability. This allows moisture to be transferred using air convection through the fabric, as well as vapor diffusion. The problem with breathability in classic Gore-Tex membranes lies in the thin polyurethane layer that protects the membrane from oils from sweat. Because of it, moisture can only be removed through vapor diffusion, excluding any breathability directly through the fabric. eVent's breakthrough technology is the creation of an oleophobic (grease-repellent) ePTFE membrane that does not require a protective PU layer. Thus, the fabric has some breathability, which makes it possible to remove moisture using direct blowing of water vapor and increases wearing comfort.

All Gore-Tex competitors target its weak point - lack of air permeability. All of their technologies are air permeable to some extent. Manufacturers emphasize that the small amount of air that can pass through the fabric is enough to effectively remove moisture and make the jackets much more comfortable during high physical activity. It is stated that very little air permeability is enough to remove moisture, while the wind protection of the product does not suffer at all.

For example, Polartec NeoShell has a breathability of 0.5 CFM (cubic feet per minute). This is significantly different from Gore-Tex (0 CFM) and EVENT (0.1 CFM).

Now let's take a look at individual technologies.

Gore-Tex Active Shell
Not wanting to be left behind, Gore-Tex launched Active Shell in the fall of 2010. They claim this is the most breathable laminated membrane they make.

Active Shell is based on Gore Activent technology, a fabric created in 1995 and used primarily for windbreakers. Activent was a highly breathable and water-resistant material, popular among endurance athletes. The new Active Shell, according to the manufacturer, is much better as a result of the new technological process. Regular Gore-Tex is a sandwich of outer fabric, an attached PTFE membrane, a thin layer of polyurethane, and a fabric liner. Gluing it all together are thousands of micro-dots of glue that add weight and reduce breathability in addition to the polyurethane layer. In the new design, the polyurethane layer itself acts as an adhesive to hold the thin knitted lining and membrane together. In addition, the membrane has become thinner, and the lining fabric stretches to make it more comfortable to wear.

Please note in the above description that the polyurethane layer is still present in the membrane fabric construction. Therefore, despite all the successes of Gore-Tex, Active Shell is still a classic membrane fabric in which moisture is removed using water vapor diffusion. And the improvement in weight and vapor permeability characteristics is associated with the elimination of the adhesive layer, the use of a thinner membrane, external and internal fabric.

The following classification of Gore-Tex fabrics can be distinguished:

• Just Gore-Tex and Gore-Tex Performance Shell - for general use.


• Gore-Tex Pro Shell - For mountaineering and professional use


• Gore-Tex Paclite - rain jacket for wearing only in the rain


• Gore-Tex Active Shell - for active physical activity.

eVent
eVent technology implements the concept of a breathable membrane combined with sufficient water resistance. They found a way to make the PTFE membrane oleophobic without adding a polyurethane layer. Although this approach provides greater breathability and comfort in use, market realities give eVent a smaller share. Primarily appreciated by tech-savvy outdoor enthusiasts.

eVent has responded to the revolution in breathable, waterproof fabrics in its own way. They have changed their marketing strategy and are offering their clients (clothing manufacturers) extremely flexible terms. Namely, manufacturers can now choose to: 1) use the eVent brand and reputation for display in their product, 2) use eVent membranes in their own designs and sell under their own brand. Those. Now each manufacturer can have their own branded fabric with an eVent membrane inside. Theoretically, this will allow for better testing of the technology, but there will be more confusion for buyers.

Polartec NeoShell

Polartec began aggressively introducing new products to the market starting in the summer of 2010. In particular, Polartec Power Shield Pro fabrics, which, according to the manufacturer, block 99% of wind and have water-repellent properties. The remaining 1% of air circulation inside the fabric ensures excellent transport of moisture outward due to convection. Power Shield Pro fabric is now actively used by manufacturers when creating SoftShell clothing lines.

NeoShell fabric is based on Polartec Power Shield Pro with the addition of a membrane. As a result, air permeability decreased from 5 CFM to 0.5 CFM. This turned out to be sufficient to increase the water resistance to 10,000mm. Compared to Gore-Tex's 0 CFM and eVent's 0.1 CFM, this allows for increased outward moisture transfer through convection in addition to vapor diffusion. This supports the claim that NeoShell is the most breathable waterproof fabric on the market today.

According to the manufacturer's description, NeoShell is a membrane made of submicron polyurethane fiber, not PTFE. Polartec will launch NeoShell in fall 2011 in Eider, Mammut, Marmot, Mountain Equipment, Montura, Rab, The North Face, Vaude and Westcomb.

Columbia Omni-Dry

Like Polartec, Columbia does not disclose the technical aspects of its membrane and focuses on performance. As far as one can judge, this is a modified high-density polyethylene, weighs 7g/m2, is elastic and durable. It is 75% lighter than Gore-Tex. Columbia claims Omni-Dry is the “Lightest membrane in the industry,” has similar water resistance to Gore-Tex, and is breathable like DryQ and eVent.

Omni-Dry should not be confused with Omni-Tech membrane, which is a polyurethane laminate. This is Columbia's first waterproof-breathable technology since 2008.

Mountain Hardwear DryQ

Additionally, Mountain Hardwear (owned by Columbia) entered the competition with their DryQ, a PTFE-based membrane. The company ended its partnership with Gore-Tex and entered into a contract with GE Energy, the General Electric subsidiary that makes the eVent. The company cites the unique combination of eVent membrane, high-quality face fabric and technology that allows it to be combined into the DryQ material. Thus, Mountain Hardwear is the first manufacturer to use the OEM eVent in its own designs and sell it under its DryQ brand.

Three variants of DryQ are offered: DryQ Elite for high-altitude mountaineers and alpine skiers, DryQ Active for heavy physical activity and DryQ Qore for the mass consumer.

What does all of this mean?

What conclusions can be drawn from this technology review:

• All new entrants into the waterproof, breathable fabric market are incorporating membranes into their construction to ensure true breathability.


• They are all fighting with Gore-Tex for market share, trying to convince consumers of the benefits of breathability. That their technology is superior in comfort to traditional Gore-Tex.


• Don't think that Gore-Tex will give up without a fight. The Active Shell membrane has already been launched onto the market. The competition is expected to be interesting.


• After many years of living with clearly defined boundaries between Gore-Tex and eVent, the development of competition cannot but please buyers.

For tourists

It is important to note that the easiest way to improve ventilation and moisture removal from a Hardshell jacket is to simply unzip the front zipper and the underarm zippers. For tourists who carry a backpack, it should be understood that it covers most of the back, the waist belt covers the bottom of the jacket, and the front straps press the jacket to the body, reducing air circulation inside. This significantly reduces the area of ​​the jacket for moisture removal. As a result, we sweat, despite all the tricky membranes. Undoing the front zip is quick and easy.

I ( author) I have not yet met a Hardshell jacket that did not fog up while moving uphill with a backpack. When it rains, we have no choice, we have to use windbreakers and regulate the temperature with inner clothing and unzipping to achieve comfort. Moreover, any increase in the breathability of the fabric undoubtedly leads to an improvement in the situation.

Given the limitations on the breathability of membrane jackets while wearing a backpack, we really should use membrane technologies designed for high physical activity. The question is, will increasing the breathability of the windbreaker fabric improve comfort in these conditions? Laboratory tests for air and vapor permeability are based on the same methods and provide an opportunity to compare different technologies. But perhaps a more reliable result can be obtained by actually using it in the field under a backpack to see if there are significant differences. Does it make sense to buy an expensive membrane jacket and then carry a backpack? backpackinglight.com is going to test the new technologies in practice and will report the test results.

P.S. In the future, if the topic is interesting, I plan to translate the remaining two articles from the series:

Field testing of membrane fabrics and technologies. Part 2. Are there any differences in real conditions? Description of the test method and presentation of results when tested in field conditions

Field testing of membrane fabrics and technologies. Part 3. Discussions, conclusions and effectiveness of individual storm boots. Generalization of conclusions and practical results in field conditions with a backpack. Pros and cons of buying an expensive membrane jacket. Test data for each jacket compared to "traditional" Gore-Tex is presented, plus my comments on the most appropriate uses for the test jackets.

eVent fabrics allow the body to remain in a comfortable zone. The fumes escape directly to the outside of the fabric.

eVent– the world’s only porous hydrophobic Teflon membrane with integrated oleophobic protection.

Peculiarities:
- High moisture resistance;
- Excellent breathability;
- Unlike porous and combined membranes, it removes evaporation directly without diffusion through a non-porous membrane;
- Works better than other moisture-proof membranes at high external humidity;
- Works better than other membranes at sub-zero temperatures on the membrane;
- Reduces the likelihood of overheating compared to conventional membranes.

Structure of the eVent Teflon membrane

eVent® fabrics let the sweat out™

Comparison of eVent membrane with a combination membrane

Direct Venting™ technology

The fumes escape directly to the outside of the fabric.

Works at any temperature and relative humidity inside.

Precursors based on polyurethane membranes

This membrane needs to become wet before it begins to remove moisture.

The polyurethane membrane requires a higher internal temperature.
A polyurethane membrane requires higher humidity inside.
The polyurethane membrane requires a higher partial pressure from the inside.

In the comfort zone with eVent fabrics

eVent fabrics allow the body to remain in a comfortable zone.

For a long time, eVent was laminated onto fabric exclusively at the production of the Japanese company Mitsui. Since 2010, the eVent membrane began to be laminated to fabric at many production facilities at different levels, including in South Korea and China.

The properties of the laminate are determined by the selection of fabrics and the perfection of lamination technologies. There are many products with eVent membrane on the market, differing significantly in cost and actual functionality.

Since 2011, GE, the membrane manufacturer and owner of the rights to the eVent Brand, has allowed manufacturers to use their own Brand-name for fabrics with the eVent membrane. There are now a large number of membrane materials on the market based on eVent technology and under different brands.
Most of them are inferior in their properties to the classic eVent from Mitsui.

An idea of ​​the functionality of a particular material can be made based on studying its characteristics: moisture resistance and breathability.

eVent Pro

A new exclusive material developed in accordance with our requirements, taking into account the latest trends in the development of membrane materials and the progress of technology.

Careful selection of fabrics and improvement of the lamination process made it possible to obtain a new generation of material.

eVent Pro surpasses the classic eVent in almost all comparison indicators: moisture resistance, breathability, durability of the inner layer, softness.

*Data for eVent 3L, manufactured by Mitsui, used in Torok and Az Torok models.

Comparison of the inner surface of three-layer membranes

Classic eVent 3L Knitted structure.

eVent Pro 3L Woven structure. Wear resistance is much higher.

Features of eVent Pro 3L:
- Maximum breathability of all membranes with moisture resistance above 20000mm - MVTR A1 10000 g/m2/24h, MVTR B1 32000 g/m2/24h;
- Maintains efficiency with a small difference in partial pressures of water vapor, which provides a high level of comfort during prolonged precipitation and active movement;
- Due to the effective transport of water vapor, it prevents overheating during movement;
- High moisture resistance 40,000 mm;
- Durable woven laminate inner layer;
- Durable nylon upper material;
- Made in Japan.

– an original hydrophobic Teflon membrane with a porous structure and integrated oleophobic protection, developed by BHA Technologies. Its features are excellent breathability, high moisture resistance, evaporation is removed directly through a pore-free membrane without diffusion. This membrane works better than others at sub-zero temperatures and high external humidity, and also reduces the likelihood of overheating. As a result, eVent materials allow the human body to always remain in a comfortable zone. Unlike other membranes, eVent uses Dry System and Direct Venting technologies. Therefore, there is no need to protect the membrane from body secretions with an additional polyurethane coating. All fibers of the material are treated with such an oil-based substance, which creates a structure of constantly open pores. This increases the conductivity of body evaporation.

The most important advantage of eVent membranes is that they remove moisture equally well at both high and low humidity levels. Independent laboratory tests from the renowned Swiss institute EMPA have confirmed that the eVent membrane is currently the most breathable of all similar materials on the market.
There is another unique feature of the eVent membrane. Its fibers are treated with a substance of such a composition that the product can be washed repeatedly using conventional detergents. And this does not reduce the breathability and waterproof properties of the membrane. Moreover, to maintain excellent vapor permeability, BHA Technologies engineers recommend washing products made from eVent membrane fabrics more often.
eVent Pro 3L is a new exclusive material that takes into account the most progressive trends in the development of membrane materials. It surpasses the classic eVent in many respects: breathability, moisture resistance, softness and durability of the inner layer. This material provides a high level of comfort during active movement and prolonged precipitation. The body not only does not get wet, but also does not overheat, maintaining a normal temperature.

At the moment, many products with the eVent membrane have appeared on the market, which differ significantly in functionality and cost. This is due to the fact that the owner of the rights to the eVent brand and the manufacturer of the membrane, GE, has allowed manufacturers to use their own names for fabrics with the eVent membrane since 2011. True, most of these membrane materials are still inferior in properties to the classic eVent produced by Mitsui.