Soggy camping gear could be a thing of the past

FORGET soggy clothes and footwear – these could be a thing of the past thanks to a new technology about to be released on the camping market.

Designed originally by the military to repel chemical agents, Ion-mask technology works at molecular level to invisibly bind to products, giving them an extraordinary ability to repel most liquids.

Products are infused with a small amount of chemical from the Teflon family under a plasma process in a vacuum to give every fibre a water repellent layer. The whole process takes less than three minutes for a pair of shoes and the finish should last the product’s lifetime.

The technology provides a number of benefits. Given it only requires a small amount of non-toxic chemical in a sealed environment using very little energy, it is far greener than existing Durable Water Repellent treatments and membrane technologies. It also repels dirt and water to help the product stay cleaner and lighter.

Breathability is also sustained for, in many cases, a membrane will no longer be required to keep you dry.

The process will initially be limited to footwear and Hi-Tec will be the first manufacturer to introduce this technology to the British market with Regatta following shortly after. It is hoped that this technology will eventually be applied to clothing.

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