When facing the elements, an effective waterproof jacket suited to your outdoor activity is essential. Whether for hiking, trail or any other outdoor activity, the key features to look for are waterproofness and breathability. Here is our guide to choosing the right waterproof jacket.
Criteria for choosing your waterproof jacket
To help you choose a waterproof jacket suited to your activity, here are a few criteria to consider:
the waterproofness rating
the breathability rating
the sport or activity
the membrane construction
Waterproof jackets should not be confused with water-repellent ones. The latter are not 100% waterproof. Their fabric will shed light rain or light snow but will not be waterproof in heavy precipitation. The same applies to the seams, which are not sealed.
The waterproofness and breathability ratings of a membrane
It is important to look at the waterproofness and breathability ratings of a waterproof jacket in order to effectively face rain or snow.
To begin with, the waterproofness of a membrane is expressed in millimetres and refers to its ability to prevent water from penetrating. The outdoor athlete is thus protected from rain or snow. When a garment indicates a waterproofness rating of 10,000 mm meansmeans it can withstand a water column of 10,000 mm (or 10 metres) before water penetrates the garment.
Then, when it comes to breathability, expressed in MVP for "Moisture Vapour Permeability", it is the ability of a fabric to allow water vapour to pass through — in other words, to wick away perspiration during physical effort, preventing you from ending up completely soaked under your jacket.
To sum up, these 2 ratings are there to help outdoor athletes compare membranes and determine which is more waterproof and more breathable. The higher these 2 figures, the more waterproof and breathable the garment.Read a more detailed article on this topic.
Choosing your jacket based on your activity
There is another factor to consider when choosing the right waterproof jacket. Is the jacket constructed with 2.5 or 3 layers? This difference lies in the textile construction.
3-layer construction: greater durability
In a 3-layer construction, the waterproof-breathable membrane forms the central layer, around which 2 additional textile layers are bonded to protect it. This makes it more resistant to abrasion and therefore more durable. To illustrate, the layering is as follows: textile / membrane / textile. The only drawback is that this makes the garment slightly heavier and bulkier.
2.5-layer construction: greater lightness
Conversely, a 2.5-layer construction means the inner textile layer is much thinner, saving weight across the whole garment. This is particularly the case for jackets used in trail running. However, these will have the sole drawback of being slightly less resistant (construction layout: thin film / membrane / textile).
At Cimalp, all hiking jackets are 3-layer for greater resistance and performance. The 2.5-layer construction is found mainly in running on trail jackets, to ensure lightness and packability of the garment.
The 3-layer principle in hiking
It is worth noting that the term '3 layers' should not be confused with the 3-layer principle often adopted by hikers. To stay warm and dry during physical effort — particularly in hiking — the layering technique is frequently recommended, in the following order: a first breathable layer to wick away perspiration, a thermal layer for warmth, and a waterproof jacket to protect against the elements.
Looking for a jacket for hiking? Check out our top best waterproof hiking jackets.
Cimalp's Ultrashell®
In the outdoor market, a 10,000 mm / 10,000 MVP membrane is generally considered a benchmark for effective waterproofness and breathability.
At Cimalp, however, the brand's R&D team conducted studies over several years to improve comfort for outdoor athletes. The French brand developed its own membrane offering greater waterproofness and breathability. This Drôme-based SME patented the ULTRASHELL®, a membrane with the following properties: 20,000 mm / 80,000 MVP.
The ULTRASHELL is today one of the best membranes available on the market. Initially designed for waterproof hiking jackets like the Advanced, Cimalp's ULTRASHELL® is now found across various products in the range: hiking overtrousers, trail jackets, as well as waterproof trail and hiking footwear.
Since then, Cimalp has also developed the Aerodry, a breathability optimisation system. Progress continues!
More details on waterproof jackets in video! Our ambassador and expert Florian Olivier, a certified mountain guide, explains everything.
Finally, make sure you maintain the waterproof and breathable properties of your membrane by caring for your garments properly: Tips for caring for your waterproof jacket
To begin with, the waterproofness of a membrane is expressed in millimetres and refers to its ability to prevent water from penetrating. The outdoor athlete is thus protected from rain or snow. When a garment indicates a waterproofness rating of 10,000 mm means means it can withstand a water column of 10,000 mm (or 10 metres) before water penetrates the garment.
Then, when it comes to breathability, expressed in MVP for "Moisture Vapour Permeability", it is the ability of a fabric to allow water vapour to pass through — in other words, to wick away perspiration during physical effort, preventing you from ending up completely soaked under your jacket.
To sum up, these 2 ratings are there to help outdoor athletes compare membranes and determine which is more waterproof and more breathable. The higher these 2 figures, the more waterproof and breathable the garment.
Read a more detailed article on this topic.
The ULTRASHELL is today one of the best membranes available on the market. Initially designed for waterproof hiking jackets like the Advanced, Cimalp's ULTRASHELL® is now found across various products in the range: hiking overtrousers, trail jackets, as well as waterproof trail and hiking footwear.
Since then, Cimalp has also developed the Aerodry, a breathability optimisation system. Progress continues!
More details on waterproof jackets in video! Our ambassador and expert Florian Olivier, a certified mountain guide, explains everything.
Finally, make sure you maintain the waterproof and breathable properties of your membrane by caring for your garments properly: Tips for caring for your waterproof jacket
