Waterproofs

Womens Waterproof Soft Shell Merino Jacket

We love taking superior performance fabrics, typically reserved for outdoor purists and using them for highly functional, urban and travel designs.

Such is the case with our new ‘Ascent’ jacket. The ‘Ascent’ Merino Softshell Jacket is a superb garment for broad ranging outdoor use including snow sports, mountaineering, hiking, camping, cycling and general adventure travel.

It features Schoeller NanoSphere® fabric – hyper-premium, light weight, 4-way stretch softshell material fused with 100% pure Tasmanian Merino wool which is museling-free, to form a remarkably flexible garment that is totally water repellent while retaining breathability and windproof qualities.

Starting with the NanoSphere® fabric, we added Core YKK® hand pockets designed to avoid pack straps, a two-way YKK® main zipper, YKK® chest pocket, articulated elbows and tapered, adjustable, snap cuffs. Importantly the ‘Ascent’ jacket’s is hyper-light, weighing only 550 grams! And it’s striking in both appearance and handle.

So, what is NanoSphere®?
Nature showed us how. The leaves of certain plants always stay clean because dirt cannot adhere to their finely-structured surfaces. Rain drops roll off and, at the same time, dirt particles are washed off of the leaves. This function is also known as the self-cleaning effect.

On classic surfaces, water, oil and dirt are absorbed by the fabric as the larger contact area allows them to adhere better. On the ‘Ascent’ jacket’s NanoSphere® surface, nanoparticles form a fine structure. Water, dirt and oil only remain on the peaks of the nanostructures and have a diminished contact area. Adhesion is significantly reduced and the drops simply roll off or can be rinsed off with water.