Ultralight Shell with Dyneema

Our Ultralight Shell with Dyneema® uses the world’s strongest fibre™ to rethink what a rain jacket can do. Just like any other high performance shell, the jacket is constructed from a technical three-layered material that’s highly waterproof and breathable. And weighing just 275 grams the jacket is ultra lightweight and packable. But we’ve also woven it with thousands of reinforcing strands of Dyneema®, which weight for weight is up to 15x stronger than steel.

Each jacket is constructed from an ultra lightweight, three-layered material built in Japan. The outer layer starts with a base of recycled nylon which we then weave with thousands of ultrastrong Dyneema® strands. We use a 50-denier Dyneema®, which is one of the thinnest types you can find and is known for its exceptional lightweight strength. And with each horizontal strand placed just two millimetres apart it creates a protective grid that reinforces every part of the jacket.

In the past Dyneema® has been used to create ultralight outdoor clothing in a form called Dyneema® Composite Fabric – but this composite material has a papery feel and lacks breathability. By weaving Dyneema® fibres directly into a three-layered material we’re able to add strength without sacrificing other performance properties like breathability.

The jacket’s middle layer is what makes it highly waterproof and breathable at the same time. A porous membrane prevents water getting in from the outside, while allowing sweat vapour to escape from the inside. The outer layer is also treated with a durable water repellent coating to help water bead up on the surface and roll away. The final layer on the inside is smooth recycled nylon which feels comfortable next to your skin. All three ultrathin layers are laminated together to create a single, high performance material.

Our idea was to create a jacket you wouldn’t need to take off for the entire day if you didn’t want to. So not only is the jacket ultra lightweight, high strength, highly waterproof and breathable, but we’ve also designed it with a different take on a ventilation system. Rather than awkward underarm vents, we’ve placed two vents at the front of the upper arms. The zips open smoothly and in a split second, even if you’re wearing a backpack. And the vents allow air to flow in directly without obstruction.

Every detail of the jacket is designed to protect you from the weather without adding weight. All the seams are fully sealed with lightweight taping, and we’ve engineered out seams at the shoulders to eliminate the chance of water finding its way in. The cuffs tighten around your wrists with a minimalist snap fastener system.

The peaked hood comes with an elastic adjuster at the back so you can tighten it round your head fast when rain is coming down hard. And there’s an elasticated cord adjuster at the waist that lets you cinch the jacket closed, creating a seal between you and the weather outside.