A waterproof or water-repellent raincoat, potato-potatoe?
March winds, april showers, autumn troubles. And then some rainy days in between. Fortunately, you can dress for these wet weather conditions. Be prepared for the Belgian weather with a good raincoat. Do you prefer a water-repellent raincoat, or rather a waterproof one?
By the way, do you know the difference between the two? We'll explain the difference below, so you can make the right choice for the suitable raincoat.
WATER REPELLENT RUNNING JACKETS
A water-repellent running jacket only has the ability to let water slide off. It thus offers only minimal protection against rain, allowing heavy rain showers to prevail. Typically, they are windproof.
This water repellent clothing is usually equipped with GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ technology. This makes the clothing resistant to light rain and snow. Rain rolls off the jacket in droplets, but during heavy rain, moisture may penetrate inside due to higher pressure.
However, the GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ membrane is completely windproof, allowing you to stay warmer for longer.
WATERPROOF RUNNING JACKETS
A waterproof running jacket has the ability to repel rain. Additionally, these raincoats are windproof.
The degree of waterproofness is expressed with a water column height in millimeters. Anything below 1500 mm will start leaking fairly quickly. From 10,000 mm onwards, you can speak of a high-quality waterproof raincoat.
Do you want the best waterproof outerwear? Then you should put on a plastic jacket or poncho. Cheaper than a raincoat, but worthless when it comes to breathability and comfort.
There are two techniques that make a jacket waterproof: a GORE-TEX membrane or a DWR Finish coating. The difference lies in the duration of the protection.
The GORE-TEX membrane is a membrane that contains billions of pores per square centimeter. Each pore is 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet. So, you can already guess: water cannot find its way through here. What can pass through, however, is moisture and vapor. In other words: sweat. And that's a good thing because this one-way traffic ensures that the temperature inside the jacket doesn't get too high during exercise.
A waterproof coating - the DWR FINISH (Durable Water Repellent) - is a microporous varnish layer applied to the inside of the jacket. It's usually cheaper than a jacket with the GORE-TEX membrane but is temporary. The coating needs to be reapplied periodically. If you want a durable waterproof raincoat, it's best to choose a raincoat with a waterproof GORE-TEX membrane instead of a coating.
Is expensive always better?
In the case of raincoats, we can answer this question with 'yes'. The price tag is strongly correlated with comfort. Factors such as waterproofness, breathability, seam finishing, quality of the outer fabric, weight, windproofness... determine the total amount you pay for your jacket.
As mentioned earlier, there is a difference between the finishing of a water-repellent and waterproof running jacket. And even within waterproof jackets, there is a difference in finishing: a simple coating is less durable but cheaper than a GORE-TEX membrane.
The degree to which the seams and zippers are finished also determines the price of your running jacket. Are they taped? Then you're one step closer to an excellently waterproof jacket.
For those who often run or hike in nature, a fabric with ripstop applied to it is likely beneficial. This weaving technique makes textile stronger and more tear-resistant.
If the material of the running jacket is also lightweight, easy to store, or even resistant to heavy storms, you'll probably see that reflected in the price tag.
Now that you know the difference between waterproof and water-repellent, it might be a bit easier to choose the right jacket. But we admit: aside from waterproofness, there are still many other differences between the jackets.
Do you want to make sure you're buying a comfortable running jacket that's suitable for the activities you'll be doing with it? Then come and try them on in one of our Runners' lab stores. Our advisors will give you tips and professional advice on the right jacket.
Our advisors also answer your questions via Live WhatsApp, so you can order your ideal raincoat online as well.