Weather resistant clothing can be natural or synthetic and must be sealed to prevent water ingress. There are degrees of weather resistance, with some fabrics being breathable and others being directional textiles. GORE-TEX is a well-known brand that uses a unique fabric construction to resist moisture.
When the term weather resistant is used to describe something, it indicates that the object is resistant to environmental elements, either by natural design or because its surface is being treated. In the case of weather resistant clothing, the latter applies. In general, the element of greatest concern is water, as its passage through the garment can make one physically uncomfortable and inhibit mobility. This is why most outerwear designed for outdoor activities, like ski wear and jackets, is enhanced to be waterproof.
To prevent water ingress, the garment material, which can be natural or synthetic, must be sealed. This barrier can be applied during the manufacturing process or after the point of purchase. For example, coating the finished garment with a specially formulated spray can make it waterproof. However, this treatment is not permanent and must be repeated periodically. To make weatherproof clothing that is permanently resistant to moisture, the surface of the fabric must be infused with a laminate, such as polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride.
However, not all types of weather resistant clothing are created equal. In fact, there are degrees of weather resistance that depend on the treatment and even on the structure of the fabric. For example, weather-resistant garments considered “breathable” are made of material that can withstand hydrostatic pressures greater than 9.8 kilopascals (kPa) without letting in water. At the same time, the material “breathes” to allow internal water vapor to escape, meaning it wicks sweat to the surface where it can evaporate.
Some types of weather resistant clothing are directional textiles. That is, they are made from breathable fabrics that also move water and moisture away from the body without the need for lamination. In fact, these specially designed fabrics spread water more efficiently to the surface without allowing it to pool. This is advantageous as even waterproof and breathable clothing can lose its ability to resist moisture in very cold and wet conditions.
One of the best known brands of weather resistant outerwear is GORE-TEX. The secret to the success of this line of outdoor gear lies in the construction of its fabric, which was originally designed for making tents. The material consists of a thin layer of expanded fluoropolymer that is overlaid with a layer of polyester-bonded nylon or urethane. The result is a porous but dense fabric with a matrix of approximately 9 billion pores per square inch (1.4 billion per square centimeter). Since each pore is approximately 20,000 times smaller than a single drop of water, the material absorbs sweat but does not allow water to penetrate.
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