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What is the purpose of a waterproof jacket？
Waterproof jackets are often misunderstood as being extremely breathable (in fact, many are only moderately breathable) or as all-purpose garments suitable for all extreme weather conditions (which they often are not), so we have carefully explained the key considerations below. Don’t let the features that waterproof jackets “don’t” have stop you from understanding it.
Your first choice for outdoor sports protective jackets
First of all, waterproof jackets are suitable for all kinds of outdoor sports. They are mostly made of professional waterproof fabrics, such as common polyester fiber combined with waterproof coating, or high-tech functional fabrics, with excellent waterproofness, certain durability and relatively good windproof ability. These characteristics make them ideal for activities such as mountaineering, hiking, camping, fishing, water sports, etc.
In essence, if there are humid conditions such as rain and dew in the outdoor environment, and you need to stay in it for a long time, then a waterproof jacket is an excellent jacket. It can effectively block the intrusion of external moisture and keep the body dry, which makes it more advantageous than ordinary windbreakers and light sun protection clothing and other jacket options. But it is not as stuffy and airtight as some heavy warm jackets. While it has waterproof function, it can also take into account certain breathability, so as not to make the wearer feel too stuffy.
These characteristics make them a very versatile piece of clothing, whether in the rainy spring, the hot and humid summer with occasional rainfall, or the humid autumn and the winter with possible rain and snow, they can play their unique role and protect your outdoor sports.
What types of outdoor clothing use waterproof technology?
As we have said before, waterproof jackets play an important role in many outdoor scenes, especially those activities that are prone to wet environments. The most common types of waterproof are pants or jackets used as the outer layer of activities such as mountaineering, rain hiking, fishing, and various water sports.
Waterproof jackets can effectively block mountain dew and drizzle during mountaineering to ensure that the body stays dry; when hiking in the rain, its excellent waterproof performance plays a key role to prevent rain from soaking clothes and catching the body cold; when fishing, whether on the shore or on the boat, it can resist splashing and possible rain; and for water sports such as kayaking and sailing, waterproof jackets are indispensable and can effectively prevent water penetration.
Waterproof materials are also often used in outdoor rain pants. Their excellent waterproofness, a certain degree of windproofness, and relatively suitable breathability are particularly suitable for various activities that are easily exposed to water, from spring outings to autumn camping, which may encounter rain, allowing users to still carry out activities more comfortably in wet outdoor environments.
Daily Use
As we've discussed before, a great use for waterproof jackets isn't limited to mountaineering or water sports. Thanks to their excellent waterproof and windproof properties, they are particularly useful for daily activities, especially in the summer and fall or spring rainy seasons, such as going out to buy groceries or picking up children from school. Many times, it may be drizzling outside or blowing a moderate wind, but it is a bit troublesome to carry an umbrella or a raincoat just in case. And if you only wear a regular outerwear, such as a cotton sweatshirt, it will easily absorb water and become heavy when it comes into contact with water, and it will not be able to block the wind at all.
So, if you have room in your wardrobe, you might as well prepare a waterproof jacket. I believe you will find that you use it much more often than you expected. It can be regarded as an all-round item for coping with this transitional season, and compared with the usage requirements of those professional outdoor scenes, people will not care too much about its extra weight in daily use.
When to leave your waterproof jacket at home
Although waterproof jackets are a very useful clothing choice for outdoor travel, they also have some limitations.
Weather conditions are a key consideration. When the weather is hot and dry, and there is basically no possibility of rainfall, the advantages of waterproof jackets are difficult to play out. In order to achieve the waterproof function, they often compromise in terms of breathability. Wearing them for a long time may make the body feel hot and uncomfortable. For example, when hiking in the scorching desert or doing outdoor sports in dry and rainy areas, it may not be the best choice.
Weight is also an issue that cannot be ignored. For those who pursue extreme lightness, such as ultralight hiking enthusiasts and minimalist backpackers, the relatively heavy materials of some waterproof jackets and some structures added for waterproofing will become a burden. Moreover, although some waterproof jackets have excellent waterproof performance, they may lack other functions such as warmth and wear resistance. This means that in some complex and changeable outdoor scenes that require multiple protection functions, it is not enough to rely on a waterproof jacket alone. Other functional clothes must be carried in addition, which increases the weight.
In addition, if you participate in some indoor sports activities or commute in the city, you will basically not be exposed to rain, so the necessity of waterproof jackets is not that great. Wearing them may be cumbersome because they are not light and comfortable enough.
However, apart from these specific situations, waterproof jackets are still quite good in dealing with rain and humid environments. As we learn more about its functional characteristics, we can more accurately choose to use our beloved waterproof jackets in appropriate scenarios.
