Waterproof or water resistant jacket? How do I choose and what is the difference between them?
Raindrops have become a standard part of recent weeks, and as autumn knocks on the door, it probably won't even look any different outside. Yes, if your wardrobe is missing a rain jacket, now is the perfect time.
However, we understand well how difficult it is sometimes to know all those concepts and how difficult it is to choose exactly what one needs.
Waterproof, water resistant, water repellent, ...
Do aktuálneho počasia a najbližších mesiacov je bunda do dažďa prakticky povinnosťou. Pre neskúseného človeka však môže byť samotný výber náročný nepremokavá? Vodoodpudivá? Vodeodolná? Čo je čo, čo potrebujem a čo mi kedy stačí?
What is the difference between a waterproof, water resistant and water repellent jacket?
Waterproof jacket
A waterproof jacket is a jacket that does not let a drop through. You can stand in the shower in it and you should come out completely dry. This waterproofness is taken care of by the material itself, but also by details such as taped seams or water-repellent zippers.
However, even a plastic bag will keep you dry, so why buy a waterproof jacket? And what is the difference between a cheap and a more expensive waterproof jacket if none of them let the water through?
Quality waterproof jackets often have a membrane, which on the one hand ensures that water does not get to your body through, on the other hand it pushes sweat and moisture away from your body towards the surface of the jacket, where it evaporates. Even a plastic bag will keep you dry, but it will boil you in your own sweat.
Water resistant jacket
Waterproof jackets cannot protect your skin from water penetration for a long time. However, their material is so dense that until the water reaches you, it will take some time and the jacket will withstand even light rain if you do not stand in it for hours. And although the membranes on waterproof jackets do a great job, they do not achieve the breathability of densely woven jackets.
To the city and for shorter hikes, this is an ideal choice. Especially with water-repellent treatment ...
Jackets with DWR treatment
... water-repellent jackets do not exist by themselves. We can achieve water repellency by a surface treatment, thanks to which an invisible film is formed on the surface of the jacket, which a drop hits and slides down the surface of the jacket. Basically all of our jackets have this adjustment, but we will add that this adjustment must be renewed regularly.
The water repellent treatment (DWR) prolongs the ability of water resistant jackets to protect you from get wet and allows waterproof jackets to maintain higher breathability for a longer period of time.