The women's and mens Helium Rain Jackets, and many other jackets in Outdoor Research’s line, is produced using Pertex brand fabrics as the primary shell material. Which is why that jacket is both lightweight and tough. Pertex has been a much beloved partner for over a decade. “Pertex is a great partner and loves working on projects with us. Our relationship with Pertex is very collaborative and honest,” says Alex Lauver, Outdoor Research’s Director of Commercial Innovation. Now that Pertex is celebrating their 40th anniversary of business, we thought it appropriate to shine a light on one of our greatest partners.
What makes Pertex so special? The answer lies in the expertise woven into their fabrics. Pertex focuses on using advanced manufacturing techniques, relentlessly pursuing the highest quality yarn for use in their fabrics, and precision weaving. The results are fabrics that use very thin, strong, and precisely woven threads, making them a great choice for a wide variety of applications.
The technology really becomes apparent once you wear a jacket that uses Pertex as its main shell layer. For instance, the Helium II Jacket uses the waterproof Pertex Shield 2.5L fabric. Not only are the Helium lI Jackets extraordinarily light, weighing in at 6.4 ounces for a men’s large and 5.5 ounces for a women’s medium, but they are also durable enough for thru hiking. These qualities make them a perfect choice amongst PCT and AT hikers alike.
Pertex also produces phenomenal shell fabrics for insulation layers, relying on only minimal coating and melting of fabric to seal in down insulation. Without extensive coating and melting of the shell fabric, Pertex’s Quantum fabrics provide a higher level of comfort for the wearer. That’s part of why Outdoor Research uses Pertex Quantum in our Alpine Down Refuge Hooded Jacket.