Lab Gear Testing

This semester, we were given tasks that familiarized us with industry-standard machines, tests, and data analysis to gather and report on outdoor gear performance. My two focused projects over the three months were a degradation analysis of jacket material in a comparison of two different jackets (provided to us) and a final project of our choosing, researching existing articles, information, and data to create a testing report using standards and marketing claims of UPF-rated sun hoodies. Each project used ASTM and AATCC standards for material testing to understand water resistance and air permeability of pre- and post-abrasion for jacket samples, and sun protection, comfort, and durability for sun hoodies, relying on lab testing data, field-testing, and consumer data, if we were to run this in a lab and with users.

The resulting data with jacket sample 1 being a winter style parka and jacket sample 2 light fleece jacket, shows each performing better in opposing tests (air and water permeability). Though unrealistic for a real comparison review, this testing allowed me to to better understand how marketing and anticipated claims can be backed up by lab results.

By creating a test methodology and write up using ASTM and AATCC standards and prior research, the UPF sun hoodie project allowed me to create a realistic end-to-end test preparation as if I was comparatively testing two products in a lab and field setting.