In this post, we’ll explain the difference between waterproof and water-resistant clothing. We’ll consider the advantages of each, and we’ll share our favourite items. We’re writing to help fellow hikers choose the right gear, so you can stay safe in the mountains. As a group of guides and mountain-lovers, we know our gear well! We work and play in outdoor clothing… in fact, we spend most of our time in it!

We’ve also noticed that many hikers join guided groups with inappropriate layers. This is understandable… if you’re new to hiking, then choosing the right kit can feel over-whelming. Should you pack a waterproof or water-resistant jacket? What’s the difference between them? How do you choose the best one? With so many options, it can be confusing!

But don’t worry, these are easy questions to answer, and we’re here to help! So, let’s dive in…

What is a waterproof?

These days, you can buy all sorts of waterproof gear; from jackets and trousers, to waterproof shoes and even socks. Waterproof clothing is designed to completely stop water from reaching your skin. Most waterproofs are made from technical, microporous fabrics. These allow water vapour from your skin (i.e. sweat) to evaporate, while simultaneously blocking rain water. For this reason, most waterproofs are both waterproof and “breathable”. If you want to dig deeper into how this works, check out this blog post from GORE-TEX.

What is a waterproof rating?

Despite being made from super-technical fabrics, waterproofs do not block all water forever. If you’re doing a long hike like the Tour du Mont Blanc, you could be out in heavy rain for over five hours! Not all waterproofs will provide complete protection during long, heavy downpours. Considering this, it’s worth checking the waterproof rating before choosing your jacket.

Most outdoor brands will rate waterproofness by using a Hydrostatic Head Test. In this standardised test, fabric is pulled tight and placed under a tube of water. The amount of water that stacks up before soaking through is measured in millimetres. Watch this video by Mountain Warehouse to learn more about the Hydrostatic Head Test.

Clothing with a rating of at least 1,500mm is classed as waterproof, but they won’t withstand heavy downfalls. For longer hikes in mountain environments, look for a jacket with a rating of 20,000mm. These will keep you dry for long periods of time in extremely heavy downpours.

Waterproof or water-resistant : when to pack a waterproof?

When deciding whether to pack a waterproof or water-resistant jacket, consider how long you’ll be out for, and how likely it is that you’ll encounter heavy rain. Pack a waterproof when you’re heading out for a long day, or if the weather forecast is uncertain. If you’re planning a multi-day hike in the mountains, carrying a waterproof is essential. For us, it’s essential that hikers bring a waterproof on all our hut-to-hut hiking tours (the Haute Route, the Alta Via 1, and the Tour du Mont Blanc). We’d even recommend packing a waterproof on day-trips in the mountains, no matter how great the forecast looks! Alpine weather can change very quickly, and is often unpredictable (see this post for more information about alpine weather).

How to choose a waterproof?

When choosing a waterproof, consider the following :

1. The waterproof rating

First things first, check the waterproof rating. Some brands have waterproof rating as a category that you can search by on their website. For example, on the Mammut website you can search for jackets that just have a “water column” (i.e. waterproof rating) of over 20,000 mm.

2. The pace of your activity 

For example, if looking for a waterproof to take trail running, choose a lighter waterproof that’s more breathable. However, for slower-paced activities, choose a warm, durable waterproof that will offer greater protection.

3. The weight

Waterproofs are made from a variety of fabrics, and these range in weight. Likewise, some waterproofs have a lot of bulky features, which can be heavy. If you’re preparing for a multi-day hike and you’ll be carrying all your belongings, you’ll choose a lighter option. That said, note that a lighter, more “breathable” jacket will normally have a lower waterproof rating than a heavier jacket.

4. Tapered seams 

A jacket can be made from waterproof fabrics, but if the seams are not taped, it will not be fully waterproof. Make sure all the seams have been taped. You can check this by feeling the seams – a taped seam has been heat-sealed, which stops rain from seeping through the stitches. Most brands specify if the seams have been taped, and they will not call their jacket a “waterproof” if not.

5. Features

Look carefully at the features on offer. Spacious pockets are handy for long hikes, plus things like underarm ventilation zips, as this makes heavier jackets more breathable. Just be wary of jackets with lots of features, remembering that they all add up in weight.

6. The fit 

Do you want a jacket that’s snug-fit, or loose? This depends on how warm the jacket is, and the pace of your activity. Choose a looser jacket if you’ll want to wear multiple layers underneath. This is good for hiking, as you have more control over your temperature regulation. 

7. The activity it’s designed for

Most brands design a jacket for a particular activity / group of activities. This makes things easy, as they’ve already considered the points above. However, if you have a good quality waterproof that’s designed for a different activity, it might work fine for hiking. I personally use my lightweight ski-touring waterproof for hiking. It’s not particularly warm, but the waterproof rating is 20,000mm, so it withstands heavy showers and is loose enough that I can wear layers underneath.

Our favourite waterproof jackets

We thought it would be helpful to share our favourite jackets with you. Here are our top picks, after trialing a lot of different jackets over the years!…

Salomon MTN Gore-Tex

Joel’s go-to waterproof is the Salomon MTN GTX, which comes in both men’s and women’s sizes. Working as a Happy Tracks guide, Joel hikes several multi-day hikes throughout the summer. He always carries this waterproof when guiding a trip, and has been using it for 6 years. Though designed for ski touring, it’s a versatile jacket and has a waterproof rating of 28,000mm.

I’ve worn this jacket for the heaviest downpours on the TMB, to the summit of Mont Blanc, and everything in between! It packs small enough to have as that “just in case” layer at the bottom of your bag, even on those warm, sunny days when you don’t think you’ll need it…

The Salomon MTN GTX is a lightweight jacket, with two large chest pockets and underarm vents. It’s designed for fast-paced ski touring, so it is not particularly warm. If you look into buying this jacket, make sure to choose a slightly bigger size than you would normally get, so that you can fit mid-layers underneath.

Forclaz MT500 

Grant’s go-to waterproof jacket is the Forclaz MT500 hardshell from Decathlon, which comes in men’s and women’s sizes. Like Joel, Grant is a Happy Tracks guide and guides multi-day hikes throughout the summer. He always carries his Forclaz MT500 when guiding a trip, and has been using it for 2 years.

Last summer (2023) was very wet, and I was often out in heavy rain for a full 8 hours! The rain never seeped through.. What I love about this jacket is that it performs like a much more expensive jacket, but is affordable.

The Forclaz MT500 is cheaper than the Salomon jacket, and is specifically designed for hiking. It has a waterproof rating of 20,000 mm, so it withstands heavy rain. Again, it’s not particularly warm on its own, so if you decide to buy this jacket, choose a larger size than normal.

What’s a water-resistant jacket?

A water-resistant jacket is one that has been treated with a repellant coating. There are different coating technicals, but most commonly it is a Durable Water Repellency coating (DWR). A repellant coating stops some water from penetrating the fabric, but it will not withstand heavy rain. In light rain, you’ll notice that the water beads up on the surface, but will not soak through. A water-resistant jacket needs to be reproofed fairly often.

What’s the difference?

First of all, and most importantly, a water-resistant jacket will not withstand heavy downpours. Likewise, it will not remain waterproof all day, even in light rain. A water-resistant jacket is often lighter than a full waterproof, and is more breathable. They’re often cheaper than waterproof jackets.

When to pack a water-resistant jacket

Choose a water-resistant jacket over a waterproof if you’re off for a casual hike in dry, predictable weather. A lightweight, breathable jacket is great for face-paced hikes, and is good to have at the bottom of your bag. For longer, multi-day hikes, you might like to carry a water-resistant jacket as well as a waterproof. They’re normally more comfortable to wear, so on a dry day they’ll keep the wind off without making you too sweaty.

Our favourite water-resistant jackets

We often carry a water-resistant jacket as well as a waterproof. This gives more versatility when it comes to layering, and is not a big problem if we are hiking with a bag transfer. So, here are two of our favourite water-resistant jackets…

Montane Fireball Nano

Oli’s go-to water-resistant jacket is Montane’s Fireball Nano, which comes in men’s and women’s sizes. Like Joel and Grant, Oli is a Happy Tracks guide and spends his summers guiding multi-day hikes. Oli often packs his Fireball Nano for guided trips, especially if his group is using a baggage transfer. He’s owned this jacket for 1 year, and he’s used it consistently throughout winter and summer – from summer mountain hikes to breezy ski tours.

The Fireball Nano is very lightweight and packable. It’s almost always in the bottom of my bag as an emergency layer. I like the fact that packs so small and is so light!

The Fireball Nano is lighter than the waterproofs above, and is treated with DWR coating to make is suitable for light rain. It has a light synthetic filling, which means it it insulated and breathable. 

OMM Halo

My go-to water-resistant jacket is OMM’s Halo, which comes in men’s and women’s sizes. I’m not a guide, but I’ve been living and playing in the Alps for over 10 years!

This is a lightweight jacket that packs down nicely. It is very breathable, soft feeling and stretch. I wouldn’t take it on its own hiking in the mountains, as it has a waterproof rating of just 10,000mm. This means that it’s not suitable for heavy downpours. I enjoy hiking in this jacket when the is weather predictable.

Waterproof or water-resistant?

To summarise, pack a waterproof jacket for long, multi-day hikes in the mountains. In fact, we’d advise packing a waterproof whenever you go hiking in the mountains, even if the weather looks stable. A lightweight water-resistant jacket is great for dry, predictable days. We often carry a waterproof as well as a water-resistant jacket!

We hope you’ve found this post useful. If you have a favourite jacket that you’d like to share with us, please leave a comment below!