The Drôme-based SME CimAlp developed the AERODRY — a patented system exclusive to the outdoor brand, guaranteeing maximum breathability regardless of weather conditions or the intensity of the activity. This one-of-a-kind innovation is the result of several years of research.
How do you guarantee the maximum breathability of a membrane while effectively protecting the outdoor practitioner from the elements? That was the question Lionel Marsanne, CEO of CimAlp, asked himself in 2016. After patenting the high-performance Ultrashell® CimAlp membrane — waterproof to 20,000 Schmerbers and breathable to 80,000 MVP — the 1st in the CimAlp rope team set himself a new challenge: develop a technology capable of ventilating a garment further without compromising on waterproofness.
Years of R&D research
Working with ENVEHO, a scientific and technical research organisation, CimAlp's R&D team ran several tests before reaching a final conclusion: the perfect balance between breathability and waterproofness relies on a 3 cm diameter opening in the membrane. The AERODRY was born! An optimal ventilation system delivering permanent active ventilation — unlike a zip. « It works with the body's movements. For example, when the arms move during hiking or trail, pressure and depression zones are created, like squeezing a ball, explains Lionel Marsanne. On current garments, air escapes at the neck, the wrists or the zips — often placed under the arms and only when they're open. With the Aerodry, air renewal is continuous and the system can be positioned in more relevant places. »
The story behind the AERODRY
There remained the question of design: what shape to give this innovative system? CimAlp's CEO first looked to the Sydney Opera House — an iconic symbol of Australia, recognisable by its white sails or shells, which had shaken up the architectural conventions of the 1950s. In the end, without borrowing the avant-garde look of the opera house that had so captivated the world at the time, the AERODRY adopted a 3D shape. This flexible pad, placed on the upper sleeves of the jacket, facilitates the evacuation of perspiration while protecting against external moisture. The AERODRY: the guarantee of optimal membrane breathability, twice that of anything else on the market.
A patented system available on the market
This innovative system is found on the Ultrashell® waterproof and ultra-breathable COSMIQUES jacket. This patented system could be applied to all membranes on the market. Its key strengths:
- Efficiency
- Instant breathability
- Responsiveness
- Lightweight
