JDinVirginia wrote:
Hi Katelyn,
PUL pants are completely waterproof while being somewhat breathable. It is like GoreTex fabric.
For years I have used the Gary brand both for disposables and for cloth diapers at night and never had a problem.
Perhaps you tried a bad brand or a bad batch of pants?
I guess it's pretty hard to find out whether the ones I had were inferior. It could be that of course, but then again, I noticed a very similar sort of 'unsatisfactory-ness' in all PU(L) pants I've had, as well as when it was used as waterproofing outer shell of an all-in-one.
The issues I had with PUL is that it leaks at sharp folds and in places where it's under more than usual stress or pressure.
I also had the feeling that it always let some amount of vapour out, noticeable by a slight clammy feeling on the outside and a more noticeable urine smell at times.
Incidentally, I've also used gore-tex rain gear for hiking and on the bicycle, and found that it behaved similarly there: good for a short shower, but it doesn't keep me dry if the rain goes on for hours on end. Plus that gore-tex seems to be very demanding in maintenance, or else it loses its waterproofing very fast.
Another issue is that it is more difficult to clean than pvc. Where you can simply rinse or wipe a wet plastic pant in the morning, a PUL pant always needs to be laundered.
So I guess it depends on how strictly you interpret "waterproof". I share your point of view insofar that PUL will prevent most visible leaks, but my experience differs in that I find it not as completely waterproof as plastic (pvc), resulting in aforementioned clammy feeling (as If the material is "sweating") and more maintenance.
I've always found plastic very practical and suitable for my situation. I don't care much for the breathability that is always PUL's selling point - actually, I never noticed it, despite that I tried PUL pants more than once.
Instead, I find surface texture extremely important in wearing comfort. That's the only reason I'm looking into Nylon or Polyester, because so much Vinyl is smooth or even shiny, which I find very unpleasant.
So I'm wondering if Nylon and Polyester are similarly waterproof as Vinyl is, or more like the 'breathable' PUL?
PS - I don't ask about the sound because I want a pant that's completely quiet. I've actually never been bothered by diapers or plastic pants being noisy, I suppose my regular clothing also rustles a bit.
I'm merely curious, because it helps me imagine what the material is like.