NeverWet by Rust-Oleum
Water is often detrimental to materials when their surface becomes penetrated by moisture: NeverWet® provides a solution to these problems with NeverWet® super-hydrophobic water-resistant coatings. NeverWet® water repellent spray coatings have remained under seawater for over a year and reemerged completely dry. When dirt and dust accumulate on one of our treated surfaces, water quickly flushes it away. The water is repelled by our coating, and the dirt is attracted to the water. More than just water resistant, our coatings maintain their super-hydrophobic characteristics even under extreme conditions like high pressure spray.
DWR “Durable Water Repellent”
Apart from synthetic alternatives, refined fabrics are not inherently water-repellent. In order to make a fabric used in the production of outerwear repel water, a DWR is coated onto the exterior shell or infused with the fibers of a garment. DWR is a specifically manufactured chemical that, once applied to the surface of a fabric, repels water. Fowler’s choice for our DWR is NeverWet by Rust-Oleum.
3M™ Thinsulate™
Insulation (Type C) is warm yet lightweight, powerful yet thin. It helps trap body heat, while allowing moisture to escape.
PrimaLoft® Silver Insulation
A high-performance insulation with the full spectrum of features to brave the elements. Warmer without Bulk: High warmth to weight ratio mean you don’t need bulk to stay warm. Water Restraint: Absorbs less moisture from the start mean you stay dryer and warmer. Breathable Encourages the passage of moisture vapor to keep you from being clod and clammy. Packable: Packs down easily for stashing in small places and for layering. Lightweight: All the warmth you need with little weight. Superior Softness: Enjoy unsurpassed softness that feels great on your body and contributes to a flattering fit.
Insulated
The thermal insulation provided by clothing. The main role of clothing is to protect from the cold temperatures and wind.
Base Layer is the next to the skin layer and should act as a constant 'second skin' throughout your day. Base layers provide a layer of warmth while absorbing and evaporating your sweat to keep you feeling warm and comfortable. Base Layers are versatile pieces of clothing which come in different fabrics and styles that have benefits best suited to certain climates and conditions.
Base Layer
Base Layer is the layer next to the skin and should act as a constant 'second skin' throughout your day. Base layers provide a layer of warmth while absorbing and evaporating your sweat to keep you feeling warm and comfortable. Base Layers are versatile pieces of clothing which come in different fabrics and styles that have benefits best suited to certain climates and conditions.
Mid Layer
Mid layer or insulating layer is needed in cold weather to provide additional protection. The use of multiple thin layers facilitates adjustment of warmth. The mid layer should be more loose-fitting than the inner layer, as this leaves insulating air between the layers. However, if best possible moisture transfer is desired, too great a gap between any adjacent layers of clothing may reduce the moisture transfer by capillary action from one piece of clothing to another. All Fowler Apparel is designed in an Athletic Cut to get just the right air gap. Fowler Apparel mid layers in most cases can be used as an outer shell as they are water shedding and wind blocking.
Outer Layer
The Shell or Outer Layer is the outermost clothes because they block wind or water, and have good mechanical strength. Ideally the shell layer lets moisture through to the outside (that is, is breathable), while not letting wind and water pass through from the outside to the inside. While this is enabled to some degree by modern materials, even the best and most expensive materials involve a slight trade-off between breathability and water- and wind resistance. The Fowler Alpha Collection is just the right balance. Offered in both non insulated and insulated version.
3 Layer
3 layer fabric construction has an outer most "face fabric" treated with DWR, a waterproof material in the middle an ePTFE and then an internal fabric whose primary purpose is to protect the waterproof layer.
5 Layer Fabric
5 layer fabric construction has an outer most "face fabric" treated with DWR, a waterproof material in the middle an ePTFE, then 2 layers of rip-stop fabric a horizontal rip-stop layer as well as a vertical rip stop layer and then an internal fabric whose primary purpose is to protect the waterproof layer.
Tech Fleece
Polyester fleece garments have become increasingly popular. Like cotton or cotton blend fleece, polyester fleece is smooth on the outside and plush on the inside. Polyester fleece differs from cotton fleeces in that its smooth side has a shiny appearance, and it does a better job of repelling moisture.
Coral Fleece
This fleece is thicker and has a higher “pile” making it furrier. Coral fleece sheds on the edges due to its furry texture, and it tends have more stretch and is very warm. Coral fleece is made from polyester synthetic Coral fleece does not pill due to its furry texture.
Rip Stop
Rip Stop fabrics are woven fabrics, often made of nylon, using a special reinforcing technique that makes them resistant to tearing and ripping. During weaving, (thick) reinforcement threads are interwoven at regular intervals in a crosshatch pattern.
Coral Fleece Hand Warmer Pockets
These are pockets lined on both sides with Coral Fleece which is thicker and has a higher “pile” its furrier. Coral fleece sheds on the edges due to its furry texture, and it tends have more stretch and is very warm. Coral fleece is made from polyester synthetic Coral fleece does not pill due to its furry texture.
Quiet Fabric
At Fowler, we searched for and procured the most quiet fabric to construct our clothing. If it says quiet it’s quiet. Our Outer layer series is much quieter than the competition but due to the waterproof layer we do not consider it completely quiet, but it much more quiet than most.
2 Way Stretch Fabric
This is a synthetic fabric that stretches. 2-way stretch fabrics stretch in one direction, usually from selvedge to selvedge (but can be in other directions depending on the knit).
4-Way Stretch Fabrics
These fabrics stretch in both directions: crosswise and lengthwise.
Breathable Fabric
This is a fabric that permits or actively encourages internal moisture (i.e. sweat) to seep outward and evaporate on the fabric’s surface.
Stain Resistance
Stain Resistance refers to a textiles’ ability to withstand discoloration caused by contact with liquids, including oil and grease, and/or solid surfaces.
Non-Insulated
These items have no added insulation present in the garment. There are layers of fabric to achieve the desired waterproofing.
Wind Blocking
A cold wind can steal body heat fast, so it’s important to have a layer to block wind’s chilling effect. The fabric is just that—impervious to wind, no matter how hard it may blow.
Water-Shedding
Water Shedding fabric is designed specifically to resist contact by light water (rain showers/light rain and snow flurries) but is not designed to withstand any heavy exposure to the elements. Watter Shedding fabrics are treated with a DWR to repel light water on contact, have a general HH grade between 1,500mm and 5,000mm of water pressure resistance.
Water Proof
This fabric is designed to withstand any heavy exposure to the elements. The shell or outer layer provides the highest quality level of protection from water among all outerwear. Water-proof products, they target water-resistant features and enhance them to increase the amount of water being repelled. Think of it this way, waterproof garments: are treated with a DWR coating or laminate to ensure high-grade water repellency (10,000mm+), have layers that are designed to increase the amount of possible water-resistance. Have sealed/heated seams that help ensure better water-resistance functionality. Utilize waterproof zippers that are more durable and withstand harsh conditions. Cost more due to these innovative technical features. Typically are louder due to the water-proof layer under the shell layer.
Moisture Wicking
This relies on “capillary action,” which is the movement of a liquid (sweat in this case) through tiny spaces within a fabric due to the molecular forces between the liquid and the fabric’s internal surfaces.
UV Protection
UV Protection in textiles refers to a fiber’s or fabric’s ability to resist UV radiation. This can be important for the preservation of the fiber as UV Rays are a cause of degradation to textile fibers, as UV Rays excite the polymer molecules and break polymer chains thereby resulting in significant damage to the fiber depending on the UV intensity and the duration of exposure.
Quick Drying
Quick Drying fabric still isn’t a technical definition for “quick dry” clothing. My personal measuring stick for quick dry is for an item to go from wet to damp in 30 minutes, and hand dry in a few hours. Barring that, quick dry clothes should always dry completely when hung overnight.
Water-Proof Neoprene Cuffs
These cuffs are a jacket or sleeve cuff made from neoprene fabric with a metal and Velcro enclosure to prevent large amounts of water from run up the jacket sleeve when the jacket sleeve is dunked or submerged in water.
FO Grip
This is a synthetic fiber that is heat bonded to the fabric. We utilize this process on gloves to improve grip and inside waist bands of pants and straps or G'allus to help them stay in place.
YKK Zipper
This is the most durable and long lasting zipper on the market.
YKK 2-Way Waterproof Zipper
This amazing AQUASEAL® zipper from YKK is perfect for active marine sportswear and lots more! Smooth and flexible, it offers optimum protection with a film-coated tape and an innovative zipper element mechanism. Keep the water out with YKK.
Water Proof Pouch with Lanyard
This is a waterproof device pouch provided to insure cell phones do not get water damage. The pouch has a lanyard that allows for arms length viewing and keeps device secured to waders or jacket.
Outdoor enthusiasts favor layered clothing because, among other reasons, it allows them to offer so-called "technical" or "functional" clothes which are optimized for the particular demands of a specific sport or activity. Fowler utilizes a layer system in our Hunting Apparel. The Omega Core, or Base layer, the Beta Mid-Layer and the Alpha Outer-Shell can take whatever Mother Nature dishes out. Some base and mid-weight layers can be worn as outerwear, but the Alpha Outer-Shell provides ultimate protection. Available in 3 Collections and 7 series choices to fit every waterfowler’s needs with features every waterfowler will love.
Layered clothing is a term describing a way of dressing using many garments worn on top of each other. Some of the layers have different, largely non-overlapping, functions. Using more or fewer layers, or replacing one layer but not others, allows for flexible clothing to match the needs of each situation. Two thin layers can be warmer yet lighter than one thick layer, because the air trapped between layers serves as thermal insulation. Layered clothing is particularly relevant in cold climates, where clothing must at the same time transfer moisture, provide warmth, and protect from wind and rain. In a hot and dry climate, clothes have very different functional requirements. They must block the UV radiation from the sun and allow for sufficient air circulation. The wicking layer moves the sweat from your skin, so that it can be absorbed by the other layers.
