Mountain Hardwear DryQ- Initial Impressions
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The Outdoor Retailer Winter Market gave us a chance to check out what is new and different for Fall 2011. Mountain Hardwear created a lot of buzz with the launch of their newest waterproof-breathable technical fabric, DryQ. MH’s DryQ will be available in 3 sport specific designs: active, elite, and core.
DryQ Elite will be featured in MH’s outer shells in 3 layer, 2 layer, and softshell designs and is 100% waterproof, breathable, and air permeable which means that it allows not only moisture, but also air to pass through the membrane to removed heat and not just sweat from your body. DryQ Core is the middle ground fabric and will be featured in pieces from MH’s lifestyle collection and mountain series, as it is lightweight, breathable, and waterproof. DryQ Active is designed for high intensity activity and it is the lightest-stretchiest from the line and is featured in active pieces with specific body mapping designs. And like the other DryQ fabrics, it is also 100% waterproof.
The MH PR folks have been giving journalist a chance to test out the new DryQ technology since late last year. I received a new jacket for Fall 2011 called the Effusion Power Jacket. There will be some changes made to this jacket before production, but it has given me a chance to see first hand what DryQ Active is all about. The Effusion Power Jacket features MH’s MicroClimage Zoning and has placed DryQ Active panels over the shoulders, forearms, the core (in the front), and along the side paneling. The other areas of this jacket feature a single knit jersey fabric.
My big passion is running, so I have been taking the DryQ Active jacket out on my morning and mid day jaunts. What I noticed first about the DryQ Active is how lightweight the material is when worn and how the combination of fabrics creates a garment that can really move with you, rather than constrict you. The jacket is very streamlined and represents the goal of versatile pieces for high impact activities. The DryQ Active has performed the best, meaning keeping me warm-dry-comfortable when temps are within the 35-55 degree range; when temps are slightly lower the DryQ Active feels too light, even when worn with a long sleeve base layer. When temps are slightly higher, you typically don’t need a jacket for high intensity exercise; however, I have kept it on to test out its’ properties and have been pleased with how well it allows your body to remain dry.
For more info on DryQ, visit www.moutainhardwear.com or www.amazon.com/mountainhardwear.
The photo below is of the “cousin” to the jacket I tested.
