Tech Guide: Buying Outerwear

When it comes to choosing outerwear, we like to keep things pretty simple. It's certainly easy to get lost in tech terms and find yourself confused over what means what, and what's right for you, but in reality, it's really very easy. Picking out the perfect jacket and pants combo is 70% based on aesthetics and 30% based on tech, and depending on where you're going, you might be able to get away with a bigger range than you first thought.

There are 3 main things to consider in terms of outerwear tech:

1. Water resistance
2. Breathability
3. Insulation

If you're shopping in store, you can generally find these details on either the tag, or inside the neckline of the jacket. When shopping online, we will always do our best to include these details in the description of the product. In either case, these numbers are likely to be described in one of three ways which may look something like this (based on 10,000mm waterproofing and 10,000k breathability):

• 10K/10K
• 10,000mm / 10,000g
• 10,000/ 10,000

In all three examples, the first number will represent the waterproof rating, while the second number will represent breathability.

How is waterproofing and breathability measured?

All outerwear material is rated on the same scale, making it easy to figure out which products are more waterproof and breathable than others. The higher the number, the more waterproof/breathable the garment is. Keep in mind that these are separate measurements, so while you will find that most good quality outerwear has the same or similar ratings in both water resistance and breathability, some outerwear can be better at one than the other. 

Waterproofing

Waterproofing is measured by the amount of water in millimetres that can be suspended in a vertical column above the fabric before it seeps through. Material that is considered to be waterproof must have a rating of at least 1,000mm, which is the absolute bare minimum and will protect you against light spray. The majority of outerwear sold for Australian conditions sits at about 10,000mm, which is what we recommend as the minimum for Australian conditions. With advancements in technology, there are now fabrics that go up to 45,000mm, as well as the ever-popular gore-tex fabric. Using one of these higher-end fabrics is almost guaranteed to keep you dry.

While 5,000mm is fine for the 'once a year' type rider, it is worth noting that if you plan on sitting in the snow a lot, you will likely find yourself with wet pants by the end of the day! We suggest a standard base of 10,000mm, just to be sure. Here in Australia, we are lucky enough to experience spring riding conditions more often than most other countries of the world, and while this is one of the reasons we love riding in Australia, it does come with one draw back. Warm days mean wet snow. For this reason, we always suggest aiming for at least 15,000mm waterproofing if you're planning on riding often. Trust us, you'll be more dry and more comfortable during the day, and you'll have a much lower chance of having to put on wet gear the next day. 

Most snow fabric is coated with a waterproof spray that can wear off over time, this is called DWR (Durable Water Repellant). The waterproofing can be reapplied and we usually recommend doing this at the beginning of every season. We also reccomend washing your outerwear with specific outerwear detergent. Outerwear fabric has tiny microscopic fibres that stick up and help water to bead and roll of, and when the jacket gets dirty these fibres get pushed down and aren't as effective. When washing your outerwear, make sure you use a detergent specifically for snow outerwear. Despite being tough, outerwear has special treatments and special fabrics that can be compromised by regular detergent. 

Breathability

Breathability is measured by the rate at which water vapour passes through a square meter of fabric over a 24 hour period. This is most often measured in grams. Like waterproof ratings, breathable material starts at 1,000g and the highest rated material goes up to 45,000g+. 

Insulation

To keep it simple, the more insulation an item has, the warmer it will be. A shell jacket/pant has no insulation at all, so it will offer minimal warmth. Some items do come with a lining system that adds lightweight warmth, but they won't be as warm as an insulated piece. 

Some jackets also have different degrees of insulation in different parts. This will usually be displayed as 80g/60g for example, which means 80g in the body, and 60g in the sleeves. The body will always have more insulation as that's where you need the most warmth. 

We will always provide this information in store and online if it's available, but you will also be able to tell how much insulation an item is based on look and feel. A thick, heavy jacket is going to be much warmer than a thin shell. 

With our weather in Australia running much warmer than the Northern Hemisphere, we often suggest a thinner jacket with room to layer. This is ideal for those who don't feel the cold as much, as you are able to pick and choose your level of warmth, rather than being tied down to a super warm jacket on a super warm day. If you really feel the cold, you may want to choose something with added warmth already built in.

This is where base and mid layers thrive, if get a good quality shell and a good base and mid-layer, you're covered for every possible condition. Peak Australian winter? Thermals and a shell could do. Warm spring riding? Wear just the shell. Heading overseas for super cold conditions? Wear your thermals, a mid-layer, and your shell for complete protection from the elements. Plus, your mid and base layer can often be worn by themselves, so you've got added versatility for daily use.