There’s no such thing as bad weather. Autumn is a really pleasant time if you have the right raincoat, isn’t it? You just need to know several technical features to choose the raincoat once and for all.

WATER-RESISTANT VS WATERPROOF: DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?

Rain jackets can be made from a variety of fabrics, but polyester and nylon are the most common. These fabrics are slightly water-resistant on their own, but they need a boost from some additional technology before you’d want to take them out in the rain. You might have seen rain jackets labelled as either water-resistant or waterproof – these mean different things when it comes to keeping you dry.

WATER-RESISTANT RAINWEAR

• are treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish (on the outside)
• keep you dry in a drizzle or light rain
• breathable
• less expensive

WATERPROOF RAINWEAR

• have an interior coating or membrane to keep water out
• micro-pores won’t let rain in, but they do let warm air and sweat escape
• breathable
• highly durable
• you stay dry and comfortable, even during extended use, and in harsh conditions

WHAT IS GORE-TEX

Gore-Tex is perhaps the most famous waterproof, breathable brand.

The center of their technology is something they call the Membrane and is incredibly thin and tightly woven.

Some of the first waterproof, breathable materials were simply cotton, but with an extremely tight weave and a layer of proofing. The polytetrafluoroethylene membrane is similar, boasting 9 billion pores for every square inch, coated with polyurethane and attached to a protective lining. But Gore-Tex isn’t the only waterproof, breathable manufacturer in town.

SO, WHAT JACKET SHOULD I PICK ALREADY?

Fabric – the most important part. Choose polyurethane (PU: strong, durable), not PVC (lightweight, toxic).

Membrane – a thin film that is laminated to the outer fabric and then protected in some way on the inside. It helps you to stay dry and let the sweat escape.

Coating – is a layer spread onto the downside of the outer layer. The membrane is like wallpaper, the coating is like the paint. Choose PU as well.

Impregnation – a water repellent finish. It’s better to be Bionic-Finish eco (a unique patented water repellent finish that doesn’t use any harmful compounds)

Water column – measurement used to show the amount of water pressure a garment can cope with before it starts leaking. 1500 mm man withstand rain and wind in normal everyday use.

We recommend Elvine and Rains brands; their raincoats are made in a right and sustainable way.

by Rains

 by Elvine