Water Resistant Vs Waterproof Jacket

In theory any fabric between you and falling rain will keep some water from reaching your skin making it at least partially water resistant and a surprising variety of jackets list water resistance as a.

Water resistant vs waterproof jacket.

That s because not all jackets are created equal. There s a big difference between the two. Overall a waterproof jacket will be more expensive but more effective in keeping out water whereas a water resistant jacket will be cheaper but less effective in keeping out water. However they are not fully tape seamed meaning that water can still get in through areas such as the zip.

There is a difference between waterproof water repellent and water resistant and when you start to add breathability into the mix things can start to get a little complicated. Essentially water resistant and waterproof designate the degree to which rain is kept from getting through a jacket while water repellent refers to an extra coating that improves any rain jacket s performance waterproof included. The difference between water resistant and waterproof is all in the construction. Water resistant jackets are usually made of fabrics that have some resistance against small amounts of water such as nylon or that are difficult to wet such as polyester.

Ever bought a jacket thought it would keep you dry in a downpour only to find out the hard way that it doesn t. To help you out we ve put together the following explanation on the difference between waterproof and water resistant. Water resistant jackets and pants usually have a dwr durable water repellent finish on the exterior that repels moisture and keeps you dry in light rain or snow. It is also important to consider how windproof a jacket is as this will help to keep the user warm.

Don t let the terms water resistant and waterproof fool you. Water resistant is a lower level of rain protection. So whether you are trying to get your hands on a running jacket to wear in a light drizzle or you want a water tight hiking bag to keep all your gear safe and secure you ll need to be able to tell one from the other. A waterproof jacket will have a waterproof membrane which increases the cost whereas a water resistant jacket utilizes a water repellent treatment on the exterior of the jacket which is cheaper.