Lycra vs Spandex vs Elastane: What’s the Difference? Are They the Same Material?

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Lycra vs Spandex vs Elastane: What's the Difference? Are they the Same Material?

A good garment should not only look well-made and be of high quality, but it should also fit comfortably.

While typical materials that are used in clothes, such as polyester, nylon, cotton, wool, etc., do an already good job on their own being comfortable to the touch and to wear as you go about your day, sometimes they require a little bit of help to provide the perfect fit.

Enter elastane, the material that revolutionized the clothing industry ever since its invention in 1937.

In a past article of ours, in which we touched on how elastane is used in jackets, we discussed its qualities and the reasons why it has become such an important part of the outdoor clothing industry. You can find it here.

Today we will take a look at how elastane is used in other areas of the clothing industry and also learn more about the difference between its commonly used names like Lycra, Spandex, etc.

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Patagonia vs Columbia: Which Brand is Better?

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Patagonia vs Columbia: Which Brand is Better?

When winter is slowly ending and avid outdoors’ lovers start looking for spring garments to take with them on hikes and adventures, it’s a great time to take a look at two renowned brands that are popular choices among those who spend a lot of time out in nature.

Patagonia and Columbia are two well-known American outdoor brands, which design quality technical garments and gear for having a safe and comfortable time out in the elements.

We have extensively featured Columbia in some of our past selections and reviews, and have also looked at Patagonia. Also, both of these brands have been up against The North Face here and here in past brand comparisons.

Today it’s time to see how these two brands measure up against each other and which of the two is better. Without further ado, let’s get started.

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8 Best Jack Wolfskin Jackets for your Outdoor Adventures, Men and Women

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jack wolfskin best jackets outdoors men women

We have previously discussed and reviewed several Jack Wolfskin products and today we have handpicked eight of this brand’s jackets for outdoor activities, in a mixed selection for men and women.

These high-quality and versatile jackets will certainly make you reconsider and you can rest assured that there is definitely something that will suit your lifestyle perfectly.

Let’s get started right away with the men’s selection.

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Gore-Tex vs Texapore Technology: Which One is Better?

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Gore-Tex vs Texapore Technology: Which One is Better?

We in the Northern Hemisphere are slowly entering Spring, and with the warmer temperatures soon to be upon us, the rain will accompany us for several days.

Those who enjoy spending time outdoors know too well that, regardless of weather, a quality jacket is necessary. Yes, even during summer.

Performance jackets are made to provide protection against the elements, while also being highly breathable in order to reduce perspiration and minimize overheating.

What makes those jackets so good is not simply their design, but also the material they are made of. And such high-performance jackets are almost always made of fabric technologies.

Fabric technologies have been around for decades now and are continuously improved upon, in order to increase their performance, as well as for the brands to set themselves apart from competitors.

In several previous comparisons and review pieces we have gone through different fabric technologies, mainly comparing them to Gore-Tex, the staple of fabric technology.

Today we will take a look at Texapore and see how it measures up against Gore-Tex®.

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Patagonia vs Marmot: Which Brand is Better?

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Patagonia vs Marmot: Which Brand is Better?

Those looking to buy clothes for sports or activities such as hiking, camping, or any other outdoor activity, will have certainly come across Patagonia and Marmot.

These are two of the biggest brands when it comes to outdoor wear and are raved about by many loyal and new customers alike.

But which one is the one for you?

This question brings us to today’s comparison review, where we will be taking a look at the brands’ history, the materials they use, and some of their representing jackets. This will then lead us to determine, as best as we can, which one of the two would be the better choice depending on what you are looking for in your jacket.

In the past comparisons, we have mainly looked at Canada Goose versus a number of brands, and also The North Face vs. Patagonia.

Let’s get started with today’s comparison between Patagonia and Marmot.

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Moncler Fake vs Real Jacket: How To Spot It?

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Moncler Fake vs Real Jacket: How To Spot It?

High end brands often have to deal with the issue of counterfeit products. Mainly made in China, these replicas are sometimes done in such a way that, unless you have a genuine product on your hands to compare them to, it’s extremely hard to tell.

With brands that are held in high regard and come with price tags that not everyone can easily afford, the risk of having counterfeit products of their genuine ones increases exponentially.

We have previously looked at a couple of renowned brands and learned more about what things to look out for in order to be able to tell whether the jacket you are looking to purchase, or have already purchased, is a genuine one or not.

Today we will be going through some of the telltale signs of a counterfeit Moncler jacket. Moncler is a brand that is held in high regard for its stylish jackets, especially those made with down insulation.

Their designs are very well made and often measured against those by Canada Goose. Earlier this year we wrote a comparison piece on the matter of which of these two brands is the better one. You can find it here.

Now let’s get started with today’s topic on being able to safely purchase a Moncler jacket that is indeed made by the brand itself.

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What is Nylon (Polyamide) Fabric? How is it Used in Jackets and Outdoor Gear?

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What is Nylon (Polyamide) Fabric? How is it Used in Jackets and Outdoor Gear?

To some, we might have started out our series on fabrics that are used in jackets and outdoor gear a bit upside down, as we first went through fabric technologies and compared several of the most popular ones to each other, and only recently turned to actual fabrics that make up jackets, outdoor gear and the fabric technologies used for them.

Not to worry, however, as we will cover all the bases, so that by the end of the fabric series those who are interested in learning more about the “hows” and “whys” of the different materials used in jackets and outdoor gear, can find that information on our site.

So far we have looked at Polyester and Elastane as two common materials that can be found in outdoor products, and it’s finally time to look at Nylon, which, along with Polyester, are the two staple fabrics used in jackets and many other outdoor gear and clothing.

Similarly to what we did for Elastane and Polyester, in this article we will be learning more about Nylon, how it came to be and the reasons why it is so widely used.

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