Membrane vs Coating
A membrane is a separate thin film bonded into a fabric laminate. A coating is a waterproof layer applied directly onto the back of the face fabric as a liquid that then cures.
Both can be genuinely waterproof and both can be breathable. They differ in cost, hand, durability and how they age, and a brand describing a coated fabric as a membrane is being loose with language.
How they differ
| Membrane (laminate) | Coating | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Separate film bonded between layers | Applied directly to the face fabric |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Typical hand | Can be softer, quieter in 3-layer builds | Often slightly stiffer or tackier |
| Main failure mode | Delamination, the film separating from the fabric | Coating cracking or wearing thin with flex |
| Repairability | Poor once delaminated | Poor once cracked |
Layer counts
You will see 2-layer, 2.5-layer and 3-layer. 2-layer means face fabric plus membrane with a separate hanging liner. 2.5-layer adds a printed or sprayed protective pattern instead of a liner, which saves weight and is the usual choice for packable shells. 3-layer bonds a knit backer to the membrane, which is the most durable and the most expensive.
What VEAR uses
SGS describes our travel shell as a coated textile, 100% polyester. Our winter product copy describes a TPU membrane. Those are different constructions and we are in the process of documenting the difference properly rather than blurring the two words together.
Related terms
- VEAR lab test results: the SGS component description
- Softshell vs hardshell: construction at the garment level
- Delamination: how laminates end their life
- Glossary: all terms