A Second Skin
The human skin is an amazing organ: its about 21 square feet in size, with approximately 400 pores and fifteen feet of blood vessels per square inch, its waterproof and durable, and it regulates your body temperature.
So when researchers working in the outdoor apparel industry decided that they wanted to make a fabric that was like a second skin it was no small task. But somehow they did it.
At the heart, literally, of all modern fabrics is a microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE to those in the know) membrane sandwiched between two layers of high-performance, breathable textiles. It is this membrane, which closely mimics the functioning of human skin, that is responsible for the functionality of modern outer wear.
But whereas human skin has around 400 pores per square inch, the PTFE membrane contains over 9 BILLION microscopic pores per square inch.
Most importantly, and perhaps most brilliant of all, is that these pores are 20 000 times smaller than a water droplet but 700 times larger than a water vapour molecule. this means that water cant get in, but perspiration can diffuse out.
A fabric that is simultaneously waterproof and breathable. Brilliant.
And for those of you who thought youd never heard of PTFE before you have. only we know it under one of its trade names: Teflon.
It means that todays wet weather wear not only functions as a second skin, but allows your own skin to do what it does best: regulate your own micro-climate.
No matter how much we may wish otherwise, we really have no control over the weather. Mother Nature will do what Mother Nature does regardless of what we have to say about it. And although you might not be able to control the outer elements, with a little thought and attention when purchasing wet/outer weather wear, you can get a little control back. control of your own micro-climate.
For great advice on waterproofs visit your local Foremost pga golf professional
James Langmead pga Qualified golf professional and former callaway club fitter of the year http://www.thegolfshoponline.co.uk
Yoga Mat Disinfectant