Mountain Hardwear Introduces DRY.Q
Mountain Hardwear has some summer news for all us backcountry skier types - a new fabric was just announced that is waterproof and breathable and comes in a variety of flavours depending upon your activity. It has been dubbed "DRY.Q"
We here at Backcountry Skiing Canada were fortunate enought to get a sneak peak at just how DRY.Q performs in the backcountry over this past spring when we tested the Drystain and Snowtastic jackets which both use DRY.Q fabrics. Have a read through the press release below and then cruise through the reviews here and here to decide for yourself.
MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR™ INTRODUCES DRY.Q™– WATERPROOF-BREATHABLE TECHNOLOGY THAT KEEPS YOU DRY ON THE INSIDE AND FROM THE OUTSIDE
Mountain Hardwear’s commitment to total garment innovation ?inspires Dry.Q family of technologies.
Strathroy, Ontario - June 23, 2011 – Mountain Hardwear, a leader in technical outdoor apparel, equipment and accessories, announces the launch of Dry.Q, a new family of waterproof-breathable technologies for Fall 2011.
Dry.Q Elite, the pinnacle technology in the family, prevents the wearer from getting soaked from the inside by their own perspiration at all levels of exertion. Featured in the brand’s Alpine, Snowear and Mountain categories, Dry.Q Elite brings durability to waterproofness and breathability and provides always-on performance via air-permeability.
Traditional waterproof-breathable systems work by moving internally-generated moisture out through the shell fabric, but the wearer must first overheat and feel wet on the inside before the membrane begins to work. Dry.Q Elite breathes instantly, allowing air – and moisture – to pass outward through the fabric so that breathability and comfort starts the moment the wearer puts on the garment.
Additional members of the Dry.Q family include:?Dry.Q Active: Lightweight, stretch and waterproof-breathable performance for active sports, such as running, offered in Mountain Hardwear’s Excel sportswear collection.
Dry.Q Core: The versatile and durable foundation of Dry.Q for a wide variety of outdoor activities, found across Mountain Hardwear’s Alpine, Snowear and Mountain collections.
“In our tradition of challenging ourselves and pushing the limits, Mountain Hardwear’s fabric and technology engineers took innovation to new heights to create the most comprehensive line of uncompromising performance products on the market,” said Ken Allen, Director of Marketing for Mountain Hardwear Canada. “Dry.Q is truly new technology.”??“Over the years, consumers have been conditioned to accept compromises in the performance of their traditional waterproof-breathable products. Our competitors have been repackaging 30-year-old technology as state-of-the-art,” Allen continued.??Through Dry.Q’s combination of supreme quality face fabrics, barriers, backers, glues, tapes and lamination technology, Mountain Hardwear now offers a series of durable performance fabrics designed for specific activities.
After a 500-wash standard, the entire Dry.Q family of technologies remains more waterproof than all the others, and up to two times more breathable than industry standards. “But what really impressed us were the immediate results of our Moisture Vapour Transfer tests. There was no lag time; Dry.Q Elite started working immediately to allow moisture to escape,” Allen said.
Mountain Hardwear athletes, our most critical testers, are giving Dry.Q Elite rave reviews. “With Dry.Q Elite, we finally have come up with an answer that works,” stated alpine climber Freddie Wilkinson. “The human body wasn’t designed to have a bag around it. When your jacket doesn’t breathe fast enough, your body, your physiology works against you,” he continued.
Mountain guide Dawn Glanc agreed, “I was able to stay protected from the elements, but at the same time be very comfortable on the inside. This is a level of comfort that I’ve never been able to experience before.”
Dry.Q will be available to the public through the brand’s retailers in Fall 2011. Visit Mountain Hardwear's website for videos and more information on Dry.Q and our other technologies.
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About Mountain Hardwear ?Mountain Hardwear, Inc. makes cutting edge mountaineering and outdoor equipment, apparel and accessories for ultimate performance in extreme conditions. Established in 1993 by a group of outdoor industry veterans, Mountain Hardwear is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Company. Mountain Hardwear distributes its products through specialty outdoor and sporting goods retailers throughout the Canada and over 40 countries worldwide. Mountain Hardwear has won numerous product and customer service awards since its inception, reflecting the company’s commitment and passion toward innovation. It’s our relentless drive to create the absolute best that makes us who we are. Mountain Hardwear. PERFORMANCE ELEVATED™