WATERPROOF JACKETS
A WATERPROOF JACKET will protect you against not just rain but also snow and cold wind. A good waterproof jacket will do all this while also letting out most of your body’s moisture in a range of conditions, keeping you comfortable as well as safe.
Jackets vary by intended use. In fair summer weather you can often get by with a lighter jacket, and ultralight models are available that will offer protection at a much lower weight. However, the lightest shells often have poor hoods, plus fewer pockets and adjustment options, and are made from thinner, less waterproof fabric. They are also less durable and may be less breathable. In poor weather, you’ll appreciate features such as a really good, stiffened hood, a longer back length, hassle-free zips, and stiffer fabric that is more waterproof and wind-resistant. Thinner fabrics are often better for warmer weather and less extreme conditions.
Breathability – fabric’s ability to let out water vapour, avoiding that clammy feeling – is important too. A more breathable jacket will keep you feeling dry for longer. However, even expensive jackets can be overwhelmed in certain conditions, leading to condensation. This occurs when the external water-resistant coating of the fabric (durable water repellency, or DWR) ‘wets out’, no longer beading moisture on its surface. Although rain won’t get in, you may start to feel damp.
A do-everything, all-season jacket will offer a good level of weather protection, decent ventilation options, durable and highly breathable fabric plus an excellent hood, and will fit you well. In this review we’ve tested a range of jackets at different weights and price points.
Features
1 Fabric
Virtually all performance waterproof jackets use new-generation 3-layer (3L) fabrics. These are lightweight, supple and highly efficient at moving and deflecting moisture. Very lightweight versions are great as emergency garments but struggle to hold their own in heavy or persistent rain. Recycled fibres are gaining traction, with recycled polyamide (nylon) in use for some face fabrics.
2 Length
Finally brands are moving away from making waterproof jackets ever shorter, and length is creeping back to useful levels. Waterproof jackets with hems at the waist may look ‘technical’, but in reality it is more important to have a dry backside. The longer we can leave it
