Core Technologies

Columbia is first and foremost an outdoor product company. In many ways though, we are a technology company. Columbia's commitment to innovation runs throughout our entire product offering, and helps set us apart from the competition. Our family of Omni technologies have been designed with one thing in mind: your comfort. Whether it's keeping you warm and dry, cool and comfortable, or moving fast and light, we've focused on serious solutions for a simple challenge: Enhancing your experience of the greater outdoors with the best products you can buy.

Core Technologies
- Omni-Heat®
  THERMAL COMFORT
  
  Stay warm in cold conditions.
- Omni-Shield™
  ADVANCED REPELLENCY
  
  Resist rain and stains.
- Omni-Shield
  BLOOD 'N GUTS™
  ADVANCED REPELLENCY
  
  Resist and release.
- Techlite™
  LIGHTWEIGHT PERFORMANCE
  
  Lightweight cushioning and support.
- Omni-Grip®
  ADVANCED TRACTION
  
  Hold tight on any terrain.
- Omni-Shade®
  SUN PROTECTION
  
  Enjoy the sun safely.
- Omni-Dry®
  ADVANCED EVAPORATION
  
  Keeps you dry and comfortable.
- Omni-Freeze™
  ADVANCED COOLING
  
  Stay cool in the heat.
- Omni-Tech®
  WATERPROOF BREATHABLE
  
  Stay dry in wet conditions.

OMNI-SHADE

About OMNI-SHADE

Columbia Sportswear's Omni-Shade® clothing protects you from damaging UV radiation by blocking the majority of the sun's harmful rays, so you can stay out longer. Omni-Shade blocks Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B rays (UVA and UVB), helping to prevent sun burn and long-term skin damage through tight weave construction, UV reflectors, and UV absorbing technology.

Unlike SPF (Sun Protection Factor), which is a measure of sunburn reduction from sunblock, and does not indicate any protection from UVA rays. UVA rays are much more harmful than UVB, and are present even on cloudy days. Omni-Shade provides protection from both UVB and UVA rays. Like sunblock, Omni-Shade is given a numeric value to indicate its level of sun protection. Unlike sun block, Omni-Shade does not wear off. Your safety increases as the Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) increases, and several levels of Omni-Shade protection are available: UPF 15, UPF 30, UPF 40 and UPF 50+. It's like sunscreen, but you don't have to reapply.

All Omni-Shade fabric carries The Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation, given to sun-protective fabrics that have a minimum UPF of 30. You can read more about The Skin Cancer Foundation here: http://www.skincancer.org/