Waterproof Jacket

Waterproof jackets are decided at the seams

A waterproof jacket performs only as well as the joins in it. This range covers lightweight hooded shells for walking, breathable rain jackets, insulated and padded jackets for cold months, and battery-heated versions for standing still in winter, in men's and women's cuts. Rain arrives in more than one form, though, and for dry blustery days a lighter garment from the windproof jacket range packs smaller and breathes more freely than a full shell does.

What makes a jacket waterproof rather than shower resistant?

A coating or a membrane bonded to the face fabric stops liquid water crossing it. That is the easy part. The rest is closing the holes: taped seams over the needle line, a storm flap or a water-resistant zip down the front, cuffs that seal at the wrist, a hem that can be drawn in, and a hood that turns with the head. Water finds the openings long before it finds the fabric.

Why does the inside feel damp when nothing is leaking?

Condensation. A working body puts out a surprising amount of vapour, and when the outside of the jacket is cold that vapour turns back to water on the inner face. No membrane moves it away fast enough during a steep climb. Ventilation is the practical fix: open the front, use underarm zips, and start out slightly cool rather than comfortable. For cold dry conditions at a walking pace, a softshell jacket trades outright rain protection for airflow. Standing still in cold is a different problem again, and one the heated jacket range is built around.

How should a waterproof jacket fit?

Size it over the layers it will cover, not over a tee shirt in a warm room. Put on a mid layer such as a fleece jacket, then raise both arms: the hem should stay below the waistband and the cuffs should still reach the wrist bones. A shell that pulls tight across the shoulders when reaching will do the same on a stile, and one that flaps will catch wind.

What should you check on the detail?

• Hood: a wired or stiffened peak keeps rain off the face, and adjusters at the back and sides stop the hood spinning.
• Seam taping: fully taped seams cover every needle line, while critically taped covers the shoulders and hood only.
• Pocket position: pockets set high stay usable under a rucksack hip belt; low hand pockets disappear the moment a pack is on.
• Cuffs and hem: hook-and-loop tabs and a drawcord hem are what stop wind driving water up the sleeve and under the jacket.

How do you keep water beading on the surface?

The finish on the face fabric is what makes rain sit up in drops, and it wears off through grit, rucksack straps and body oils. Once the outer fabric soaks through, the jacket feels clammy even though the membrane is intact. Wash it with a technical cleaner rather than household detergent, whose residue attracts water, then reactivate the finish with gentle warmth from a tumble dryer or a cool iron through a cloth. Reproof with a wash-in or spray treatment when warmth alone stops working, and hang the jacket rather than storing it stuffed in a sack.