WATER
OUR WATERPROOF JACKETS HAVE TAPED SEAMS AND WATERPROOF ZIPPERS . SEEMS TOO SIMPLE ? FEEL FREE TO DIG IN TO THE DETAILS BELOW :
WATERPROOF
What if the skies opened up and released a torrent of rain ? Hopefully you are wearing a waterproof jacket , because the added pressure of an intense shower would make water seep through the fabric to your skin . The amount of pressure you can apply to a jacket before you start getting wet varies , but you can easily find such information by checking a jacket ’ s water column .
THE J . HARVEST & FROST PARKA FOR EXAMPLE , CAN STAND A WATER COLUMN OF 10,000 MILLIMETRES .
THAT MEANS YOU WOULD ONLY START GETTING WET IF A SINGLE POINT OF THE JACKET ’ S WAS HIT WITH A 10-METRE COLUMN OF WATER . – THAT IS A LOT OF WATER .
The seams are the weak point of rainwear because small holes are created in the fabric of the needle when the garment is sewn together where water can find its way in . Our waterproof garments have taped seams to make the garment waterproof .
In order for a garment not to let water through , water repellent zippers is a must-have . The zippers on our waterproof garments are carefully selected to withstand high water pressure and sometimes even equipped with a protective flap on the inside .
WATER REPELLENT
Water repellency is a step up from water resistance , which means water cannot easily penetrate the material . Instead , water beads on the outside . The technical term for this is “ hydrophobic ”.
WATER RESISTANCE
This offers the lowest level of water protection . If a garment resists water , it is usually because the fabric itself is acting as the barrier between you and a light rain shower . Tightly woven fabrics offer a degree of water resistance because it takes some time for water to seep through the material . With the addition of a coating or impregnation however , you can make the fabric water repellent .
BREATHABILITY
All that being said , what good is a waterproof jacket if you are sweating inside of it ? Breathability is vital . And in this case , breathability refers to the jacket wicking moisture away from your body to the outside of the jacket . This is where ” hydrophilic ” materials come in . Such materials attract water and are sometimes developed by treating a naturally water-resistant fabric with a durable water repellent . Using a hydrophilic fabric in combination with a water-repellent outer layer makes a superior waterproof jacket , because it keeps you dry outside and comfortable inside .