UKC

For the equivalent use i.e 3 layer goretex vs. 3 layer event, paclite goretex vs. lightweight event.

Apparently goretex is more durable?

In reply to Roberttaylor: eVent is more breathable.

http://www.facewest.co.uk/Gore-Tex-eVent.html

In reply to Roberttaylor: I've found eVent to be more breathable for myself BUT my latest Proshell is not far behind. Had no durability problems with eVent but it does seem to need washing more than Goretex.

My latest buy is some Montane DT Meteor Pants, slightly sweatier than both but fit and work so much better... for me better functionality won out over better breathability.

In reply to Roberttaylor:

half the breathability of any bit of gear is its design.

i reckon incite breathes better than both but it never took off.

In reply to Roberttaylor:
Have you considered Paramo? Might be worth a thought.

In reply to Solaris: I have used eVent and gore, gore was more useful to me in the outdoors world. Its like cars, do you want a fast as f**k car that needs a lot of care, and may be in the garage when you want it, or do you want a ford transit that's not that fast but will work for years on no more than old chip fat. If you can wash it a lot eVent will work well, i sweat so much that it was all most weekly. This info was from when i worked in the outdoors world, about 2 1/2 years ago, just about the time the NEW gore fabrics came out. At that time gore had put in for something like 28 new patents, so i reckon their new fabrics much be getting better, fast.

but now i use Paramo in winter, and the lightest hard shell i can find cheap for the summer.

In reply to Roberttaylor:

As your hand goes to open the zip somewhere for the first time in your £250 crisp packet of choice I'm sure you all think the same as me - this is not supposed to happen. Or am I too quick or too fat for the technology?

Regards

D

In reply to Roberttaylor: I have just switched for Goretex XCR to Event and I cant believe how much difference there was.
Andy

In reply to andyd1970: refering to my last message Meaning the Event is miles better

In reply to Roberttaylor: 'Event' in my experience more breathable that 'Gore-Tex'

In reply to Roberttaylor:

Event by miles

In reply to Roberttaylor: Thanks all, the majority seem to think event. I looked at paramo but it seemed too warm..

In reply to Roberttaylor: eVent is more breathable with a lower hydrostatic head, which means it may leak in heavy rain - if you want a shell for use in the alps this of course wont be a concern - Scottish winter however may sway your decision.

I steer clear of eVent, everyone I know with eVent products has said that eventually it leaks.

In reply to Roberttaylor:
Just change the way you think about layering. Having said that, for summer alps I recently bought a Paclite in a sale because it works out lighter overall and I'm prepared to put up with the much lower breathability if I'm retreating from an alpine storm! (First time I've used Goretex for getting on for 15 years!)

In reply to Merlin: I found that if you don't wash it often, then it can wet out and you seem to sweat more in it. Can't say I found it leaked any worse, even sitting for lunch in puddles.

eVent is a massive jump in breathability from Goretex XCR, which I would guess that is what most people have/had when they made the switch to eVent. I had XCR, moved to eVent and then on to Proshell. IME Proshell Goretex is not that far behind eVent and I sweat like a monster. I wouldn't discount Proshell - unless maybe all the people above have moved to eVent from it? I'd be interested to know myself. I went to Proshell as I wanted the Raptor hood, I've come to the conclusion that a decent hood is far more important when it comes to keeping dry than what fabric you use.

If you're serious about breathability, then just make sure when it's not actually raining, get the shell in your bag and wear a windproof instead, something from Montane or the like. It's the only thing that works for me.

In reply to Roberttaylor: You've opened a can of worms...

eVent beats all market forms of gore-tex in almost every 'breathability' test. There are a LOT of testing methods. In real life, eVent is more breathable than gore-tex based on my own experiences, and the experiences of others. However, eVent is a pain to clean, and once dirty can leak.

My last waterproof was eVent. My current one is Pro-Shell. That was a consious decision.

The durability of the membrane has very little effect on overall durability. It is almost entirely to do with the face fabric. A 1000d megabeast material with gore-tex or eVent membrane will both last way longer than a gore/eVent jacket that weighs 300g.

This article got me thinking about my eVent jacket. So I got i out and used it. GOT WET! so washed it in liquid detergent, rinsed it, wash it in nicwax reproofer, dried on a radiator, then squirted in grangers, then ironed, then radiator dried it again. And now its waterproof again. A lot of work, but it does work well now. If I get board I will tell you when it leaks again.