69Zips
Theseare either water-resistant,
such as YKK’sAquaGuard,or
protectedby at least one storm flap
ontheoutsideorinside.Zipsliders
on water-resistantzipperstuck into
a ‘garage’to preventrain entering
through the top of the zip.2019’S BEST WET
WEATHER JACKETS
Notramp,whateveritsduration,shouldbemadewithouta raincoat.
Butwhetheryouoptfortheultra-packableorultra-durabledepends
onthekindoftripsyoudo.Here’swhatto look for and a selection of
the year’s best jackets.By Alistair HallVentilation
Whileallrainwearis
‘breathable’– ableto
transferperspiration
throughthefabric– other
ventilationoptionsare
requiredtokeepuserscool.
Themostobviousis the
front zipper,but look also
for pit-zipsand side vents
whichcanbeopened to
dump heat.
Pockets
Pack-friendlyhandwarmer
pocketsarepositionedsothey
canbeaccessedwhilewearinga
packorharness.Theyshouldbe
largeenoughto accommodate
thehandsandideallyat least
onepocketshouldbeableto
holda map.A chestpocketwith
a verticalopeningcanprovide
unhinderedaccessto mapand
compass.Manypocketsare
mesh-linedto reduceweight
andimproveventilationbutbe
aware,itemsstoredin thesemay
become damp from perspiration.Cuffs
Cuffscanbetightenedwith
Velcrostripsto preventwater
runningupthesleevewhen
armsareraised.Theyalsohelp
trapwarmairinsidethejacket.
Ensurethecuffcoversyour
baselayersto prevent rainwater
wicking upward.Three-or 2.5-layer
Three-layerjacketshave a waterproof
membranesandwichedbetweena dura-
blefacefabricanda lining.Theytendto
be more expensive,heavyand bulky,but
are hard-wearingand designedfor the
harshestconditions.2.5-layershells(a
facefabricandwaterproofmembrane
witha protectivesheenorprintoverlaid)
are less expensiveand more packable,
but not as breathable or as durable.Hoods
Manyhoodsarelargeenough
to accommodatea helmet,
whichis whytheyalsocome
withvolumeadjustingdrawcords
orVelcrotabs.Ensurethe
stiffenedbrimdoesnotlimit
visibilityandoncetightened,
thehoodmoveswithyourhead.Abrasionresistance
Thefabricmightbereinforced
at high-wearpointssuch as the
elbows andshoulders.Length
Below-the-waistdesigns
tendto beheavierbutprovide
better protectionand a ‘tail’
to sit on. To-the-waistjackets
arelighterandoftenhave
stretchpanelsin keyareas
to preventthehemlifting.Water resistance
and breathability
Technicalrainwearfabricworks
muchlikeyourskin:tinymoisture
vapourdropletspassthroughits
pores,whilelargerraindropletsare
blockedfrompassingthroughthe
otherway.Garmentscanbetested
to determinewaterresistanceand
breathability.
Waterresistance:Theamount
of waterpressure(inmillimetres)a
fabricsamplecanwithstandbefore
leakageoccurs– e.g.20,000mm.
Breathability:Theamountof
watervapour(ingrams)thatcan
passthrougha squaremetreof
fabric duringa 24-hourperiod.
e.g.20,000g/m2.
Becausethereis nostandard-
isedtestto measurebreathability
andwaterresistance,theproducts
shownin thisfeaturedonothave
this information displayed.Featuredjacket:
MarmotPreCipEco
($199.95).Distributed
by http://www.marmotnz.Seams
Manyseamsarenowfully
tapedorsealedto prevent
water seepingthrough
the stitching.