WHATS A WATERPROOF SHELL JACKET?
It may sound like a daft question, but it’s important to know what Wildtrak define as a waterproof shell. Garments you see marked as “water-resistant” or “critically seam-taped” are not considered waterproof by us. All the jackets (or trousers) featured in our “waterproof” sections must fulfil 3 criteria: They must be manufactured from an outer fabric that is waterproof (enough to stand up to heavy rain for several hours), the fabric must be breathable (there’s no point keeping water out if your perspiration can’t get out – otherwise you might as well use a plastic bag!), and thirdly, all the seams must be taped. This means that any areas where fabric is stitched together, the needle holes must be sealed up to prevent ingress of water. Obviously some jackets and fabrics will perform better than others, especially when it comes to breathability, so you should choose a jacket designed for what you want to use it for. For wearing around town, any jacket will do; but for mounatineering you
