Regatta Announce Self-Heating Fabric

Regatta's not a name you'd normally associate with cutting edge innovation, but come next winter, things look set to change a little.

At the Soltex trade show the other week, the company unveiled the intriguingly named Modulator Intelligent Insulation System that's going to be incorporated in one men's and one ladies' jacket for next winter.

So what is it? In theory it sounds a bit like Outlast, or, em, wool for that matter. The Modulator is a grid-textured, fleece-type fabric that forms the lining to a waterproof breathable jacket - the clever bit is that it's exothermic. In other words, as water vapour is generated through exercise, the material releases dry heat. The more water it absorbs the more heat it produces until it becomes saturated when heat production stops.

Wick-ed...

It also wicks efficiently and, say Regatta, acts as a reservoir for moisture which can be generated faster than can be expelled by the breathable shell - as a buffering layer in other words - holding the moisture away from the wearer until a reduction in activity levels allows all the moisture to be expelled.

It's a difficulat concept to get your head round and we found ourselves going through possible scenarios - first, we reckon it's going to be a cold condition jacket first and foremost, with the heat production increasing the insulation value of the jacket.

Next, Regatta say it will work best for steady activity in cold conditions, where steady vapour production will be effectively wicked away and keep you warm at the same time. With stop / start activities, things are less clear, though unless you go berserk and completely overwhelm the fabric, things should balance out.

Domesday Scenario...

The domesday scenario's the one we like most though, you walk to fast, generate too much vapour, which in turn creates heat through the exothermic reaction, making you even hotter and sweatier, till finally the lining is saturated, you're exhausted, heat productions stops, you stop and freeze to death in your own sweat... or maybe not.

Interesting idea and, in dependable Regatta fashion, at a very reasonable price of £88 for both the men's Nevis jacket and the splendidly named Heidi for the girlz.