When Columbia initially launched OutDry Extreme technology – an innovative approach to deploying a waterproof and breathable membrane on the outside of shell layers – it’s fair to say the products weren’t as warmly embraced as the US brand had hoped.
The gear worked pretty much exactly as promised, but people appeared to be put off by the glossy finish, especially on the jackets. Although the technology used in the fabric was new, sophisticated and its efficacy had been proven in laboratories and during outdoor testing, the shiny material seemed to be bit too rubbery or plastic-looking, reminiscent of the old-school mackintoshes people wore before the evolution of Gore-Tex changed the game.
