A type IV pressure vessel has improved permeate gas management. The pressure vessel comprises an inner polymeric liner, a breather layer disposed on the liner, and an outer composite shell structure disposed on the breather layer. The breather layer is gas permeable, impermeable to liquids, and provides a flow passageway for gas permeating through the liner wall collected by the breather layer. The outer composite shell is formed by one or more layers of fiber of a first fiber type and resin. Gas permeating from an interior space of the liner is received by the breather layer and directed to a predetermined exit location on the pressure vessel.