John B. Marek is a writer, farmer, outdoorsman and recovering economic developer. You can find his books at johnbmarek.com.
The window on the mountain is being lashed today with heavy rain and wind gusts of 50 mph. It is dry inside, but I’d hate to be out in those woods today. We pretty much take being dry and comfortable as a given, but it hasn’t always been that way. As a kid growing up in the ’70s, dry was a sometimes elusive comfort.
Before the invention of the advanced fabrics we have today, the way to make something waterproof was to either make it from or dip it in rubber. On a day like today in elementary school, I would have donned my rubber over-boots and worn a yellow rain jacket that made me look a little like the victim in a Stephen King novel. My elementary school even had a mud room devoted explicitly to removing those boots and coats and letting them drip dry. I recall the boots being a particular hassle. They were worn over the dress shoes my Catholic school required and had clumsy metal clasps running up the front that were difficult to open and close. Getting them on and off was a process.
While costuming up like a Maine lobsterman to stay dry might have flown for an 8-year-old, junior high and high school were a different matter. Any form of outerwear that so much as hinted at regard for the weather was vociferously ridiculed. The fashion trend of the day was something called a “CPO” jacket. These thigh-length coats were said to resemble the outerwear issued to chief petty officers in the Navy, although to my eye, the resemblance was superficial at best. While they were passably warm, they offered nothing in the way of water resistance. But at least they (or at least my cheapie version) were made from manmade materials, so when they got wet, they were just soggy, unlike the ubiquitous “Redskin” jacket.
Once we got to high school, probably half the boys (and a handful of girls) opted for a red wool jacket with a beautifully chain-stitched Indian head embroidered on the back. The Redskin jacket was pricey; I recall mine costing about $80; that’s an insane $425 today! If you paid that kind of money for a coat, you damn sure wore it every day, rain or shine, breeze or freeze. Paired with a zip-up hoodie, it was good well below freezing, but it had one significant flaw. Constructed from dry-clean-only wool, it smelled like a wet schnauzer in heat if it got even the slightest bit damp.
Toward the end of the ’70s, breathable waterproof fabrics like Gore-Tex began to find their way into the mainstream. They utilized a microporous membrane that allowed water vapor molecules to pass through while blocking liquid water. Over the years, researchers and manufacturers continued to refine and enhance these fabrics, introducing new materials and engineering techniques such as hydrophobic coatings and micro-ventilation systems. As a result, outdoor enthusiasts, athletes and professionals in various fields now benefit from garments that offer both protection from the elements and optimal breathability, ensuring a comfortable and dry experience in diverse environmental conditions.
Alas, all good things must end, and these breathable, waterproof fabrics are under scrutiny from environmental and health advocates. Most of these fabrics rely on polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), sometimes called “forever chemicals” because of their environmental persistence and potential health risks. Outdoor clothing manufacturers such as Columbia and Patagonia have pledged to eliminate PFASs from their products, and major outdoor retailers like REI are striving to be PFAS-free by 2025. Whether the replacement chemicals work as well or are any safer remains to be seen, but one thing’s for certain: they’ll be more expensive.
Throughout our history, man has faced the persistent challenge of staying dry in various climates and conditions. From primitive attempts using animal skins to more sophisticated developments such as oiled and rubberized fabrics to advanced breathable membranes, we have continuously sought ways to combat wet environments’ discomfort and health risks. The evolution of waterproof technologies, particularly in the modern era, has dramatically improved our ability to stay dry. We are fortunate to live in an era where waterproof materials, advanced manufacturing techniques and innovative designs allow us the luxury of staying dry effortlessly.