The bibs go touring…
This is Episode One of a series of posts where we test our product and explain the processes that bring it to life. We believe in iterative design, long-lasting and beloved product, community, and consumer transparency. Making apparel is hard, and fabric is confusing, so we want to educate you on its complexities and involve you in the process.
Background
When we first designed this product, we knew the PVC panels would not be breathable, so we added breathable and air-permeable softshell paneling to the chest, waistband, and back yoke. We also decreased the size of the chest panel, removed non-breathable pocket liners, paneled 3L fabric where pants don't routinely wet out, and added a side zip for venting. We questioned whether these heat-dumping measures would outweigh the drawbacks of the PVC-coated panels.
The plot thickens…
Around Christmas, the bibs and my friend Laura and I ski toured for about three hours, gaining about 1,800 vertical feet. We literally saw quite a bit of moisture build-up behind the PVC panels—moisture build-up behind the PVC fabric on Awning Bibs is more visible than a traditional 3L fabric because of the lighter sage color and the clear coating. Despite this, the bibs maintained their comfort until I sat in the snow at the top, at which point I got cold.
I remarked half-way through our first climb, "Woah, I don't feel hot at all" and I might not have noticed the moisture build-up without the visible signs. We have heard other whisperings of the bibs performing well while touring, but other users have reported feeling moisture build-up and heat behind the panels while driving the 1 1/2 hours back to Bellingham from Baker.
Another consideration is the impacts of this moisture build-up. I noticed sitting in the snow at the top was colder than usual. A friend in Colorado toured on a single digit day, and while she didn’t feel cold because she was moving, she noticed the internal moisture icing up.
Sciency stuff
Let’s take a deep dive on fabrics facing high-output activities in cold environments. Moisture build-up undoubtedly happens with traditional 3L ski pants. You likely experience it to a lesser degree, and the three-layer construction makes it harder to see. 3L fabric's ability to regulate condensation is an essential characteristic of these traditional waterproof fabrics.
We typically say these fabrics are breathable and waterproof, but saying "breathable" is misleading: we breathe air, but 3L fabrics do not. “Breathable” does not imply air escapes through the membrane; instead, it elicits moisture or "sweat vapor" escaping. “Air Permeable,” by contrast, designates fabrics that allow air to escape. Sadly and not sadly, waterproof “Air Permeable” membranes typically use PFAs and are gradually being discontinued.
I searched for a video demonstrating how vapor escapes from traditional 3L, but all the videos show “Air Permeability” disguised as “Breathability.” So, I settled on this video depicting the breathability of a "sanitary napkin" clearly posted by a male because women call them pads—but I digress. You can see that, with heat, condensation escapes from the pad. This condensation is the moisture that builds up inside the PVC coating, but can escape (better) behind a 3L fabric.
The big takeaway
Try it out for yourself! People are different. And note, while we had reasonably pleasant touring experiences, we still do not call these a touring pant because they cause excess moisture build-up during high aerobic activities. If the moisture gets cold, it can make you cold. Dump the moisture, dump the heat for a more comfortable experience, whether you are touring or at the resort. We believe that shorter side country laps are a more suitable activity. And maybe take them off before you drive.
Also! Please send feedback! Things we are considering now are: more 3L paneling at the outseam and additional side vents (on the inner leg or another one on the opposite side)