Pertex Shield Air

Pertex Shield Air is a specific tier within the Pertex Shield family from the British manufacturer Mitsui Pertex. The construction combines a nylon ripstop face fabric (typically 15-30 den), a hydrophilic microporous PU membrane and - depending on the variant - a 3D mesh inner liner (Air 3L, 'active liner') or an ultra-thin PU coating (Air 2.5L). Aim: extreme lightness with full weather protection.

Typical performance: water column 20,000 mm (ISO 811), MVTR 20,000-25,000 g/m2/24h to JIS L 1099 B-1 (sweat-driven), fabric weight 55-95 g/m2. As with all Pertex Shield membranes, moisture transport is dynamic: the higher the body heat and sweat rate, the more vapour is transferred (active diffusion). The face is finished with a PFC-free C0 DWR (durable water repellent) - standard on all new stock since 2022.

Typical products: super-light emergency jackets (Rab Phantom Pull-On, 105 g), trail running rain jackets (Salomon, Montane), alpine racing jackets (Haglofs L.I.M Airak, Strafe Nomad). Target users are trail runners, ski tourers and mountaineers needing minimal pack size and minimal weight. Downside: the thin construction has a limited lifespan, often 200-400 wear days - the membrane is optimised for performance, not for years of everyday use.