How to choose a jacket?

Choosing the right jacket, whether it’s spring, autumn or winter one, can sometimes be tricky. There are a number of factors you need to consider and can easily lost in. That is why we have prepared the following article for you, in which we will explain what all the parameters stated for jackets mean and how to choose the right one, that will serve you perfectly for exactly what you need.

SPECIFICATION

When choosing a jacket, the most important thing is to answer these two basic questions: 1. What do you want to use the jacket for? 2. What weather do you need the jacket for?

If you need a jacket for the city, just to go to the work/school and back, you will probably look for a jacket with different parameters than someone who is looking for a jacket for hiking or biking. And you will also be looking for another jacket for snowboarding or splitboarding. However, if you are looking for a functional jacket in which you can go to work and also to the mountains, it doesn’t mean that you will have to walk around the city in a “sports jacket”. We also offer jackets, that from the streetwear section, but with their technical parametres they can also handle rain, snow and other bad weather. Simply, jackets styled to the city but built to the mountains.

If you answered the questions whether you are looking for a jacket for the city, for light sports activities or a jacket that will be exposed to moisture and cold non-stop, let’s take a look at the basic technical parameters that jackets have. They determine how the jacket will behave in different conditions and this will make it easier for you to choose it.

WATER RESISTANCE, WATER REPELLENCY, WATERPROOFNESS

The basic and probably the most important parameter mentioned when talking about jacket is its water resistance. Water resistance, water repellency, waterproofness. What do these terms mean and what is the difference between them? And which of these qualities should your jacket have? Yes, these expressions sound very similar and you can easily get lost in their meaning, but their attributes are different, so let’s take a closer look at it.

Water resistance

Water resistance offers the lowest protection against water. The principle is, that the material of the jacket is made of a tightly woven fabric, which provides a certain degree of water resistance, as it acts as a physical barrier between the wearer of the jacket and light rain. Thus, the water will take some time to seep through the material. If the rain is not too heavy and the jacket is not exposed to it for too long, the water resistant jacket will act as a basic protection. The advantage of such jackets is a slightly higher breathability than waterproof jackets.

Waterproof jackets are suitable for the city, for shorter hikes and for rainy or light rainy weather.

Water repellency (DWR treatment)

Water repellent jackets do not exist by themselves. However, the optimal water repellency of the jacket can be achieved by its surface (water-repellent) treatment, which is referred to as DWR treatment (Durable Water Repellent). The DWR treatment works by applying it to a water resistant material to create a film that causes water droplets not to soak directly into the fabric, but hit the barrier and run down it. This film dries after some time of wearing and washing the product and water starts to soak into the fabric. In any case, this does not mean that the fabric loses its water resistance, it is in charge of the membrane on the back of the fabric and water does not pass through it. The DWR film can be easily restored by any suitable spray impregnation. This treatment does not guarantee complete waterproofness, but it will significantly prolong the time for which water starts to seep through. For optimal results, we recommend renewing the impregnation on a regular basis.

Water resistant jackets with water-repellent DWR treatment are suitable for medium-long stays in the mountains and in slightly rainy weather. They should protect you from the rain for a few hours.

Waterproofness

The waterproof jacket is the highest level of protection against rain and snow. The material of the jacket remains impermeable despite the water pressure that is developed on it. How much water pressure can be exerted on the material before water begins to seep through is indicated by the water column. It is given in millimeters and in practice this means that if we put a 15-meter cylinder with water on one specific place of the jacket with a water column of 15.000 mm, only then would the water start to seep through. Other technical tweaks, such as taped seams or water-repellent zippers, also help to keep the jacket waterproof. Although the material itself is water-impermeable in waterproof jackets, these jackets also have a DWR treatment that prevents moisture from soaking into the outer surface of the fabric, thus increasing the breathability of the material. In order for the moisture to get out from the inside of the jacket and not the other way around, the top layer of the fabric must not be soaked with water, which is taken care of by the DWR surface treatment. We will talk more about breathability below.

Waterproof jackets are suitable for all-day stays in the mountains, snowboarding and other winter sports and for rainy weather.

BREATHABILITY

You might say that a raincoat, for example, is also waterproof, so why invest in a quality waterproof jacket? The reason is, as already mentioned, breathability. Breathability = removal of moisture caused by sweating from the inside of the jacket to the outside. It is given in gm or g/m2, which means in grams per square meter in 24 hours. In practice, this means that if the jacket has a breathability of 15.000 gm, the material is able to release 15.000 grams/m2 of water vapor in 24 hours. As we mentioned, the waterproof material will keep you dry from moisture from the outside, but will not keep you dry from your own sweat inside the jacket. In order to achieve optimal waterproofness and breathability, the jacket must be made of waterproof material and have a DWR surface treatment.

Waterproof jackets with high breathability are suitable for increased physical activity, snowboarding and other winter sports.

If you are thinking about whether your jacket should be insulated, or how much it should be insulated, or whether it should be insulated at all, you need to think about what you want to use the jacket for. If you plan to wear it only to work school, ie with minimal physical activity, reach for one of our insulated jackets. If you are looking for a jacket for various sports activities, including snowboarding and other winter sports, it is generally better to choose a jacket with minimal or no insulation. In this case, the thermal comfort is more easily regulated by so-called layering. During physical activity, you warm up and if you get too hot, you simply drop one of the lower layers. However, a waterproof jacket without insulation will still protect you from moisture and rain or snow. We recommend, for example, our light technical jackets Asher and Ester as a suitable middle layer.

In our products we use insulation: PET, which is made of PET granulate and is made of thin compressible fibers. The space between these microfibers is filled with air, which provides heat and effectively keeps it, even when its wet. The insulation dries quickly, is very durable, soft, breathable and has a great regenerative ability after compression. We also use PrimaLoft, PrimaLoft® Bio™ and Clo® Eco Vivo insulation, which you can learn more about in the articles on our blog.

Jackets with insulation are suitable for the city and with minimal physical activity.

Jackets with minimal or no insulation are suitable for sports and increased physical activity.

DESIGN

When we got through the basic technical parameters that should be considered when choosing a jacket, we come to a design that still has a lot of people in the first place. In our offer you will find jackets with different fits and in interesting colorways. Jackets in the style of parkas, ie. with the extended cut, for example, the women’s models Pola II and Clarise are popular. We would like to mention the stylish anorak fit as well, which you will find in the women’s section under the name Derin II and Mija and in the men’s section under the names Norman or Spencer. Regular fit is generally popular especially among riders and you can find it, for example, in the men’s Halen II or Crown jacket. Among the colorways, blue mirage, radiant yellow, dalmatians or polygons clearly lead this year.

Now all you have to do is click on our website, find your ideal jacket and create unforgettable experiences in it!