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Water repellent and water resistant materials resist water saturation to varying degrees. Water-resistant fabrics offer minimal protection from brief contact with rain, while water-repellent fabrics offer better protection from heavy exposure to liquids. Waterproof materials are best for significant water exposure but may be less comfortable to wear.
Water repellent and water resistant are terms used to describe the degree to which a material will be able to resist water saturation. These two terms are often compared to the term “waterproof”. Typically, water resistance is the lowest rating, while a water-repellent material is likely to be of more use when experiencing increased exposure to water. Something waterproof can remain intact from significant contact with water, but again, there may be a limit to the amount of exposure to liquids the item can handle.
With a water-resistant fabric used for things like tents, blankets, or clothing, people can expect a small amount of protection from minimal, brief contact with things like rain. Water-resistant fabrics usually have a tightly woven texture, and some natural fabrics such as tightly woven wool offer good temporary moisture protection. A person wearing a water resistant jacket could be out in a short rainstorm without the rain soaking through inner clothing. The big advantage of this type of material can be that even though the weave is tight, it still offers breathability. When people expect minimal water contact, using water-resistant items can be a good choice.
A water-repellent fabric is less breathable because it tends to have a much tighter weave. It can also be sprayed with a coating that prevents moisture from fully saturating the material. This can really make a difference in selecting certain items. Those looking for tents, for example, would like to find water-repellent or waterproof ones instead of water-resistant ones to get better protection from things like thunderstorms. Likewise, a raincoat designed specifically for inclement weather is likely to be more effective if it repels rather than just resists water.
Waterproof usually means that it’s very difficult for moisture to do more than accumulate on the outside of the fabric, even though there are varying degrees of waterproofing. Some products, especially electronics, begin to lose their ability to resist water infiltration if the water pressure is high enough. In terms of fabric selection, things that are waterproof are usually the best choices when a high degree of water exposure is expected. Having to work or just being outside in a heavy rain storm might mean wearing fabrics like a plastic poncho to protect your inner clothing and body from getting wet.
There is always a trade-off when selecting fabrics with one of these labels. A water resistant garment may be the lightest thing to carry or wear. By producing tighter weaves, something can become water repellent, but it can be much warmer and not as comfortable to wear or use in all seasons. Waterproof things usually have a very tight weave that can protect the body or anything else covered, but may be impractical to wear or use in all situations where exposure to water shouldn’t be significant.
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