Membranes & functional finishes

Acrylic coating as an affordable alternative to PU; waterproof but less breathable.

Finishing with silver ions to reduce bacterial growth and odour development.

Finish or construction preventing the formation of pills (small knots) on the fabric surface.

A fabric's ability to transport water vapour (body sweat) to the outside.

Polymer layer that blocks liquid water but lets water vapour pass; micro-porous or hydrophilic.

Thin polymer film laminated between shell and lining; waterproof and vapour permeable.

Textiles with antimicrobial finish against bacteria, fungi and odour.

Fluorine-free DWR treatment from Germany's Rudolf Group — mimics bee-hair and lotus-leaf effect, without PFAS/PFC.

Joining two or more fabrics via adhesive or heat activation into a composite.

PU-based in-house membrane by Vaude for rain and softshell wear — waterproof, windproof, breathable, offered in several performance classes (Active/Pro).

Adidas technologies for ventilation and moisture transport – today largely replaced by AEROREADY.

Textile with an applied polymer layer (PU, PVC, acrylic) for weather protection and hand modification.

Polyester fibre with active particles from coconut-shell activated carbon – regulates moisture and body temperature.

Four-channel polyester fibre with increased surface – actively wicks sweat outwards.

Synthetic staple-fibre insulation by Arc'teryx; compressible and named by fabric weight.

Non-porous PU membrane by Toray with very high stretch and water column > 20,000 mm.

Non-porous, elastic polyurethane membrane by Toray for ski and outdoor wear — high hydrostatic head and temperature-driven breathability.

Nike's proprietary polyester microfibre technology that moves sweat from the skin to the fabric surface.

Waterproof-breathable PU membrane by Mountain Hardwear — an alternative to Gore-Tex in the outdoor segment.

Durable water-repellent finish on the fabric surface; droplets bead off.

Synthetic down fill made from 100 % recycled PET, developed as an animal-free alternative to goose down for winter jackets.

Value polyurethane coating/membrane by Toray for entry- and mid-range outdoor gear — solid waterproofness, moderate breathability.

Microporous ePTFE membrane with “direct venting” – vapour escapes without a PU sandwich layer.

A fabric's ability to move sweat from the skin outward and spread it for evaporation.

Materials converting UV into visible light and thus appearing especially bright.

Loose fibre web used as thermal insulation, wadding or preform for non-wovens.

Thin 3-layer GORE laminate for endurance sports – maximum breathability at low weight.

Non-waterproof but wind-proof and breathable GORE membrane for lifestyle and dry-weather wear.

Ultra-light 2.5-layer GORE-TEX build for packable rain shells.

GORE's most rugged 3-layer membrane for expedition and alpine shells; now with ePE membrane.

Ultra-thin 2-layer build with the GORE-TEX membrane on the outside — extremely light, water beads off instantly, no DWR refresh needed; discontinued end of 2023.

Ultralight Gore-Tex laminate with no face fabric — just an ePTFE membrane and inner tricot; sheds water instantly, phased out in 2023 in favour of new PFC-free membranes.

Fluorine-free, water-based DWR coating from HeiQ — bio-based, wash-durable, developed as replacement for C6 and C8 fluorochemistry.

Active cooling finish from Swiss manufacturer HeiQ — responds to body temperature and sweat, opens the fibre and accelerates evaporation.

Silver-based antiviral and antibacterial textile finish — inactivates SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses and bacteria within minutes.

Post-treatment application of a durable water-repellent (DWR) finish on outdoor textiles after loss of the original coating.

The North Face's in-house polyurethane rain membrane; waterproof, breathable, usually built as a 3-layer laminate.

Waterproof-breathable PU membrane by The North Face — predecessor of the current DryVent technology.

Branded membrane with 5,000 mm water column and about 5,000 g/m²/24h breathability.

Loose-fill polyester clusters that mimic the loft structure of goose down.

Antimicrobial hygiene finish by Swiss supplier Sanitized AG with different active agents (silver, zinc pyrithione).

Bionic membrane from Swiss Schoeller Textil AG that opens and closes its pores in response to temperature — inspired by the pine cone; regulates water-vapour transport to body temperature.

3M retroreflective material with glass-bead or micro-prism technology for high-vis wear.

Technology-neutral umbrella term for antibacterial textile coatings with silver (Ag+, AgCl, nano-silver); reduces bacterial growth and odour.

PFC-free water-repellent silicone finish — supple hand, breathable, popular fluorocarbon replacement since 2020.

Multi-layer functional laminate of stretch shell, membrane and inner fleece; wind- and water-repellent.

Wool finish that smooths or coats the scale layer of the fibre – the fabric does not felt.

Membrane whose structure and pore size are the same across the entire thickness — as opposed to an asymmetric membrane with a dense skin layer over a porous support.

Inner or outer fabric strip behind a zipper preventing wind and rain ingress.

Composite of face fabric + microporous membrane (ePTFE, PU) — keeps water out, lets vapour through; the basis of rain jackets.

Antimicrobial textile finish with metallic silver nanoparticles (< 100 nm).

Ultra-thin, mostly fluor-free polymer coating that makes fabrics windproof without significantly reducing breathability.

PFAS-free reproofer from British manufacturer Nikwax for breathable membrane jackets — wash-in or spray-on, without fluorochemistry.

Textile sheet made of fibres bonded by mechanical, thermal or chemical means, not woven or knitted.

Columbia lining with reflective silver dots; reflects body heat back to the wearer.

Waterproof, breathable membrane by Columbia Sportswear with seam-sealed construction.

Waterproof-breathable construction by Columbia in which the membrane is laminated to the outside — no face fabric, no wet-out, no DWR needed.

Ultra-light downproof Pertex nylon fabric below 30 g/m² — the classic shell for down jackets and synthetic insulation pieces.

Waterproof 2.5- or 3-layer laminates built around a hydrophilic PU membrane; brand of Mitsui/Pertex.

Ultra-lightweight waterproof and breathable 2.5- or 3-layer construction of the Pertex Shield family for fast alpine activities.

Ultralight, air-permeable 2.5-layer construction from the Pertex Shield family — high breathability, waterproof at around 10,000 mm water column and long-lasting DWR treatment, ideal for trail running and fast-and-light jackets.

Textiles and finishes free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Air-permeable soft-shell membrane by Polartec – waterproof at very high breathability.

Silver-chloride based antimicrobial textile finish; prevents odour by slowing bacterial growth.

Antimicrobial finish by Swedish company Polygiene AB against odour build-up; based on silver chloride from recycled silver, extending wash intervals.

First synthetic insulation from 100% recycled, biodegradable polyester - fibres break down in landfill and seawater.

Entry-level PrimaLoft: black-dyed microfibres; light, soft and affordable, ideal for lifestyle puffers.

PrimaLoft's top-tier insulation – finest microfibres, retains warmth when wet almost like down.

Stretch and air-permeable variant of the PrimaLoft Gold family for high-output active and ski-touring insulation.

Original PrimaLoft synthetic-down insulation (developed 1983 for the US Army) — ultra-fine microfibres, extremely down-like, water-repellent, retains 96 % of thermal performance when wet.

Mid-tier PrimaLoft: strong price-performance, durable, often made from recycled polyester.

Polyamide fabric (usually PA 6.6) with a polyurethane coating on the back — light, tear-resistant, with water columns of around 3,000–10,000 mm the standard waterproof construction for backpacks, tents, rainwear and overtrousers.

Fabrics releasing moisture quickly and drying completely in a short time.

First fully plant-based, fluorine-free water repellent under the Teflon brand (Chemours) — for membrane face fabrics and apparel.

Branded thermal insulation of fine microfibres by 3M; highly efficient at low bulk.

Monolithic, hydrophilic membrane made of thermoplastic polyurethane; waterproof and breathable.

Fabric without polymer coating; air-permeable, soft, but not waterproof.

A fabric's ability to block UV radiation, expressed as the UPF value.

Fabric surface where water beads off without the fabric being fully waterproof.

A material's ability to let water vapour pass while blocking liquid water.

Fabric construction withstanding a static water column above 1,500 mm.

Metric for a fabric's waterproofness, expressed in mm of water column.

Fabric property to largely block wind (air flow).

ePTFE membrane by Gore that is 100 % windproof, highly breathable and water-repellent — built for cold, dry conditions.