At NORDIC-RAINWEAR, all waterproof jackets, coats, pants, etc. are marked with a BAROMETER showing how much rain a certain item can withstand. If you use the black navigations bar in the top of the shop combined with the filters on your left hand, you will get good guidance in finding the best waterproof jacket, coat, pants etc. matching your needs.

Many people mistakenly believe that all rainwear is 100% waterproof. It is not! It is more or less waterproof depending on the choice of fabric, the way the seams are made and especially the design. Most rainwear is manufactured to solve specific tasks during specific weather conditions. That is why there is a big difference in what you should choose if you are fishing in rough weather, working outside all year round, cycling, hunting, walking the dog - or simply need a smart all-round rain jacket that can handle an ordinary rain shower to and from work or education.

Get inspiration and knowledge before buying

Unless you know exactly what kind of rainwear you want to buy, we recommend you to start by looking at the black bar at the top of the shop (the main categories).

In the first four categories, we have collected our entire range divided into BRANDS, WOMEN, MEN and CHILDREN. For this you can use the filters on your left hand and sort by price, colour, size, fit, fabrics, waterproofness, breathability, visibility, certifications, delivery time etc.

But you cannot sort by what the rainwear or waterproof clothes are particularly suitable for.

But you can see it in the main categories:

WORK WEAR, in which the rainwear is divided according to the professions it is particularly suitable for and the approvals it has.

SPORT & LEISURE, where you will find rainwear suitable for cycling, hunting and nature, angling, sailing, golf, dog training, etc.

Finally, there is the main category CLOTHES, BAGS & ACCESSORIES, which contains all the new fashion rainwear that appears in the city every spring and autumn, other types of outdoor clothing, bags and accessories.

How much rain should your rainwear be able to withstand?

All rainwear at NORDIC-RAINWEAR is thoroughly described and marked with a "barometer", which shows how much rain it can withstand.

Normally, the waterproofness of rainwear is indicated in mm water column pressure (e.g. 5,000 mm or 5 m H²O). But it is only the waterproofness of the fabric that is stated here. The water column pressure (water resistance) is tested by subjecting the fabric to a pressure corresponding to the fabric being stretched over a tube filled with water. The height of the tupe /water column determines the water column pressure (waterproofness). If a fabric can retain water in a tupe that is 5,000 mm high (ie 5 metres), the water column pressure is 5,000 mm (5 m H²O). The higher the water column pressure, the more waterproof the fabric is.

Read more about water column pressure (water resistance) here >>>

But the manufacturers measure the water column pressure differently, and the measurement says nothing about the fact that, for example, some fabrics are flexible and expand and become thinner when you bend your knees and elbows, sit down or hang a bag over your shoulder.

It also says nothing about the functional details of the design, which have a great influence on the overall experience of the rainwear as "dry". For example, there is a very big difference between whether a rain jacket has a single-button front or closes with a waterproof zip and storm flap. It also makes a big difference whether the rain gear you cycle in has ergonomic knees and elbows, waterproof zips in the right places, high collar, reflectors and cuffs at the wrists and ankles.

Add to this the seams, which often are the "weak point" of a raincoat. Heat welded seams are very close to be 100% waterproof, but they can only be made in PU or PVC coated fabrics. Breathable fabrics cannot be welded, and the seams are instead taped from the back or secured with a silicone membrane – and here too there is a difference, because the seams can be single- or double-sewn.

At NORDIC-RAINWEAR, we have therefore chosen to evaluate the rainwear based on all criteria and our experience and mark the product descriptions with a BAROMETER, which shows overall what the individual products can withstand.

How to understand the barometer

LIGHT protection:

Rainwear in the group "LIGHT protection" can withstand LIGHT RAIN (read more in each individual product description). The group consists of breathable and non-breathable rainwear manufactured of Nylon, Polyester or 170-180 g PU-coated fabrics that can withstand a water column pressure of 3-5,000 mm (3-5 m H²O). Rainwear in this group typically has single-stitched, taped or ultrasonically welded seams, a single-button front or a regular zipper with storm flap. Rainwear in the LIGHT protection group cannot cope with heavy rain, but covers many people's need for rainwear commuting between home and work or education, or for a quick city tour. 

MEDIUM protection:

Rainwear in the group "MEDIUM protection" can withstand MEDIUM RAIN (read more in each individual product description). The group consists of breathable and non-breathable rainwear in Nylon, Polyester or 190-250 g PU-coated fabric, which can withstand a water column pressure of 5-10,000 mm (5-10 m H²O). In this group you typically find rainwear for cyclists, anyone who take long walks with or without the dog or has a leisure interest that requires spending more than a few hours outdoors. Rainwear in this group can both have taped/silicone-sealed, ultrasonically welded or heat-welded seams, and typically have a number of details in the design that improve the overall experience of the rainwear as "dry".

HEAVY protection:

Rainwear in the group "HEAVY protection" can withstand HEAVY RAIN (read more in the individual product descriptions). This group primarily consists of non-breathable rainwear, but more and more of our suppliers are launching breathable rainwear with a very high water column pressure. The fabric are typically 3-layer Poray 10 or more, GoreTex and 250-350 g PVC-coated fabric which can with a water resistance of 10-20,000 mm (10-20 m H²O). In this group you will find high-quality rainwear for sport fishing, sailing, hunting and other demanding leisure activities, heavy-duty work rainwear and rubber rainwear that can withstand a bit of everything, as well as a wide range of super nice raincoats and jackets that, in addition to providing really good protection, is high fashion. Rainwear in this group typically has double-stitched and taped or heat-welded seams, double-buttoned front, zipper with secured storm flap or waterproof zipper.

EXTREME protection (for extreme weather and work conditions):

Rainwear in the group "EXTREME protection" can withstand storm, from HEAVY rain to cloudbursts, hail and possibly freezing weather more than 8 hours. The group primarily consists of rainwear for work developed to cope with extreme weather conditions, extremely dirty work (oil, slurry and chemicals) and extraordinary wear and tear. Rainwear in this group typically has one or more ISO approvals, is primarily manufactured of 500-700 g PVC-coated fabric, and can withstand a water column pressure of 20-30,000 mm or more (20-30 m H²O). Rainwear in this group typically has heat-welded seams, a double-buttoned front or a waterproof zip with secured storm flap.

Breathable or non-breathable, what to choose?

The fabrics in which rainwear traditionally is manufactured can be divided into two types:

Breathable, which covers a wide range of technologically developed materials with and without coatings, membranes and impregnation. And non-breathable, which is PU or PVC coated cotton, polyester or polyamide.

The two types each have their advantages and disadvantages.

Breathable rainwear has the obvious advantage that your skin can breathe through the fabric. You can therefore get rid of moisture from the skin when you cycle, run or work. But breathable rainwear is impregnated on the outside to prevent rainwater from seeping through. This impregnation wears off with use and especially with incorrect washing. Breathable rainwear must therefore be washed with special detergent and re-impregnated at regular intervals to remain waterproof. In addition, the seams cannot be welded, and certain fabrics become heavy from rain because they absorb. This means that it take a long time for them to dry after use

Rainwear in PU- and PVC-coated fabrics remains waterproof until the coating is completely or partially worn through. The stronger the coating on the fabric is, the greater the water proofness and wear resistance is. Wear resistance is highest in PVC-coated fabrics. In addition, the seams can be heat welded and thus made 100% waterproof. When rainwear in PU or PVC has been wet, you can shake off the water, after which the clothing is very quickly ready for use again. But your skin cannot breathe through the fabric. For example, if you must work in PU- or PVC-coated rainwear, it is a good idea to have extra ventilation in the back and under the arms

We hope you can use the above information to find the right solution. If you have further questions or need help, you are welcome to contact us at support@nordic.rainwear.com.