To put the air permeability in perspective its 2 CFM from here. So if you then look at the helpful chart here, then its actually below windproofs - and a long way below standard powershield.
So the top of the article is a touch misleading - there's no way this is anything less than a lot less breathable than standard powershield. No more than you'd expect from the extra waterproofing of course
Thats not to belittle this. It should still be somewhat more breathable than windstopper/Event. Its just not a midlayer replacement or anything. The 'original' powershield still does that much better.
I guess it'll live/die by how much waterproofing its giving you. If it'll do as a shell then it really could be genuinely good. Especially for summer if seam sealed with thin outer/backer fabrics like 'standard' waterproofs....
This is more than a little frustrating. When I heard about the powershield update I imagined better breathability, not a move into windstopper territory. What I (and probably others) wanted was something with excellent breathability but still more wind and water resistance than a straight non-membrane softshell. If you want something with excellent water resistance and decent breathability then just buy windstopper, which, judging by my Haglofs Sharkin pants - currently getting used on their own high on Scottish hills, with no overtrousers in my pack - really is nigh on waterproof.
Maybe time to fork out for some old powershield before it goes.
I don't think this necessarily means that the existing PowerShield is being superceded, in fact there are new variants on that around imminently - increased breathability traded for slightly reduced windproofing again.
Windstopper fabric is effectively waterproof btw, but seams aren't taped so will leak in heavy rain. Breathability of Windstopper is around the same as eVent, so reasonable, but not outstanding. I've been using the latest G2 Ultimate Mountain Pant a lot this winter and it's been great in really cold conditions, but in milder weather, the fabric feels clammy ime.
I've edited the article slightly btw, apologies for any confusion.
I suppose that I should own up that I have been using this fabric for a couple of years now having been given early meterage of the membraned-fleece (as part of the Performance Sportswear Design degree). It is just that now it has been officially launched onto the market...
IMHO, in British conditions, it is fab! The weatherproofing works as much as a hard-shell (I always seem to get a perspiration build-up in shells), but it is still very breathable. Not as breathable as Powershield. The finishing of the garment (especially taping) has progressed a lot from our construction methods (we did rolled seams then).
Worth having a long look at, especially if you - like me - do not go out in the very worst conditions. If it is likely to be damp, then it is great; it is more breathable than a lot of the membraned soft-shells I have used
I suppose that I should own up that I have been using this fabric for a couple of years now having been given early meterage of the membraned-fleece (as part of the Performance Sportswear Design degree). It is just that now it has been officially launched onto the market...
IMHO, in British conditions, it is fab! The weatherproofing works as much as a hard-shell (I always seem to get a perspiration build-up in shells), but it is still very breathable. Not as breathable as Powershield. The finishing of the garment (especially taping) has progressed a lot from our construction methods (we did rolled seams then).
Worth having a long look at, especially if you - like me - do not go out in the very worst conditions. If it is likely to be damp, then it is great; it is more breathable than a lot of the membraned soft-shells I have used
Thanks for the hands on review - really looking forward to getting one myself now, just hope they are in the below £100 range rather than the above £200 range!
Hummm. The competition (from my perspective) isn't really membrane soft shells its say a standard power shield + shell jacket set up.
If this new thing lets you leave the shell behind then there's some point, otherwise the other one gives you a lot more breathability for an awful lot of conditions and a (slightly) more secure shut down option if it does turn silly.
(in hard winter conditions you might sometimes not want to let any wind through )
Where I can see it being a potentially very big win would be, if possible, putting this membrane in a lightish summer shell style jacket. The wind is a total non issue then and you're much less likely to have to carry a shell too.
Meanwhile the breathability should be a lot higher than anything else which sensibly works in really wet summer weather. (There's always Paramo in winter of course.). It might even just about (with venting maybe) manage to do instead of a wind shirt.
