Omni Dry Q&A
1) What is Omni Dry?
Omni Dry is an ultra breathable waterproof membrane from Columbia Sportswear that can outperform any system in the industry.
- Omni Dry membrane has incredible air passage capabilities for a waterproof breathable, at 100cc per minute. The industry leader has no air passage at all.
- Omni Dry membrane is the lightest membrane in the industry at 7 g per sq/ yd., which is 75% lighter then industry leaders.
- Omni Dry membrane in fact consists of 60% air.
- Omni Dry membrane also surpasses or equals industry leaders in areas such as MVTR and waterproof ratings.
- Omni Dry membrane has a very durable bond to its face fabrics. Tests show it consistently exceeds industry leaders with comparable face fabrics.
- 100% of those how have tested Omni Dry have felt the fabric has the highest breathability that they have felt in a waterproof garment. Also, testers all agree that the garments are very light when compared competitors made with similar face materials and features.
In addition, construction on all Omni Dry products are fully sealed using industry leading methods optimized for Omni Dry.
2) What is the difference between Omni Dry, Omni tech and competitors?
The bulk of our competition does not meet the common definition of breathable. Their waterproof fabrics do not allow any air passage through them. So, how can they still make the claim? Answer, they are describing the sponge like moisture wicking characteristic of their fabrics as breathable, this does help excess moisture escape but only if significant moisture is created first. This moisture needs to be in direct contact with the membrane to start drawing moisture through them. It is not true breathability.
Omni Dry and Omni Tech both have air permeability, which makes their characteristics similar. However, Omni Dry has about 4X more air passage capability then Omni Tech. And Omni Dry is a much lighter membrane then Omni Tech.
On the conventional measurements such as MVTR and water pressure, Omni Dry exceeds Omni Tech by about double.
3) What is the big deal about air passage (or air permeability)?
The answer is in every day common sense, when things are getting hot and humidity is increasing one seeks airflow to stay comfortable. Common examples are being in a car or building without AC, the first instinct is to open a window or door to create some draft.
Next generation breathable waterproof materials use this same principle. The entire surface area of the material works to allow airflow and keep the user from feeling clammy. To be able to create a membrane that is waterproof to extreme pressure yet easily allows airflow is true science at work. Omni Dry is leading the way in this next generation of breathable waterproof materials. Time after time in field tests, users feel the difference right away.
4) Is Omni Dry totally waterproof?
Yes and we guarantee it.
5) Some of our competitors mention numbers like 10000 what does this mean?
In general this would indicate a result from conventional tests that measure water pressure resistance and moisture transfer rates. These numbers provide no indication of air passage.
Unfortunately there are as many as 13 different tests that can be used to generate these results and when applied to the same material all give a different result. Some of the most effective tests express the result in a low number range, as a result the industry does not often use these tests because they don’t attract consumer attention to the same degree. This is unfortunate because a high result on such tests such as the A1 upright cup JIS 1099 test really correlates to comfort. The most common test is the B1 inverted cup JIS 1099, which generates the highest numbers of all the test methods. Unfortunately this B1 test does not correlate with noticeable changes in comfort, when blind tested users can’t indicate which product has a high B1 result and which product has a much lower one.
Unfortunately, this system has not worked for explaining waterproof breathable products. If you ask large groups of consumers about these numbers they have absolutely no idea what they mean. Most of us who have spent years in the industry can’t explain them either.
With Omni Dry and Omni Tech we have a simple explanation for how the materials breathe … “air permeability” and moisture vapor transfer made possible by “micro-porous” membranes. In the case of Omni Dry it is at the highest available levels in the industry.
At the same time Omni Dry and Omni Tech membranes are structured to be highly waterproof, in the case of Omni Dry water pressure can exceed the highest levels of most test machines which is 20000mm or 66 feet of water stacked on top of the material. These numbers are not relevant to use or comfort since users are never exposed to such extremes. But, we can confidently say is the fabric is waterproof and beyond that what is important is the use of high quality construction to seal seams, zippers and other openings in the garment.
5) How has Columbia Tested Omni Dry?
At Columbia we use our extensive materials research team to put Omni Tech through a large array of tests both in the lab and out in the field
A key sampling includes:
1) Environmental Chamber tests, where we create a hostile weather environment and monitor the comfort of a very high tech manikin with 26 heat/ sweat zones plus thermal imaging. We also use human testers in this same closely monitored environment.
2) Real world field tests, through Beta Project Omni Dry was truly proven, this facilitated the testing of hundreds of garments with a global group of users. All with very positive feedback especially regarding breathability, weight and waterproof levels.
3) High pressure waterproof testing, where various tests can be used to apply large amounts of pressure to the material.
3) Abrasion Testing, where the fabric is exposed thousand of abrasive cycles of simulated wear.
4) Freezer flex testing, here the material is continuously flexed under tension at extreme cold temperatures to insure no cracking of the membrane will occur.
5) Extensive wash testing, simply home washing for 24 straight hours.
6) Precision weight testing, constant monitoring of precise material weight insures consistency in the membrane and construction process.
7) Air permeability testing, where the flow of air through the materials is precisely tested.
8) Snag testing, this simulates catching on sharp objects such as thorns as a measure of real world durability.
6) Could I ever feel wet in Omni Dry or Omni Tech?
Yes. Omni Dry and Omni Tech require proper care to keep them performing at their best, if the product has a lot of soiling the Omni Shield defense layer present with both technologies could cause the sensation of leakage from condensation. The product needs to be kept clean according to care instructions… do not use fabric softners and double rinse. DO NOT DRY CLEAN.
7) Is Omni Dry and Omni Tech safe against my skin?
Yes, it complies with all health regulations and standards.
8) How should Omni Dry or Omni Tech fabric be washed and cared for?
Follow care instructions on the garment carefully. Fabrics with DWR polymer should be washed at medium or low temperature (care label will indicate) with powdered detergents. It is best to avoid liquid detergents and especially fabric softeners as they increase the surface tension of the fibers and can greatly reduce performance. Also, it is very important to rinse thoroughly to insure no soap residue remains in the textile: a double rinse can be a good idea if you are looking for the very best performance. If the fiber type is appropriate for ironing (meaning natural fiber or most woven synthetics set to low heat, read care label) it is recommended as it helps restore the polymers to their original state. If the product is dry cleaned this will likely permanently destroy the Omni Shield finish. DO NOT DRY CLEAN.
9) My Omni Dry or Omni Tech product is not repelling, what’s wrong?
Most likely one of two scenarios:
1. The textile has built up a layer of grime or soiling on its surface, which water and other liquids are absorbing into that layer. To correct the problem, wash and dry according to the care instructions.
2. The textile has been washed incorrectly and has soap residue or softening agents on the surface of the fibers. Water and other liquids are absorbing into to these substances. To correct the problem, wash and dry according to the care instructions.
10) How long is the “Life” of an Omni-Dry product?
Cared for according to the instructions Omni Dry product will retain its protection properties for the normal like of a garment. This life span varies greatly on end use and frequency, but as always we build the product to exceed the vast majority of consumer expectations.
11) What should I say if someone asks me the difference between Omni-Dry and Gore-Tex?
Gore Tex is an excellent product. In fact, Columbia has utilized Gore Tex for decades and was one of their very first customers. At the same time we believe Omni Dry is an incredible product that can keep you even more comfortable then Gore Tex on many fronts. When enjoying activities in foul weather we believe and have observed that the user will find Omni Dry to be less clammy, lighter weight and ultimately drier then Gore Tex.
Regards
calusasurfandski 