Here at Mountain Warehouse we sell jackets and trousers with all levels of waterproof fabrics to ensure you find clothing which best suits your needs.
The industry standard for measuring the quality of a waterproof material is to test the level at which water permeates the fabric. This rating is given in mm (2,000mm for example) and the higher the number, the better it is at protecting you from wet weather.
When thinking about what waterproof clothing to buy, you first of all need to consider what you will be using the clothing for.
Breathable Outerwear
If youre planning to use your clothing for activities such as hiking and cycling, then you should consider clothing which is both waterproof and breathable. At Mountain Warehouse we use IsoDry fabric technology to ensure our garments are waterproof and breathable. This type of fabric stops rain and wind from getting in, whilst allowing your perspiration to evaporate to keep you dry. You should also look for clothing with taped seams, which ensures that the stitching on the fabric is also fully waterproof.
For venturing further up into the mountains, on more adventurous hikes or climbs, our Mountainlife Extreme range has been tested to ensure that in the toughest of weather conditions it will keep you warm and dry. With our IsoDry 5000 to 10,000 ratings the fabrics have been designed to be waterproof and highly breathable for anything that you throw at them.
Just-In-Case Jackets
For a jacket that is great for walking the dog or in day to day conditions, a purely waterproof jacket will be more than adequate for shorter periods of rain. If you are looking for a just-in-case option when out and about, or on holiday where space is at a premium, a packaway jacket and trousers will suit your needs perfectly. Taking up little space in a bag or pocket, they are great for short rain-showers, but offer no breathability.
Waterproof Definitions Explained:
Shower Proof/Water-resistant
The fabric has been treated with a water-repellent finish to allow rain water to roll off its surface easily and therefore offer protection from light rain showers.
Waterproof Fabric
The fabric has a waterproof membrane or coating that prevents water droplets penetrating through the fabric therefore protecting you from the elements. This fabric will also be windproof. Note that although the fabric is waterproof, without taped seams water may still seep through any stitched areas of the garment, and therefore this garment will not be fully waterproof.
Taped seams
The seams of the garment are sealed to stop rain seeping through the waterproof fabric and into the garment through the stitched areas. Taped or welded seams are used to make the garment fully waterproof.
Waterproof
The fabric has a waterproof membrane or coating that prevents water droplets penetrating through the fabric therefore protecting you from the elements. This fabric will also be windproof. A waterproof garment will have taped seams and therefore will be fully waterproof.
Windproof
The fabric prevents wind passing through it, therefore eliminating wind-chill keeping you warmer.
Breathable
The fabric is permeable to tiny water vapor molecules allowing perspiration to escape whilst still remaining a barrier to water droplets. This means the fabric remains waterproof and also breaths, keeping you cooler and dryer.
On one final note, do bear in mind that certain conditions will still push fabrics past their limits - particularly bad storms and monsoons.