Sun Mountain Elite Helps Keep You Swinging in the Rain

Manufacturers typically use two numbers to evaluate the efficacy of a rain suit. One shows how waterproof the fabric is, the other is a measure of its breathability.

Last week, Missoula, MT-based Sun Mountain Sports introduced the Elite rainsuit which boasts a 20k waterproof rating and 30k breathability rating. That means you could fill a 1” square tube with water to 20,000mm (20m) before it started seeping through the fabric, and that 30,000 grams (just over 66lbs) of water can pass through a square meter (m²) of the fabric from the inside to the outside in a 24-hour period. In short, the Sun Mountain Elite rainsuit is extremely waterproof and incredibly breathable.

The Elite was two years in the making and is the result of a collaboration between Sun Mountain and Boulder-based Cocona, makers of 37.5 technology fabrics (so-called because the body performs best at a core temperature of 37.5° C, and when the relative humidity of the micro-climate surrounding the skin is 37.5%.). “The 37.5 fabric is 50% to 300% more waterproof than competitors’ fabrics,” says Sun Mountain’s VP of VP of Outerwear. “It dries up to five times faster than competitors, diminishing wet cling and, because it’s made with naturally-derived materials, it won’t irritate the skin.” Plus, Heydon continues, the active nano particles attached to the threads actually attract water vapor and move it to the surface to evaporate, using body heat to accelerate the process. “So the hotter a person becomes, the stronger the force removing perspiration vapor.”

Like the RainFlex which Sun Mountain introduced in 2006, the Elite stretches four ways making it pliable and quiet, says Heydon. “The Elite really takes Rainflex to the next level thanks to its tighter knit (inherently better against heavy rain) coupled with a higher-performing membrane treated with the 37.5 technology.”

The jacket is fit with a two-way YKK waterproof zipper, adjustable cuffs and two hand-warmer pockets.

The pants feature a stretch waist with zipper fly and belt loops, two front pockets with zippered pass-through, back pocket with Velcro fastener and a snap system to shorten the pants 2.5 inches. There’s a protective fabric overlay on the inside ankle, and deep lower leg zippers to make it easy to pull each trouser leg over your shoes.

Jacket available in sizes M-XXL in black, grey, and navy (S and XXXL available in black).
Pants available in sizes S-XXL.

Jacket – $300
Pants – $260
sunmountain.com
thirtysevenfive.com

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