Note that these evaluations were previously credited to W. L. Gore and Associates, Inc.
I was contacted by Gore and was informed that evaluations here are not from Gore or based on any information obtained from Gore. Nor was Gore ever contacted to ensure the accuracy of the data.
Test Method Entrant G2-P Entrant G2-C Ceramic #1 Ceramic #2 NTS 330 MVTR MDM dry 6992 7233 2951 3871 13,663 g/m2/24hrs RET 120 115 263 200 48 m2 mbar/W UK WEP psi 20 5 64 30 65The new Entrant products (and the H2no Plus and Storm) are more breathable than their predecessors although the waterproofness is not changed.
The Triple Point fabrics have very good waterproofness, in the case of the heavier version, comparable to Gore-tex on the UK test. Their breathability on the other hand is not even as good as the urethane coatings.
There are thousands of different fabrics available for manufacturing products. Just the different nylons provide a wide variety of choices in performance and durability as well as price.
Fabric: (Fabric evaluations by Gore labs 6/91 and 4/92)
Evaluations are of named fabrics laminated to Gore-tex membrane
Wgt. Thread Ct. Thread size Test Tear Strength MVTR Abrasion AATCC 135-1987 MDM-Dry ASTM-D-2582 warp fill avg. DriLoft 2.4 94X86 70/34X70/34 180 2.9 2.6 2.8 23,400 NTS 330 3.3 156X70 70/66X2/70/66 427 4.7 4.9 4.8 13,661 NTS 220 2.2 106X94 70/50X70/50 400 3.7 2.9 3.3 13,540 NTS 210 2.1 118X92 70/66X70/66 390 3.4 2.8 3.1 13,730 1.1 oz rip 1.1 125X125 (2.2 f weight) 170 1.6 1.8 1.7 14,881 Streakfree 1.6 174X112 276 2.5 1.1 1.8 11,000 Supp Taslan 3.3 160X68 70/34X2/70/66 400 3.5 4.9 4.2 11,050 Supp Taslite 2.6 118X68 70/34X2/70/66 278 3.4 3.7 3.55 11,956 Gridstop TM 2.8 150 4.9 4.4 4.65 13,000 Superpluma TM Superpluma is 1.1 ripstop Average micro coated 3 oz nylon mid-weight coating (Entrant/H2no) 4,000 " " " " " " heavy-weight (Entrant HP/H2no Plus) 2,600Ceramic coatings (Triple point) achieve the same results as Entrant
Marmot uses NTS 330 Moonstone Supplex Taslite NTS 210 Dynamic: another name for NTS 220 NTS 220 North Face uses Supplex Taslan Streakfree Patagonia uses Gridstop (Polyester ripstop) Super Pluma (same as 1.1 oz ripstop nylon) Gridlite: a ripstop version of NTS 210 (higher tear/lower abrasion)The tests used are standardized, repeatable tests used by the textile industry.
Warp and fill refer to the two axis of the fabric. MVTR is an acronym for Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate. (breathability)
Supplex taslite and supplex taslan are fabrics used for the high abrasion areas of garments.
Streakfree is a lighter supplex fabric used in lighter garments and low abrasion areas.
Superpluma TM and Gridstop TM are trade names for fabrics available from Gore Japan and are not different from fabrics available to other manufacturers. (The dimensions of the aramid grid are proprietary to G.P.I.W., aramid grid fabric is not proprietary and was introduced three years ago by Millet)
Breathability: (the rate at which moisture vapor passes)
MVTR rates are inconsistent from test to test. The values listed above are the average of several tests. A hypothetical fabric with a test result of 12,000 might have readings from 10,500 to 13,500. The use of an average provides a better picture of the MVTR than the high test result among many.
Correlations of MVTR and RET (the resistance to moisture vapor transfer) to comfort have been performed by the Hoenstien Institute in Germany. The following is very brief summary of those results.
MVTR RET Hoenstien correlations to comfort RET comfort level 2,600......309 (H2no+ & H2no) 200-up Not Satisfactory 4,000......200 130-200 Satisfactory 10,000.......72 (most G-tex) 60-130 Good 13,000.......54 (best G-tex) 0-60 Very Good>From the Hoenstien tests we can see that small differences in MVTR do not make a perceivable difference in comfort. Larger differences do make a difference. By dividing the performance into four categories we get useful information. Fabrics with a RET of 200 or higher (MVTR 4000 or less) are noticeably uncomfortable (wet). The rest is divided into a good, better, best, scenario. Real people in field testing conditions were able to perceive an important difference in comfort between the MVTRs of coated fabrics and Goretex as well as (though to a lesser degree) between different shell fabrics laminated to Goretex. (Goretex is 2 1/2 to 5 times as breathable as H2no)