Pittards® Armortan® is a ruggedly durable, water-repellent leather offering superior grip and excellent dexterity in all weather conditions. Armortan® encases the chemical structure of the leather in microscopic ceramic “armor plates” which are more resistant to abrasion, thus increasing the durability of the leather by preventing wear on contact surfaces and materials. Outdoor Research utilizes Pittards® Armortan® leather in select ice climbing gloves, ski gloves and mountaineering gloves.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Grip-enhancing leather designed to excel in both wet and dry conditions, and featuring special technology for better contact adhesion, allowing tool handling with maximum control. Pittards® leather offers a unique combination of permanent properties that are essential to athletes in search of elite performance. Outdoor Research utilizes Pittards® OilTac leather in select ice climbing and mixed climbing gloves.

Popularity: unranked [?]

An active odor control technology made from silver salt (low concentrations of recycled silver), Polygiene® inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria, fungus and mildew, for long-lasting fresh-all-day odor protection. Outdoor Research integrates Polygiene® into select technical layers, hopefully preventing you from grossing out your tent-mate.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Pertex® Shield fabric balances waterproofness, breathability and wind resistance all within a flexible, durable and lightweight construction. The combination of technically advanced face fabric technology with a proprietary PU film laminate balances the best performance in waterproof breathability with excellent durability. Outdoor Research uses Pertex® Shield fabric in select skiing and mountaineering shells, and shelter systems.

-          How do I wash it?

Machine wash, gentle cycle, 40c, recommend pure soap or detergent (do not use biological products) rinse well in cold water. Tumble dry on a cool setting (to restore water repellency) then cool iron (if applicable). Do not dry clean and do not bleach.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Ultralight fabric offering a high level of breathability and weight-savings, ideal for insulating layers where high water resistance isn’t as important. Outdoor Research uses Pertex® Quantum fabric in select lightweight insulating apparel.

Popularity: unranked [?]

This water-resistant, windproof, vapor permeable shell keeps the elements out while allowing internal moisture to escape. Lightweight and extremely compressible, Outdoor Research uses Pertex® Endurance fabric in select insulating and technical apparel, headwear and shelter systems.

-          Main Properties

* 100% windproof

* 1000mm water column, highly water resistant

* Very breathable, also at low temperatures

-          Used In

* High performance sleeping bags

* Expedition apparel

* Down jackets

-          What is it?

Pertex® Endurance technology incorporates an ultra-thin membrane with a durable nylon face fabric. This layer is so thin that it hardly adds any weight, nor does it considerably affect the softness of the material.

-          How Does it Work?

One thing we learned from sleeping outside is that your bag tends to get wet. Pertex® Endurance fabrics have one main objective – to provide maximum protection from moisture. This works in two ways ways:

* Pertex® Endurance keeps water, snow and wind out

* Pertex® Endurance allows moisture to pass freely from the inside. This keeps your bag dry from condensation.

Endurance technology is an ultra-light monolithic (solid) membrane applied to a durable nylon face fabric. The membrane contains a matrix of hydrophilic molecules, these ‘water liking’ molecules create pathways along which moisture can readily diffuse into the atmosphere. The outer surface of the fabric is treated with a water repellent finish to prevent water being absorbed into the nylon fabric. Endurance works by allowing the water vapor produced by the body to diffuse freely to the outside atmosphere. At the same time, light rain or snow cannot penetrate the outer shell, therefore the insulation remains drier and more efficient.

-          Is it Waterproof?

We don’t classify Pertex® Endurance as waterproof. It achieves a water column of > 1000mm. However it depends on the application if the final product is claimed as waterproof. Sleeping bags with taped seams are claimed as waterproof, sleeping bags with open seams are not.

-          Pertex Endurance Increases Thermal Efficiency

The thermal efficiency of down and synthetic insulation reduces significantly when exposed to moisture. Pertex® Endurance keeps moisture out over extended periods ensuring the down filling is totally dry and fully efficient. Compared to other shell fabric Pertex® Endurance is 100% windproof. This property increase the thermal efficiency of the sleeping bag – warm air can’t escape, it remains trapped inside the bag. Pertex® Endurance can increase the thermal efficiency of a sleeping bag by up 10ºF/5ºC.

-          How Does it Benefit the User?

Pertex® Endurance makes your sleeping bag warmer and dryer while maintaining a low weight and excellent packability.

-          How do I Wash it?

* Machine or hand wash at 40ºC (104ºF)

* Use a synthetic setting and mild soap

* Avoid fabric softeners

* Rinse well in cold water

* Cool tumble dry

Popularity: unranked [?]

A warm, stretch microfleece with a smooth, hard-wearing nylon face and soft textured back, offering moisture transport and abrasion resistance. Outdoor Research uses Motion Fleece in the construction of select technical apparel, where freedom of movement and moisture transport are of paramount importance.

Popularity: unranked [?]

A warm, high-loft pile with a soft interior and abrasion-resistant face. Outdoor Research uses Moonlite Pile in select skiing and mountaineering gloves.

Popularity: unranked [?]

-          What is Insect Shield?

Insect Shield® Repellent Apparel and Insect Shield® Repellent Gear are revolutionary products designed to provide long-lasting, effective and convenient personal insect protection. The durable protection provided by Insect Shield apparel and gear is the result of years of research and testing. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency granted registration of Insect Shield Insect Repellent Apparel—the first-ever, EPA-registered insect-repellent clothing. Recently, EPA has granted Insect Shield extended durability claims for its apparel registration, through 70 washings. Seventy washings is nearly three times the longevity of the original EPA apparel registration at 25 washings. Insect Shield apparel and gear products combine the patent-pending Insect Shield process with a proprietary formulation of the insect repellent permethrin—resulting in effective, odorless insect protection that lasts the expected lifetime of a garment. Fabric treated with Insect Shield® Permethrin insect repellent repels mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers and no-see-ums for invisible, odorless protection from bites and insect-carried diseases. Outdoor Research integrates Insect Shield® into our BugOut Gaiters® and Kids’ BugOut® Gaiters.

-          How did permethrin originate, and what are its uses?

Permethrin is a man-made version of a natural insect repellent found in certain chrysanthemum plants. The Insect Shield process binds a proprietary permethrin formula tightly to fabric fibers—resulting in effective, odorless insect protection that lasts beyond the expected lifetime of apparel. Permethrin has been successfully used in the United States as an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered product since 1977, with an excellent safety record. It is used in lice shampoos for children, flea dips for dogs, and various other products, some of which are regulated by the FDA.

-          Which insects does Insect Shield repel?

Insect Shield® Repellent Apparel has been proven and registered to repel mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges (no-see-ums). Insect Shield® Repellent Gear has been proven and registered to repel mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and flies. The EPA requires extensive effectiveness data to prove a product’s ability to repel insects. Many species and varieties of these insects have been tested, including those that can carry dangerous diseases.

-          Tested and Proven

Insect Shield technology results from years of intensive research and field study. Numerous studies have confirmed the effectiveness of permethrin-treated clothing as an insect repellent. Insect Shield’s own testing methods follow United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines, and the results conclusively show that our unique, long-lasting insect protection works.

-          Durable

The repellency of Insect Shield apparel is EPA-registered to last through 70 launderings—the expected lifetime of a garment. This is also well beyond the life of most performance finishes commonly used in the technical-apparel industry.

Popularity: unranked [?]

GORE-TEX^® fabrics are waterproof, windproof and highly breathable. All GORE-TEX^® products are manufactured according to strict quality and performance standards and will keep wearers dry in even the toughest conditions. Placed between outer materials and the garment lining, the GORE-TEX^® membrane allows perspiration to escape while providing a barrier against both water and wind. A durable, waterproof and windproof barrier created specifically for sleep systems. Outdoor Research uses GORE-TEX® Respiration Positive™ vapor and gas permeable fabric in the construction of select shelter systems.

Popularity: unranked [?]