OUR WATERPROOF JACKETS
WATERPROOF JACKETS
Your best friend in adverse weather conditions!
Our hiking jackets offer protection against external elements (wind, rain, snow and even cold) and " act as the 3rd layer" when using the 3-layer technique.
Did you know?
How waterproof a jacket is depends on several criteria: its components and construction.
In addition, the construction of the component is evaluated according to its layers.
The components of a waterproof jacket
A waterproof fabric is a water repellent component to which extra protection has been added.
This protective element prevents water from penetrating the garment, even when the fabric is under stress or subject to pooling water (like a backpack).
There are two kinds of protection:
• The coating is similar to a paint layer applied to the inside of the fabric.
It prevents water penetrating from the outside.
• The membrane is a type of very thin plastic film (polyurethane) which makes the component waterproof while remaining breathable.
It has the advantage of being more flexible, lighter, more durable and often more breathable than a coating.
Water repellency
A fabric's water repellent property is its capacity to make water run off its surface without seeping in.
This prevents the fabric from becoming saturated with water, keeping it lightweight, warm and breathable.
Water repellency is achieved by treating the fabric's exterior.
This treatment needs to be renewed throughout the garment's lifetime (we recommend every 3 washes).
All our waterproof jackets benefit from a water repellent treatment.
Waterproofness
The level of waterproofing is measured by the resistance of a fabric to water pressure expressed in mm of a column of water (test based on standard ISO 811).
The higher the pressure, the more waterproof the fabric.
A component with a waterproof rating of 10 000 mm can withstand the pressure exerted by a 10 000 mm column of water.
It is also equivalent to 10 000 Schmerbers.
1 Schmerber = 1 mm column of water = 0.1 mba
Breathability
Breathability refers to your jacket's capacity to wick away water vapour produced by the body.
In addition to using breathable fabrics, we also develop technical solutions (zips, vents etc.) aimed at improving the overall ventilation of our hiking jackets.
These ventilation systems help regulate the temperature inside the garment and facilitate the wicking of perspiration generated by the body during exertion.
The construction of components
The 2-layer component:
The membrane is just glued to the outer fabric; the inner protective lining is unattached.
The 2.5-layer component:
The membrane is glued under the outer fabric and protected inside by a fine film.
The 3-layer component:
The membrane is glued between the outer and inner fabric.
Discover all our waterproof hiking jackets
Tested to last
Shower-tested in laboratories
All our jackets are shower-tested using a specified number of litres of water/sqm/hour for several hours (depending on requirements).
This test reproduces the conditions of storms of varying intensities.
Approved by our testers
In order to meet your requirements, our Quechua jackets are also tested in the field, in real-life hiking conditions.
Ours teams, together with a panel of testers, test our products throughout the development process.
Ingenuity supporting your finest adventures
