There’s no two ways about it: if you’re adventuring anywhere but the most arid climates, you need a . Waterproof jackets are an essential year-round piece of kit that protect you against the worst of the elements and a good one can easily be rolled up and packed away in your when the weather is on your side. As waterproof jackets have become more technical, they’ve grown more expensive and when you’re buying a new one, you want to make sure you buy right the first time.
It needs to be robust enough to hold off whatever nature hurls your way, but the most technical can be far too much for more casual adventures and milder climates. Trying to decipher terms like membrane, DWR and hook-and-loop fasteners can leave your head spinning, never mind the choice between 2-layer and 3-layer jackets, so we take all the work out of things and help you decode the label on your waterproof jacket. Read on to understand know exactly what you’re getting for your money, and make sure it’s the best choice for your upcoming adventures.
The face fabric is the fabric on the outside of your jacket. It’s typically made from either nylon or polyester and it can be made thicker or thinner depending on the jacket. A thicker face fabric with a higher denier (50 - 75) is usually more durable and will be found in hardshell jackets like while a thinner face fabric with a lower denier of 20 - 30 is best for lighter and more flexible jackets such as the .
In a technical waterproof jacket built f.