A good fit is essential. If you are wearing a waterproof jacket for summer mountain running then the fit requirements are different to if you plan to use the jacket for winter climbing, and so consider not only your body shape but your intended use and what layers you plan to wear the jacket with. Ensure you can raise your arms overhead without exposing your midriff, that the cuffs are long enough to cover your wrists and prevent water coming down them, and that the hood allows you to look all around without restriction. In basic terms our Active Fit is our trimmest fit, our Alpine Fit a perfect middle ground, and our Mountain Fit our most roomy, but there may be slight variation from model to model.

The most important thing to remember when buying clothing is that fabrics are nothing without a good garment: the best waterproof fabric is worthless if your hood doesn’t work, the cuffs don’t fasten neatly, and the seams leak. Consider what you are going to use the product for and whether it has the features that you want. Hoods, pockets and cuffs are perhaps the three most important factors, along with fit.

Hydrostatic head

Hydrostatic head is a way of measuring how waterproof a fabric is, stated as a rating in metres or millimetres. It measures how high a column of water could stand on the fabric before it would begin coming through. A higher number means that the fabric is ‘more waterproof’. Even the most powerful wind-blown rain rarely exceeds the equivalent pressure of 500mm, but many fabrics advertise hydrostatic head figures of 10,000mm or even 20,000mm. That’s because higher pressures than those from rain can occur in situations like sitting or kneeling on wet ground, and because over time a fabric’s hydrostatic head can slowly degrade. All of our waterproof fabrics exceed a hydrostatic head of 20,000mm.

Breathability figures

‘Breathability’ is better termed moisture vapour permeability. It describes how much moisture can escape a fabric, and thus how sweaty a waterproof fabric may feel. it is a frustrating subject because of the huge number of different standards and methods used to determine it. Results from these methods can contradict one another and so it is hard to get a gauge for what fabric offers the ‘best’ breathability. All of our fabrics undergo moisture vapour permeability tests and we often use multiple standards to assess them. All of our waterproof fabrics have an MVTR (moisture vapour transmission rate) of greater than 20,000 g/m²/24h, which indicates extremely high vapour transfer and so means excellent comfort.

DWRs

A DWR is a ‘Durable Water Repellent’ finish that is applied to a fabric to help it repel water. They are a key part of maintaining comfort, of reducing drying times of a garment, and in promoting ‘beading’ of water on a fabric. They don’t last forever, however, and need to be revitalised or renewed regularly. For more information on this, see our care pages. Historically, almost all DWRs were PFC-based, which are the highest performing and longest lasting type, but environmental considerations mean that PFC-free options are becoming increasingly commonplace.

PFCs

PFCs are perfluorinated compounds. They are used in a very wide variety of products including cosmetics, cookware, and textiles. Their use has come under increasing scrutiny because they accumulate in the body and do not readily degrade; their use is now restricted. PFC-Free DWRs offer excellent water repellence but less oil/dirt repellence than PFC chemistries, and they require more regular reproofing to maintain performance. We are continually reviewing our use of PFCs to ensure not only excellent performance but to ensure excellent product sustainability too.

Ski Features

Choosing which waterproof jacket to ski in depends significantly on your intended use. For lift-skiing you may want pass pockets and a snow skirt, but for backcountry use you may want a simpler and lighter jacket. You may not ever ski in waterproofs and only ever wear softshell, or you may want to ski in an insulated ski jacket: you need to find what works for you. Ski legwear is slightly different, and hem diameter is the most important factor here: ensure that your hem will comfortably fit over your ski boots without being too baggy.

When buying waterproof pants the biggest considerations are fabric weight and the length of the side zips. If you use waterproof pants only as just-in-case overtrousers then a lighter weight pair that live mainly in your pack is sensible. However, if you are planning to wear them for longer periods – for example when winter climbing or hiking in prolonged wet weather – then a heavier pair will last a lot longer. Full length side zips can be a little fiddly to work with, but they can be put on even while wearing crampons or skis. ¾ length side zips are easily put on over hiking or big mountain boots, but are virtually impossible to get on over crampons or skis.

Winter-specific legwear considerations

If you’re using waterproof pants in winter then there are other features to look for. Internal gaiters are essential for keeping deep snow out of boots, even with modern gaitered boots; patches to increase durability in high wear areas are often beneficial; and a high waisted design keeps out unwanted draughts. Full bib salopettes might be ideal for skiing in very deep powder but aren’t necessarily ideal for winter mountaineering or climbing, being very warm and sometimes sweaty when worn with a waterproof jacket. For this reason, our Tupilak pants come with a high waist but not a full bib.