Schoeller / Mammut Launch Smart Fabrics

Tag : Clothing Membrane

A couple of other interesting developments from the recentFriedrichshafe OutDoors show, this time courtesy of Mammut and Schoeller in the clothing area.
Black That's Cool In The Sun
One of these is black clothing that stays cool even in the sun.Mammut has three new garments due out early in 2009 which use Schoeller ColdBlack technology, so despite their black colour, they are highlyreflective and allow less heat through to the user.
The top-end Logan Jacket is going to retail for a scary £450and is described as 'top of the range', but there's also a Verglassoftshell jacket - £180 - that uses a Schoeller Dryskin outerwith a nano-sphere DWR and a pair of pants in Dryskin with a 3XDRTfinish and ActiveSilver antibacterial impregnations.
It's an interesting development, because despite lots of talk aboutsmart fabrics and nanotechnology, it's only now that we're startingto see them appearing in outdoor clothing.
Fabric Like Pine Cones...
The other interesting development from Mammut is the Cho Oyujacket, an alpine shell which uses a new waterproof Schoeller c_change membrane which is said to open and close 'like a pine cone' depending onthe ambient temperature.
At higher temperatures or in response to increased heat fromphysical exertion, the structure of the membrane opens up torelease excess water vapour to the outside, but at lowertemperatures, the membrane closes up to conserve heat around thebody.
Mammut claims that not only is it very adaptable, but it 'offersnew levels of vapour permeability' despite having a 20,000mmhydrostratic head. The jacket itself is claimed to be lightweightand compact, has stretch panels and anatomical fit and all modcons.
Definfitely looks interesting - bear in mind that some users find,say, eVent fabric, while highly breathable, can feel cold whenstationary precisely because it is so vapour permeable, so the ideamakes a lot of sense.
Both new technologies will arrive in the UK in spring 2009. Detailsof the current Mammut range at www.mammut.ch . More information about Schoeller at www.schoeller-textiles.com .