Mel Grindol's post on "Diaplex" got me searching for other Goretex knockoffs. And, look at what I found: http://www.yournewhouse.com/dupont/tyvek.html Yes. Tyvek is also water-vapor-permeable, but water-droplet-proof. Well, I guess we have all been spending way too much money on Goretex garments. We could have been wrapping ourselves up in Tyvek, all these years. <g> -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
At 01:44 AM 3/17/99 -0800, Dave Kruger wrote: >Mel Grindol's post on "Diaplex" got me searching for other Goretex >knockoffs. And, look at what I found: >http://www.yournewhouse.com/dupont/tyvek.html > >Yes. Tyvek is also water-vapor-permeable, but water-droplet-proof. > >Well, I guess we have all been spending way too much money on Goretex >garments. We could have been wrapping ourselves up in Tyvek, all these >years. <g> Hi Dave et al! In shocked disbelief, I had to visit that web site. I have never known tyvek to be breathable; in fact I have had the misfortune to wear tyvek disposable clean-room garments in the past. They are the closest thing to a personal sauna I have ever encountered. How d'you suppose dupont made it "breathable? On the other hand, after nearly 10 years of abuse it is time to retire my North Face gortex shell parka. I am still suffering from the sticker shock which resulted from pricing a replacement. My mission-critical use of this jacket is for mountaineering adventures, so I require a light durable shell which packs small. Should I take out a second mortgage and get another North Face, or can anyone offer an alternative. TIA! S. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Steve Jernigan wrote: > > Dave Kruger wrote: > >[snip] look at what I found: > >http://www.yournewhouse.com/dupont/tyvek.html > > > >Yes. Tyvek is also water-vapor-permeable, but water-droplet-proof. > Hi Dave et al! > In shocked disbelief, I had to visit that web site. I have never known > tyvek to be breathable; in fact I have had the misfortune to wear tyvek > disposable clean-room garments in the past. They are the closest thing to a > personal sauna I have ever encountered. How d'you suppose dupont made it > "breathable? I think it's a matter of degree: humid humans produce an enormous flux of water vapor per square inch when exercising, mandating very high vapor transmission rates. Houses do not produce as much water vapor per square inch, so the **limited** vapor transmission properties of Tyvek can handle house sweat, but not people sweat. BTW, in my Diaplex search, I discovered that Goretex has *other* uses: seat covers, sheets for bedwetters, and other uses you *do not* want to know about in the ... ahem ... reconstructive surgery arena. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Dave Kruger wrote: >BTW, in my Diaplex search, I discovered that Goretex has *other* uses: >seat covers, sheets for bedwetters, and other uses you *do not* want to >know about in the ... ahem ... reconstructive surgery arena. The water purifying industry was researching it as a water filter medium several years, back, also. Dunno if anything ever came of that use. Water can be forced through it, it's just a matter of how much pressure is required to do the trick. It could make for fairly inexpensive water filters a-la Katadyn, MSR, PUR, etc... Hank Hays *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Tyvek and Gortex are two similar products. Gortex is a microporous teflon while the less expensive Tyvek is I believe microporous polyethylene. In theory the tiny pores allow water vapor molecules to pass, but due to the small size of the holes and the surface tension of liquid water droplets of liquid water do not pass through the holes. However what we call Gortex for outdoor clothing drysuites etc. is acutally a laminate of nylon, gortex, nylon. So believe it or not there is some justification to the huge price tags since you are buying three layers of fabric, plus a lot of complicated messing about to seal seams and needle holes with tape, high tech goop etc. The Tyvek clean room suits are just the Tyvek without any protective nylon in or out so they are not very durable, but are pretty cheap. In the environmental clean-up business we use them for protection from chemicals at low risk sites where for example OSHA level C or D protection might be required. The real purpose of protective clothing of this type is to ensure that you are not exposed to the normally trivail risk of chemical exposure, but instead die of heat stroke while doing field work on a hot summer day. By wearing a full face respirator you further ensure that you will not be exposed to chemical vapors, but instead will have tunnel vision difficulty in talking/hearing and therefore you will be squashed like a bug by a tarckhoe or front end loader on the site. Steve Jernigan wrote: > At 01:44 AM 3/17/99 -0800, Dave Kruger wrote: > >Mel Grindol's post on "Diaplex" got me searching for other Goretex > >knockoffs. And, look at what I found: > >http://www.yournewhouse.com/dupont/tyvek.html > > > >Yes. Tyvek is also water-vapor-permeable, but water-droplet-proof. > > > >Well, I guess we have all been spending way too much money on Goretex > >garments. We could have been wrapping ourselves up in Tyvek, all these > >years. <g> > > Hi Dave et al! > In shocked disbelief, I had to visit that web site. I have never known > tyvek to be breathable; in fact I have had the misfortune to wear tyvek > disposable clean-room garments in the past. They are the closest thing to a > personal sauna I have ever encountered. How d'you suppose dupont made it > "breathable? > > On the other hand, after nearly 10 years of abuse it is time to retire my > North Face gortex shell parka. I am still suffering from the sticker shock > which resulted from pricing a replacement. My mission-critical use of this > jacket is for mountaineering adventures, so I require a light durable shell > which packs small. Should I take out a second mortgage and get another > North Face, or can anyone offer an alternative. > TIA! S. > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I've used a MEC Couloir jacket for a few years now and like it a lot (for mountaineering). Costs $345 CDN, which these days is less than most. I got an Activent jacket by Sierra Designs in Prince George on sale for about $100; pretty simple, just elastic cuffs, hood, two pockets, mesh lining. Kept me dry in days of rain in Tonquin Valley, breathes pretty well, and is very light. It was made in Canada, and I haven't seen the same model here in the States, although I live right near the Sierra Designs outlet. -------- Steve asked: > On the other hand, after nearly 10 years of abuse it is time to retire my > North Face gortex shell parka. I am still suffering from the sticker shock > which resulted from pricing a replacement. My mission-critical use of this > jacket is for mountaineering adventures, so I require a light durable shell > which packs small. Should I take out a second mortgage and get another > North Face, or can anyone offer an alternative. -- Rob Gendreau Oakland, California gendreau_at_ccnet.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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