The eVENT Single Wall Tent: Here, Then Gone – What’s Replacing It?

So all Nemo needs to do is send some tents out for some real R&D, (which I'm sure they do).

I'm still amazed that MLD has a 2oz/sq yrd Event.
I would like to believe that if they did a Contrail single pole style tent, (maybe even supported by your trekking poles), that it would come in under 3 lbs.

If Event is really going to be "that good", against even the newest fabrics, then why don't companies look at the sub 3 lbs.

Isn't that what we want anyway?

Huh? My understanding of this article is that eVent is most likely the superior fabric technology in existence today but is unavailable because a monolithic corporation now owns the patent and won’t market or sell it due to lack of economic incentive??

Ryan and Wilt:

Thanks for the excellent article — and especially your attempts in comparing the various different options out there.

I am curious about where MontBell's Breeze Dry Tec laminate stands? MB claims that its laminate is similar to eVENT in that it too dispenses with PU coatings. I own a MontBell Peak Shell jacket which uses this laminate and am quite happy with it.

Jackets aside, MontBell has recently introduced single-wall alpine dome tents in solo, two, three and four-person configurations, using its Breeze Dry Tec laminate.

2-Person:

https://www2.montbell.com/japanese/asp/products/Spg_shosai.asp?cat=1201&hinban=1122324

Solo:

https://www2.montbell.com/japanese/asp/products/Spg_shosai.asp?cat=1201&hinban=1122323

The site is in Japanese, but the illustrations, floor plan and dimensions are self-explanatory.

I'd bet DOD has the data as well but, given that they're in bed with corporate America, I wouldn't count on seeing any of it anytime soon. How about we take up a collection and commission Dr J, et al to give us some real world numbers?
What say, Ryan? What, if anything, would it take to get you
ginned up for a mission of real value to the community? Seriously?

Tom, the DOD isn't in bed with corporate America, they are corporate America. The DOD buys domestic products whenever possible; and that circulates dollars around our economy, including a nice share for me.
I often thought that the DOD would be interested in Dr. J's record un-resupplied trek in Alaska. It has definite applicability to our SOF and Ranger Batts; who sometimes go un-resupplied for many days.
But I digress.. the DOD would be interested in an eVENT type material, or something better than goretex. Thanks to Bens comment I am now wondering if that Montbell fabric is a porous laminate, or a post goretex-patent copy? Can someone get to the bottom of this?

I am currently testing a paclite jacket made from the new version of paclite. I've only had it for a few days I will be sure to post my impressions after I've gotten to use it more.

They are definitely working to become competitive in the waterproof breathable market again. Check out the MHW Typhoon jacket for instance. I can't think of a single Goretex jacket (paclite xcr or classic) from last season with as many features and a $199 price tag.

I am suspicious that XCR might become far less common over then next few years, maybe ever just footwear. As light weight gear has become more the rule the over-built/expensive nature of 3 layer fabrics has become a liability rather than a selling point. They may finally be ready to accept that the $99 rain jacket paired with any number of soft shells or wind shirts is a better system (in both function and cost).

The marketing spin they try to put on the whole thing will be very interesting to see.

Tom, i think BDT is NOT a microporous coating. MB has a somewhat similar named microporous coating called Dri Light Tec. It is air permeable though, just as you stated.

Peter, I'm guessing you're referring to the Akto solo tent. It's going to be my winter/spring solo tent when I get the funds together. (And my wife quits accepting wedding invitations which require me to write large gift checks.)SHEESH!

My guess is that winter tents (light mountaineering tents excepted)will always work better with double walls. Maybe newer winter tents will have double walls with a waterproof breathable fly to reduce some of the frost buildup beneath the fly. So there may still be a place for eVent, etc. flys.

I would be pleased to hear the Montbell tents were leading the way technically speaking, by using an eVENT type fabric.. I have read the differences over and over (eVENT vs Gore-type) and I think it is sinking in; eVENT has no solid lining, Gore-types do; except the old extruded membrane naked goretex which no one uses due to pore clogging.
Anyway, Id like to see that comparison also. If the Montbell tents perform like eVENT they would be the cheapest in that category; less than BD/Bibler and ID.

Tom, my apologies. i should have used some emphasis for clarity. it's readily apparent to me now why my words weren't clearer.

first off, i was responding to your precise wording with my precise wording.

here they are again with emphasis:

your words:
>>"@Brett
if not mistaken, Breeze Dry-tec is a microporous coating [emphasis mine], not a membrane."

my words (with emphasis added this time):
>>"Tom, i think BDT is NOT a microporous coating."

I didn't say that it wasn't microporous, but rather that it is not a "microporous coating. In fact,MB has a pic that clearly shows that BDT has pores (so do laminates, but then you already know this). MB also states that their secret is that they maintain a more consistent pore size in their BDT vs. competitors.

However, BDT differs their Dri Light Tec coating.

BDT is a laminate (or at least it is compared to laminates and appears so in my Peak shell).

I hope this clears up the intent of my prev. Post.

Many thanks for asking me to clarify. I'm finding that is often the case that this is required. My fault entirely.

PJ,
this is not about you or me having done something wrong so you really don't have to apologize.
After reading your last post, I googled a bit to find out and I found out that "Breeze Dry-tec" and "coating" are two terms which never seem to being used together in one sentence. So I guess you are correct.
Reason for my assumption that Breeze Dry-tec was a coating, was my interpretation of the term laminate. If not mistaken a laminate consist of two or more layers bonded together. For me this doesn't exclude coatings since I thought 3-layer constructions with a coating in the middle were also laminates (and Breeze-Drytec in the Peak jacket is a 3 layer construction).
Now I see that the term laminate is often used as a synonim for films or mebranes while these are technically not the same. When a membrane is glued to a layer of textile, then you get a laminate. A membrane in itself is not a laminate. So that's why, with English not being my mother tongue, I never made the connection between laminate and membrane.

But in the end the conclusion seems to be that Breeze Dry-tec is a membrane available in 2- and 3-layer constructions (made by who ?). Makes me wonder, is the 3-layer Patagonia H2No also a film (the 2,5 is definetely a coating since it's based on Entrant DT)?

Tom, i NEVER would have guessed that English wasn't your native tongue. YOU WRITE so well. Me,…all my languages are so bad that i say that i don't have a FIRST language!!!

I think you have brought out a good distinction b/t laminates & coatings. I think of coatings as being deposited in some fashion (e.g., spraying, etc.) a little bit at a time, whereas a laminate is a single intact layer/entity that is bonded to another layer.

The bottom line is that i know very little about fabrics and i am sure that you know a whole lot more than i about this area.

It's quite clear to me that it was just a minor misunderstanding regarding terminology and that you have a very precise understanding of the nature of these fabric technologies.

Hmm…English isn't your first language…WOW!! You sure had me fooled. Your English seems better than mine. I greatly admire fluent multi-lingual individuals.