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. We recommend a minimum waterproof rating of 5,000 mm, or 5k, for ski and snowboard jackets and snow pants. An intense, high-exertion day of activity in wet conditions with the added pressure of wind, sitting, and falling can put even the best-rated waterproof fabrics to the test. People who wear backpacks often may also want to consider outerwear with higher waterproof ratings as the straps put pressure on the jacket and may force moisture through gear that has a lower waterproof rating. Clothing and gear with higher waterproof ratings are ideal for people who need gear that will perform when the weather turns sour. Jackets and clothing with lower waterproof ratings are better suited for fair weather, low-moisture activities. It’s not uncommon for owners of eVent™ jackets, for instance, to need more insulation under their shells to stay warm. In cold and dry weather, a super breathable shell can actually lead to visible clouds of water vapor exiting the wearer’s body, which leads to heat loss. There are times when a layer of warm, moist air between your body and your shell can mean warmth as long as your underlayers don’t become saturated with moisture.
NOOBPROOF VS WATERROOF PLUS
Backcountry skiers & snowboarders, runners, and mountain bikers should look for garments with breathability in the 20,000 plus range for the best results. If you do a lot of “high energy” riding, hiking, or running where you often break a sweat, look for breathability in the 10,000 to 15,000 gram range. If you're looking for a snowboard jacket, your riding is lift-served, you don’t hike to out-of-the-way lines, and you take regular breaks in the lodge where you remove your coat, a breathability rating of 5,000 to 8,000 grams will probably be fine. So, you'll want to look out for breathability in your ski jacket, but it might not be important if you're just wearing it around town. Higher breathability helps for active uses like running, and the ski touring & splitboard crowd to avoid quick wetout inside their layers caused by their own physical exertion. You can get away with a low breathability garment if you aren’t going to work up much body heat or maybe you won’t be out and about for too long. The origins of these ratings are in a scientific lab, (described below) not the outdoors, but the bottom line is simple - the higher the rating, the more waterproof, and the more breathable the jacket or garment is. The first number is waterproof, the second is breathability. Manufacturers typically describe the waterproof and breathability ratings of fabrics using two numbers, often separated by a backslash. Rainproof and waterproof under very high pressure. Rainproof and waterproof under high pressure. Moderate rain, average snow, light pressure. Rainproof and waterproof except under high pressure. Light rain, average snow, light pressure. Rainproof and waterproof under light pressure. No resistance to some resistance to moisture.