Independent outdoor data journal · yottable.top
Outdoor intelligence, quantified.
An equipment database, 12 planning calculators and source-cited reporting — built so that every number can be traced back to where it came from.
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PFC-Free Waterproofing in 2026: Inside the GORE-TEX ePE Transition
Expanded polyethylene has quietly replaced fluoropolymer membranes across the majority of premium shells. We measured what changed in the lab, what did not change on the mountain, and what the remaining durability gap actually costs.
Key figures in the lead story
By mid-2026 the expanded polyethylene family covers the large majority of GORE-TEX consumer garment styles, up from a single pilot programme in 2022.
Combustion ion chromatography screening commissioned by brands reports total organic fluorine beneath reporting limits on ePE laminates, including the DWR finish.
Independently measured RET values improve modestly, largely because thinner ePE films allow lighter face fabrics and less adhesive.
Home-laundry protocol adapted from AATCC 135. Legacy fluorinated DWR frequently dropped below the 20,000 mm threshold after 20 cycles when not heat-reactivated.
Across 14 comparable flagship shells tracked between 2024 and 2026, retail pricing moved in line with the market rather than the chemistry.
Also this month
Full archive
BrandsPeak Performance: Using Field Data to Justify Fewer, Better Products
The Scandinavian brand reduced its range and published wear-test data to defend the decision. We analysed what the data actually shows and what it costs to collect.
Gear ScienceThe Right-to-Repair Gear Index: Ranking 20 Outdoor Brands on Repairability
We scored twenty major brands against seven objective criteria — spare parts availability, published service procedures, costs, turnaround and design for disassembly. Most scores were poor.
Gear ScienceCarbon Plates Hit the Trail: 2026 Performance Data on Propulsive Footwear
Road racing technology has crossed into technical terrain, with mixed results. We measured energy return, stability and injury-relevant loading across nine plated trail shoes.
Toolbox
Calculators that show their working
Pack Weight & Base Weight Calculator
Find out whether your load is actually ultralight — or just lighter than it used to be.
Layering & Insulation Advisor
Build a clothing system for the conditions instead of packing for every possibility.
Sweat Rate & Hydration Planner
Stop guessing how much water to carry. Measure your own sweat rate and plan from data.
Hiking Time & Elevation Calculator
Naismith, Tobler and your own pace — combined into one defensible estimate.
Calorie & Food Weight Estimator
How many kilocalories you will burn, and how many grams of food that actually means.
Gear Cost-per-Wear Calculator
The cheap jacket is often the expensive one. Work out what your gear really costs per use.
Altitude Acclimatisation Planner
Plan the ascent rate that gets you to the top without getting you into trouble.
Daylight & Golden Hour Planner
Calculate sunrise, sunset, twilight and golden hour for any coordinates and date.
Three desks
Reporting is organised by what it explains rather than by product category, so a membrane story and a route story can share a single set of test data.
Gear Science
Membranes, fibres, insulation and the lab protocols behind them.
PFC-Free Waterproofing in 2026: Inside the GORE-TEX ePE Transition
Routes & Access
Permits, booking windows and environmental limits on real routes.
Madeira's Levada Trails: Walking Through 2,000 mm of Annual Rain
Brands
Ownership, manufacturing footprints and repair economics.
Peak Performance: Using Field Data to Justify Fewer, Better Products
Latest reporting
See all →Sixty Years of Greenland Wax: Why Fjällräven Still Sells Maintenance Instead of Upgrades
The Swedish brand's signature wax has outlasted every technical fabric it competes with. We examine the business logic of a product designed to make customers repair rather than replace.
Madeira's Levada Trails: Walking Through 2,000 mm of Annual Rain
The levadas combine hydrology, subtropical forest and steep exposure in a way no mainland European trail system matches. We analysed rainfall, accident data and access rules.
Rab's Circular Ambition: Turning Insulation Waste Back Into Insulation
Down and synthetic insulation are the hardest materials to reclaim. We examined Rab's take-back, recycling and repair operations to see how far circularity can actually go.
Alta Via 1 Is Now Bookable: Inside the Dolomites' New Permit System
Italy's most famous high route introduced timed entry and hut quotas in 2026. We analysed booking data, hut pricing and crowd distribution to see whether the reform works.
Load Transfer Science: Why Ultralight Packs Fail Above 14 kg
Frameless and minimal-frame packs promise weight savings and demand discipline. We measured shoulder-to-hip load distribution at increasing loads to find the real crossover point.
Snow Peak After the Listing: What Public Ownership Did to a Camping Cult Brand
Snow Peak turned camping into a lifestyle category and then went public. We examined the financial mechanics, the effect on product design and whether the brand's philosophy survived the transition.