« Back to Tips & Guides

What defines a waterproof garment?

There is an abundance of different types of waterproof garments - water resistant, waterproof, rainproof… The difficulty with these descriptions is to understand how waterproof the garment actually is. We shall therefore try to find out!

The manufacturer's way of explaining how waterproof a garment is by specifying the garment's water gauge. The water column, also called the water column pressure, refers to the amount of water (measured in millimeters) that 1 square centimeter of a certain material can withstand before the water penetrates. The higher the water column a material has, the more water it can withstand.

By the water column, or the water column pressure, is meant the amount of water (measured in millimeters) that 1 square centimeter of a material can pass before the water penetrates. The higher the water column, the more water the material can withstand. However, it should be borne in mind that this is a measure of how waterproof the garment was when it was new. Over time, the garment wears off and then the water pillar will fall.

Below you will find information about water gauge:

• Up to 2,000 mm - Not waterproof, more water resistant
• 4,000 mm - Shorter trips in light rain
• 6,000 mm - Short period in heavy rain or longer period in light rain
• 8,000 - 12,000 mm - Heavy rain in few hours or really long in light rain
• Over 12,000 mm - Long time in heavy rain

As a rider, it can be good to have several different waterproof garments on hand depending on activity. A garment with a higher water column is made to prevent moisture from penetrating, which means that the garment does not breathe very well and it can therefore become too hot and sweaty.

NOTE! Keep in mind that the garment will not maintain the same waterproofness over the years - when a garment wears, the water column deteriorates.