Italian Company Nextec, has developed and patented the new waterproof and breathable laminate membrane OutDry technology.
The OutDry system uses a patented 3D lamination machine and process to adhere a waterproof and breathable membrane to the inside out the outermost footwear layer or glove shell. Through a combination of pressure and temperature, stitching and any other potential water entry point is completely sealed, with no need for the use of seam-sealing tape.
The key advantage OutDry has over its competitors is that the external layer of the gear and the membrane are one item- there is absolutely no gap, enabling zero water penetration and a reduction in weight.
OutDry has been seen in various Asian and European products such as Lafuma and Umbro, but Mountain Hardware will be the first North American company to incorporate OutDry technology. For Fall 2009, Mountain Hardware will use OutDry across all three of their glove categories: Alpine, Backcountry and Snowwear. END Footwear has also announced that they will incorporate OutDry into the Legend and Legend Low lines for Spring 2010.
Watch out Gore-Tex and eVent?