For example a jacket with a hydrostatic head rating of 2 000mm is not going to withstand a heavy prolonged downpour where a jacket with a rating of 20 000mm is designed for these conditions.
Jacket waterproof rating mm.
Waterproof jacket weather ratings.
A jacket in this range will withstand most downpours as well as heavy snow but will soak through over time if subjected to pressure such as crashing in wet snow kneeling or sitting down or a heavy pack.
These jackets may also be suitable for walkers or hikers who aren t likely to get caught out in heavy sustained rain.
When choosing a waterproof jacket or trousers it is important to understand the limitations of the garment you choose.
How high does it need to be.
For your reference i suggest waterproof hiking jackets with ratings starting from 10 000 mm.
This indicates how many millimetres of water the fabric can be submerged in before the garment is penetrated and water begins seeping through.
Waterproof ratings beyond 10 000 mm are best suitable for avid skiers snowboarders and mountaineers.
For example a rain jacket with a waterproof rating of 20 000 means that if you had an endlessly long 1 inch square tube you could pour 20 000 millimeters of water on top of the fabric before it.
This rating proves that this jacket is very waterproof.
This results in a waterproof rating of 28 000 mm hh.
If you re a serious skier or live in a wetter climate the 10 000mm to 20 000 mm range is a good choice.
This is the minimum rating for a jacket to be called rainproof however it won t stand up to much more than a light shower.
We recommend a minimum waterproof rating of 5 000 mm or 5k for ski and snowboard jackets and snow pants.
There are more high spec and specialised options on this list read on for those but this is a great all rounder that ll work just as well for.
Jackets with a rating of 1 500mm to 2 000mm are suitable for everyday use whether it be around town or walking the dog.
If you ride primarily in cold and clear conditions and take regular lodge breaks this level of protection could be fine but anything less and you stand a good chance of getting wet and cold in a storm.
Look for a minimum waterproof rating between 5 000mm and 10 000mm for ski and snowboard jackets and pants.
Made of a technical three layer fabric dwr coated for water repellency and astm lab tested with a 10 000mm waterproof rating bushbuck offers the big four and defender jackets made to protect you from the elements and keep you dry through all.
The higher the number of millimetres the more waterproof the jacket is.
28 000 mm is real luxury.
10 000 mm is enough to keep you dry on most regular hiking trips.