New Fabrics 2005/06

Sportwool: The natural solution for sportswear

Sportwool fabric construction features the finest merino wool against the skin, to provide a micro-climate environment, which draws vapour away from the skin, expelling it out into the atmosphere. The removal of vapour from the micro-climate between the skin and fabric reduces the formation of liquid sweat, leaving you drier and more comfortable.

Because kayaking is an athletic activity that encompasses climatic extremes, Sportwool's unique natural thermal regulation and vapour management properties cool you down when it's hot and keep you warm in extreme cold.

The Sportwool fabric chosen by Hydraulics combines odour minimising merino on the inside and a harder wearing polyester on the outside, combined with 19.5 micron merino and polyester lycra. The lycra allows us to create close fitting garments in a rash shirt style, reducing bulk and increasing your pleasure.
For more science visit the sportwool website

Polartec® Power Stretch®

Polartech® Power Stretch® fabrics feature body-hugging 4-way stretch and are very breathable. They keep you warm when you sweat and provide warm weight.

How does it work?
Moisture and high relative humidity next to the skin cause discomfort. Polartech® Power Stretch® keeps the skin dry through three complementary mechanisms:

1. The fabric is highly breathable and does not restrict the movement of moisture vapour
   
2. "Touch Points" on the fabric inner surface draw off the sweat. Sweat is wicked off the skin to the outside of the fabric, where it spreads rapidly for evaporation
   
3. When the sweat reaches the outside of the fabric, it spreads out to many times its surface area, enabling it to dry at least 2 times faster than cotton

Technical Highlights

• Body-hugging 4-way stretch provides unrestricted freedom of movement
• Keeps your skin dry when you sweat
  
• Highly breathable to provide comfort in all activities; does not restrict the movement of moisture vapour
• Provides warmth without the weight and bulk of traditional insulating fabrics
• Wind resistant to reduce the effects of wind chill
• Machine washable

For more science visit the polartech website

New Zealand Merino

New Zealand farming systems and environmental factors deliver quality attributes. For New Zealand Merino customers, these combined attributes produce outstanding yarns and fabrics, exceeding expectations at every level.

Merino is warm, natural and renewable, durable, fire-safe, lightweight, and resists odour and wrinkles. For more information visit the NZ Merino website

HydroTex Soft Shell

HydroTex fabric features a smooth, tightly woven polyester face backed with an anti-pill polyester velour that traps air and provides a high warmth-to-weight ratio. The fabric is thin and flexible and you can use it to replace several layers.

A breathable PU membrane enables the fabric to block the wind and still keep you comfy with superior breathability. HydroTex is also waterproof to 5000mm, which gives you time to get the boats tied onto the roof rack.

Keprotec

Schoeller Keprotec was developed over fifteen years ago for motorcyclists’ clothing. Research work was aimed at a fabric which would provide similar protection levels to leather, but with greater comfort of wear and offering greater freedom of movement.

Through the use of reinforced aramide fibres (kevlar) which up to then had been used primarily in astronauts clothing and in high quality sports equipment, Schoeller succeeded in developing a fabric which met these high requirements.

Keprotec is extremely rub and tear resistant and we have used a stretchy version in the construction of the front pocket of the River Pro.

Cordura

For gear, performance apparel and work wear, Cordura® is the “Tough Stuff”.

When put to the test, Cordura® resists tears and abrasions like no other fabric of its kind. Ounce for ounce, Cordura® is more durable than other fabrics.

Cordura® is:

• 10x more durable than cotton duck
• 3X more durable than standard polyester
• 2x more durable than standard nylon

It's resistant to abrasions, tears, and scuffs--all the qualities you expect from a high performance fabric. We have used Cordura this year in the construction of the River Pro and Venture Pro.