83 Years Ago, Britain Made a “Cotton Gore-Tex.” Why Don’t We Use It?

The gist

1. Christie explains Ventile's dry gaps are about 10 microns and shrink to 2 to 3 microns as wet cotton fibers swell and block water.
2. In hydrostatic head tests, Ventile scored 500 to 900 mm versus 20,000 mm plus for Gore-Tex, which Christie calls 22 to 40 times better.
3. A Canadian study found single layer Ventile immersion suits leaked badly, while double layer suits worked if made correctly.
4. Christie cites a 1951 paper by T.R. Harding to argue commercial Ventile was always sold with a water repellent finish, and asks for more evidence.
5. After a DWR wash, Christie's cut-off jeans and t-shirt beaded water, though he expects it to last less long than Ventile.