Breathable clothing is essential to outdoor adventures. Not only does it enhance comfort, but breathable garments allow perspiration vapors to escape which in turn helps sustain energy and concentration levels throughout.

Breathable gear is essential in cold environments and during activities that elevate heart rates, such as cycling. Continue reading for more details on how breathable fabrics work and which brands test for breathability.

Waterproof/Breathable Fabrics

Fabrics designed to repel liquid water but allow its vapor through are ideal for rainwear and outdoor sports clothing, keeping rain out while permitting sweat evaporation to escape. This makes these materials great for keeping out rain while permitting sweat evaporation.

There are various waterproof/breathable fabrics on the market. Perhaps most famous among them is Gore-Tex, with its membrane placed over top fabric. Other examples are The North Face’s DryVent, Patagonia’s PFC free Pertex Shield+ and Fjallraven Eco-Shell fabrics.

These fabrics typically consist of 2- or 3-layer materials and require a liner, featuring face fabric and either PU (Polyurethane) or ePTFE membranes for breathability. The best of them boast high dynamic breathability ratings – meaning more effort means increased airflow compared to static breathability which remains constant during rest or non-movement; some fabrics such as Nikwax Analogy and FurTech may even feature directionality to wick away sweat away from your body more efficiently.

Waterproof/Breathable Membranes

Waterproof breathable membranes form the core of any breathable outdoor fabric and make it possible for sweat to escape while keeping raindrops at bay. Created by Gore-Tex, these membranes consist of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with microscopic pores designed to block liquid water while still allowing air passage, keeping raindrops out while permitting sweat from your hardworking body to escape through sweat evaporation.

The membrane is attached to the face fabric with an inner liner for additional protection, helping prevent oil and dirt from clogging the holes and hindering breathability. Furthermore, this lining adds warmth while increasing durability of fabric.

GORE-TEX remains an iconic waterproof breathable fabric, but gear makers now have access to numerous alternatives that compete directly with it in terms of both durability and breathability. Popular examples are eVent and Polartec Neoshell which directly compete with Gore-Tex products; Rab’s Ceplex can also provide breathability solutions while various polyester membranes such as those used by The North Face’s new FUTURELIGHT fabric (introduced 2019) offer greater PFC-free options.

Waterproof/Breathable Layers

Waterproof/breathable fabrics are designed to keep you dry and allow sweat vapor to escape during intense physical exertion activities, often by creating an impermeable barrier too small for water but large enough for body vapor transmission. Most often they consist of laminates or coatings applied directly onto shell or mid-layer fabrics.

Gore-Tex, eVent and Polartec Neoshell membranes offer great waterproofness while remaining highly breathable; however, even the best waterproof breathable layers cannot compare with wind shells when humidity and exertion levels increase significantly.

Consider wearing a soft shell jacket equipped with strategically-placed areas of waterproof/breathable fabric, layering up with moisture-wicking base layers and an insulating mid layer, then covering up with a hardshell coat with taped seams to protect from rain and snow, or alternatively wear raincoats with taped seams; durable water repellent (DWR) coatings help water bead off face fabrics more quickly.

Waterproof/Breathable Alternatives

If the feel and crinkle of GORE-TEX bother your skin or you simply prefer natural materials, there are other waterproof/breathable alternatives. Waxed cotton rain jackets from Norrona, Wander and Goldwin are an example. Wax was applied using hot ironing technology for an extremely hydrophobic surface capable of withstanding rainstorms without pit-zips or hood cinches being necessary.

Two-ply fabric is another great solution that provides both protection against scrapes and scrapes while letting sweat pass through it, with an outer facecloth to guard against scrapes, as well as an internal membrane to repel water and allow sweat evaporation. This material is both breathable and durable but often requires hanging mesh linings to shield its membrane against accidental abrasions.

More recently, The North Face introduced FUTURELIGHT, an air-permeable membrane designed to block water droplets while still allowing sweat vapors (created during activity) to escape. TNF designers can tailor it for specific uses as well as making it more durable or stretchy or lightweight if necessary.