There are provided methods for fabricating devices for admitting air to a closed container while preventing passage of a water-based fluid therethrough. These devices comprise a plurality of hydrophobic capillaries or a hydrophobic reticulated microporous material. The devices comprising hydrophobic capillaries are fabricated by a variety of techniques, such as those employing extrusion, pultrusion, fugitive mandrel removal or a combination of these techniques. The devices comprising hydrophobic reticulated microporous material are fabricated by techniques such as foaming, sintering, template replication, incorporation of sacrificial particles or a combination of these techniques.