While the outdoor industry has made some major advances in material development over the past couple of years, many companies are now turning their attention to solving the bedeviling issue of how to create high-performance, environmentally friendly rain gear. Both Columbia Sportswear and W.L. Gore are helping to lead the charge.

Columbia’s latest innovation is OutDry Extreme ECO Shell, which the company claims is the first high-performance, eco-friendly rain jacket made without the use of Perflourinated Compounds (PFCs). Conventional rain jackets repel water by incorporating PFCs, which have been used for decades as DWR treatments on the surfaces of outdoor gear. ... Log in to view full article.