Waterproof jacket or rain jacket: what’s the difference?

Both names describe a jacket that keeps out rain; what sets jackets apart is their waterproof rating in Schmerber and their breathability. Every jacket on this page has a rating of at least 10,000 Schmerber.

Waterproof or watertight: what’s the difference?

For clothing, waterproofness is measured in Schmerber: at 10,000 Schmerber, the fabric withstands a 10,000 mm water column. “Watertight” mainly describes seams and zips: if they aren’t sealed or protected, water can get in through them.

How do I care for a waterproof jacket?

Wash it with a detergent for technical clothing, without fabric conditioner, then restore its water repellency when water stops beading on the surface. The detergent and waterproofing products are at the end of the selection, and our guide covers caring for waterproof clothing. Like all Cimalp clothing, it comes with free repairs for life.

Waterproof Jackets

Cimalp waterproof and rain jackets with Ultrashell or Cimashell membrane and sealed seams, for hiking, trail running, mountaineering and city cycling.

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Waterproof jacket or water-repellent windbreaker: what keeps rain out

In a prolonged downpour, a water-repellent windbreaker eventually lets water through at the shoulders, where backpack straps press down. A waterproof jacket with a membrane holds up longer because its membrane blocks water while letting perspiration vapour escape, and its seams are sealed, heat-welded or heat-bonded, depending on the model. The water-repellent-treated outer fabric makes water bead on the surface, and most models fasten with water-repellent YKK Aquaguard zips. The difference from a softshell, which is more flexible but only water-repellent, is explained in our article on softshell.

Cimashell or Ultrashell membrane: choose according to how long the rain lasts

Cimalp waterproof jackets use two membranes. The Cimashell membrane withstands 10,000 Schmerber, equivalent to a 10,000 mm water column, and lets 10,000 to 12,500 g/m²/24h of water vapour escape. It is used in the CASCADE, STORM and cycling rain jackets. The Ultrashell membrane reaches 20,000 Schmerber and 80,000 g/m²/24h in the COSMIC, ADVANCED, GUIDE PRO and STORM PRO. You feel the difference climbing a pass in the rain: a membrane that does not breathe well leaves you wet from the inside.

Compare these points across the product specifications:

Waterproof rating: 10,000 or 20,000 Schmerber.
Breathability: 10,000 to 80,000 g/m²/24h.
Underarm ventilation zips for climbs.
Hood adjustable to fit over a helmet, for mountaineering or cycling.
Weight: under 200 g for the lightest trail jackets, around 700 g for a reinforced mountaineering jacket.

Which waterproof jacket for hiking, mountaineering or trail running?

For hiking, from a half-day outing to a bivvy, the three-layer CASCADE has stretch wrist cuffs and underarm ventilation zips. The COSMIC uses Ultrashell and keeps its four outer pockets accessible while wearing a backpack.

For mountaineering and ski touring, the ADVANCED weighs around 400 g; its hood adjusts to fit over a helmet, and its high pockets remain accessible when wearing a harness. The GUIDE PRO adds rip-stop fabric and shoulder reinforcements against abrasion from rock, weighing around 700 g in the men’s version. Both have a RECCO reflector that rescuers can detect in an avalanche; it complements, but does not replace, an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe. Find the full selection in our mountaineering jackets. For running, the STORM jackets, all under 300 g, are in our trail jackets. Each model comes in men’s and women’s fits, in our men’s hardshell jackets and our women’s waterproof jackets.

Rain jacket for cycling and city use

The LANDES and HENDAYE are rain jackets for city cycling, with a 10,000 Schmerber Cimashell membrane. On the LANDES, a mesh lining keeps the fabric from sticking to your skin, while zips widen the hood to fit over a cycling helmet. Its stiff peak keeps rain off your face in a headwind, and reflective prints make you visible at night. Packed into its compression sack, it stays at the bottom of a bike bag until the next downpour. The full range is in our RAINPROTEKT, the waterproof range designed for cycling.

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