Gore-Tex XCR®

W.L. Gore, makers of Gore-Tex, has developed a new technology that’s as weatherproof as classic Gore-Tex, yet improves significantly on the insidious wet that you get from sweat. It’s called Gore-Tex XCR-for Extended Comfort Range.

Using new membranes and improved lamination techniques, Gore-Tex XCR has 25% less resistance to moisture vapor transmission than classic Gore-Tex. That means it has much less resistance to passing water vapor through the fabric to the outside air. You stay drier: about 17 oz. ( of water) drier in an 8 hour period. This superior breathability does not sacrifice waterproofness-Gore-Tex XCR has extreme wet weather rating.

Fabrics

Fabric selection starts with fiber and yarn. Marmot spends a lot of time analyzing and testing many types of fabrics with varying combinations of fiber and yarn looking for the best combination for each end use product.

Particularly unique to Marmot is the extensive use of high tenacity yarn, the creative combinations of high tenacity and false twist textured yarns and the development of fabrics with the best performance for each specific end use.

Fiber

Nylon Vs Polyester - each has its own strong points.

Nylon - high tear strength and abrasion resistance.

• Nylon 6 - the first and most common nylon.
• Nylon 6.6 - a DuPont development increasing the tear strength, abrasion resistance and UV resistance of type 6 nylon.

Polyester - high resistance to UV degradation, low stretch.

High Tenacity - this process increases the tensile strength of the yarn to considerably improve the tear strength and abrasion resistance. More expensive and harder to dye, it is not commonly used except in top quality products.

Used in sleeping bags, tents, packs and outerwear.

Yarn - a yarn is made from strands of fiber called filaments. Being creative in making a yarn from the fiber can enhance performance.

Micro fiber - a micro fiber yarn is when the number of filaments is greater than the denier number. Example: 70d yarn with 72 filaments would be considered a micro fiber. Micro fibers are more flexible and produce softer better feeling fabric.

Texturing of the fiber is the process of rearranging the orientation of the nice straight filament fibers. This produces certain characteristics such as: cotton feel, silky feel, softer handle, and can also affect performance such as abrasion resistance, water uptake and DWR.

Non Textured/Flat - smooth finish, sheds rain, light weight, good abrasion resistance.

Used in shorts, pants, and outerwear.

False Twist Texture - flatter silkier feel, better DWR and helps minimize moisture pick up in the rain Enhances abrasion resistance.

Used in some lighter weight shell fabrics to soften the hand.