Schoeller Dryskin Nanosphere rant

I've always heard people bang on about the virtues of schoeller fabrics, and yesterday I bought a pair of ME Combin pants based partly on the claims made about the fabric. Working in the industry, I've opften had reps tell me how great the stuff is but this is the first garment I've actually owned with that material.

In the kitchen today, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to upend a full mug of water over my leg (product testing at its best!) I'll be honest, I'd expected it to be good but it beaded up better than some hard-shell fabrics. The blurb describes how water and dirt can't adhere to the microscopic texture of the fabric, and it's true! Most of it beaded and rolled straight onto the floor, the rest I was able to just wipe away with my bare hand leaving the fabric more or less bone dry to the touch. I've tried this with powershield, etc and found that there's always a bit of absorbtion into the surface, but not so here. Witchcraft, I say!

Anyway, that's my gear-rant of the day. I'm a fully converted Schoeller man!

I was looking for a pair of troos myself Simon, made with a tight, woven stretch fabric. The Combins were on my list, but i went for a pair of Arcteryx Gamma AR's. Like the Combins, the water-resistance is amazing. I held them under the tap full blast, and the water simply ran off! The new fabrics being used are a major step-up from what i've been used to. Here's hoping the performance lasts!

Initial impression is of good breathability for the style of fabric. Obviously it's not really comparable to a pair of basic lightweight walking trousers, but we're talking about a different beast altogether. I haven't pushed them hard yet but I've had a bit of a play and I definitely rate them better than windstopper and probably slightly better than powershield. Bear in mind though that membrane-type softshells can have all kinds of face fabrics and backers that will improve or worsen the breathability of the garment, whereas scholler and other woven materials won't vary as much.

Also bear in mind that the snugger an item fits the better moisture transfer will be. I tend to wear lightweight synthetic tights under trousers in a lot of conditions (full in cooler conditions or 3/4 in milder), the skin-tight layer helping to transfer moisture immediately away from my skin where otherwise the outer trousers wouldn't touch.

IME breathability in the Dryskin ones is remarkably good.  IMHO it's the Badger's Nadgers for trews.

Pete.

Surely a rant is a negatively-oriented outpouring...?

It should be a 'Schoeller Dryskin Nanosphere rave', shouldn't it...?

;-)

I am also a big fan of the fabric, right at the moment I wear a ME Lismkamm Pant although I am sitting in front of my Computer...

 And so am I always looking for clothing out of it, but at the moment I do not find much to be there ? I know Mammut uses it, and Mountain Hardwear even made a Jacket which I unfortunately missed, also Cloudveil, but who else does ?

Any sugestions would be highly appreciated !

Surely it being merely wind resistant instead of windproof means that the breathability is automatically at least pretty good?

Yes there isn't much Schoeller clothing in the UK for some reason. A non trivial amount of single layer stretch woven fabrics though - Pertex Equilibrium from a few folk, Haglofs do bits in various Flexable fabrics, Pataguici do some similar things etc etc.

Not sure quite how they all stack up but should be relatively similar.

Mike fae Dundee wrote (see)

 the water-resistance is amazing. I held them under the tap full blast, and the water simply ran off!

Surely that's the DWR, not the fabric?

Every DWR coated jacket/trousers I own behaves exactly like that.  ME Powershield, Haglofs Performac, Haglofs Climatic  -  run tap water, spill mugs over them etc. and not a drop sticks.

Llywelyn Bren wrote (see)

Mike fae Dundee wrote (see)

 the water-resistance is amazing. I held them under the tap full blast, and the water simply ran off!

Surely that's the DWR, not the fabric?

Every DWR coated jacket/trousers I own behaves exactly like that.  ME Powershield, Haglofs Performac, Haglofs Climatic  -  run tap water, spill mugs over them etc. and not a drop sticks.

I guess it's the same Schoeller 'dryskin' fabric used in outdoor gear, but I've been put off schoeller dryskin due to my experience with these  Stihl chainsaw trousers which use it.

Not very durable at all - even a small amount of abrasion makes them snag/tear and bobble really easily.

I wouldn't buy another pair - too expensive for the short length of time that they look good and are repair free.

Hopefully mountain pants are of a heavier grade fabric?

Llywelyn Bren wrote (see)

Mike fae Dundee wrote (see)

 the water-resistance is amazing. I held them under the tap full blast, and the water simply ran off!

Surely that's the DWR, not the fabric?

Every DWR coated jacket/trousers I own behaves exactly like that.  ME Powershield, Haglofs Performac, Haglofs Climatic  -  run tap water, spill mugs over them etc. and not a drop sticks.

Mike fae Dundee wrote (see)

Yeah, i know it's the DWR, but i didn't expect it! Most things i've had with a DWR have had a 'shiny' surface, and you expect water to run off it. These troos have more 'normal' woven surface, and it's surprising to see the fabric acting like a waterproof shell.

Aha, am glad someone brough these trousers up - was thinking about getting some of them myself.

However, I'm not sure they're appropriate for their intended use, so some advice required if possible.

I'm off to Sweden in March (apparently might get to around -10C, so fairly cold) to do a bit of skiing (first time) and hopefully some hiking. Obviously these trews are waterproof, but will they be warm enough? I consider myself to run pretty warm and will be wearing some IceBreaker leggings too, but in comparison to 'proper' ski trousers the Combin's are somewhat lacking in insulation, no?

Mike Lewis wrote (see)

Aha, am glad someone brough these trousers up - was thinking about getting some of them myself.

However, I'm not sure they're appropriate for their intended use, so some advice required if possible.

I'm off to Sweden in March (apparently might get to around -10C, so fairly cold) to do a bit of skiing (first time) and hopefully some hiking. Obviously these trews are waterproof, but will they be warm enough?

The fabric is water resistant, not waterproof...

I've got one for you.

Have you not noticed the spell checker?