Pertex

Pertex is a company specialising in the production of high-quality technical fabrics for application within the outdoor world. Pertex stands out not only in the fabrics ultimately developed, but also in the way they are woven. This results in a multitude of Pertex technologies and fabrics that can be found in hardshell and softshell clothing, but also, for example, in the (top) fabrics in insulation jackets and sleeping bags that protect the insulation material.

Origin of Pertex

The company Pertex was founded in 1979 in northern England. It was the result of a collaboration between British mountaineer Hanish Hamilton and Perseverance Mills, a British company that had specialised in producing nylon fabrics for parachutes. With Pertex, these two parties succeeded in creating a lightweight and tear-resistant fabric that could also wick away moisture. Thus was born the Pertex we know today and since then it has been impossible to imagine the outdoor industry without this material. Of course, the fabric has continued to evolve over the years, resulting in a host of new fabric variants that are extremely light and highly breathable. In addition, Pertex has also launched new fabrics with different properties from the original Pertex material and which can therefore be used in a completely different way. In 2005, Pertex was acquired by Japan's Mitsui & Co., Ltd. but the Pertex name simply remains attached to the products and technologies developed.

Among other things, Exped uses Pertex fabrics for the upper fabric of its sleeping bags

What makes Pertex materials so sought after?

Today, you can find Pertex materials at many major outdoor brands. Bergans, Mammut, Ortovox, Outdoor Research, Patagonia, Rab en The North Face are a few examples. But what makes Pertex so good that all these renowned brands come knocking on the textile company's door? The answer to this differs for each Pertex technology, but as a common thread running through Pertex products are the following properties:

• Lightweight: Pertex fabrics are generally lightweight, which is essential for outdoor equipment and clothing. This adds to the comfort of the wearer and makes it easier to carry equipment.
• Long lifespan: the light weight of Pertex materials does not come at the expense of abrasion resistance and thus longevity. They generally withstand rough conditions, such as abrasion against rocks or branches.
• water-resistant: Pertex fabrics are often treated with water-repellent coatings, making them resistant (not the same as waterproof) to rain and snow. This ensures the wearer stays dry in light precipitation or morning mist.
• Breathability: many Pertex materials have high breathability, meaning they can effectively wick away moisture from the inside. This is important to prevent overheating and sweat accumulation during physical activities.

General technologies

Pertex Diamond Fuse

Diamond Fuse by Pertex refers to a reinforcement process in which diamond-shaped patterns of reinforcing yarn are woven into the fabric. These patterns reinforce the fabric at crucial points, improving durability and tear resistance without compromising the fabric's light weight and suppleness. These properties make material made using Diamond Fuse technology ideal as the protective layer that should hold the insulation material of a jacket or sleeping bag together and not immediately tear as soon as you make light contact with, for example, stones, branches or rocks.

Pertex Y Fuse

Y-Fuse by Pertex refers to a special reinforcement process in which Y-shaped yarns are embedded in the fabric. These Y-shaped yarns create a reinforcing grid that gives the fabric extra strength and durability, especially at crucial points where wear and tear can occur. Fabrics made with Y Fuse yarns have greatly improved properties in terms of water drainage and down density. The latter refers to a specific property of the fabric that prevents the fine down fibres from protruding through the fabric and escaping.

So both Diamond Fuse and Y Fuse do not stand for a particular fabric, but for the way a fabric is constructed. Incidentally, this does refer to a Pertex fabric. A good example of a product to which this applies is the Ortovox Swisswool Piz Vial Jacket, which uses Pertex's Quantum fabric as its outer fabric. This Quantum fabric uses Diamond Fuse construction.

Applications in upper fabrics for insulation jackets and sleeping bags

Pertex Quantum

Pertex Quantum uses a densely woven structure to create a light, robust and soft down-proof fabric where the fill power of down can fully develop. Pertex Quantum fabrics are made of very fine yarns, designed to retain stagnant air and improve insulation efficiency. A durable water-repellent (DWR) impregnation stops light rain and snow for added weather protection. There are many variations of Pertex Quantum fabrics. For example, one uses Pertex Y Fuse technology, while another variant incorporates Pertex Endurance technology. There are also differences in the use of materials. For instance, in the newer generations of Pertex Quantum you may come across materials derived from recycled polyamide, polyester or even from recycled fishing nets. The latter is the result of a collaboration with Bureo's NetPlus.

Pertex Quantum Air

Pertex Quantum Air has unprecedented breathability, seeking to maximise breathability without compromising wind resistance. Combined with a DWR impregnation, Pertex Quantum Air is water-repellent and offers protection in light rain or snow. We see the material widely used in clothing designed for high-intensity activities.

Pertex Quantum Pro

Pertex Quantum Pro stands out from other Quantum fabrics with higher water resistance. It does this by combining a densely woven upper fabric with a microporous coating. This ensures a very high level of water resistance, while remaining lightweight, soft and breathable. Note that water-resistant is not the same as waterproof. Read more about this in our blog on the differences between water-repellent, waterproof and water-resistant.

Applications in softshell clothing

Pertex Equilibrium

Pertex Equilibrium uses a double-woven construction where a closely woven outer fabric provides protection from the elements, while a more open woven inner fabric helps wick moisture away from your body. This construction is combined with a DWR impregnation. The end result is a waterproof, highly breathable, comfortable to wear and sturdy fabric. Pertex Equilibrium can therefore also be found in softshell jackets and windbreakers.

Applications in hardshell clothing

Pertex Shield

Shield is a system from Pertex consisting of a top fabric, a membrane and an optional backer. It is a very diverse system that can come in many different variants. Apart from having a 2-layer, a 2.5-layer and a 3-layer variant, each layer can differ. For instance, the upper fabric consists of a closely woven fabric, using Pertex Diamond Fuse technology, Pertex Endurance technology and/or recyclable and recycled Pertex Evolve fabrics. The membrane can be either a nonporous version or a microporous one.

As a result, because there are many variants of the Pertex Shield system, its properties also differ. Which variant is finally chosen is part of the collaboration between Pertex and the respective clothing brand and, of course, depends on the intended function of the specific garment. However, we can generally say that clothing with Pertex Shield is wind- and waterproof, has high breathability and is usually lightweight.

Pertex Shield Air

Pertex's Shield Air membrane has an electrospun polyurethane nanofibre structure with an open network of interconnected pores. Like all other membranes, Shield Air is waterproof and breathable. However, the open structure of the Shield Air membrane allows much more air to pass through compared to other membranes, while still providing effective windproofing. The result is an extremely breathable membrane.