Walking sweetly in a downpour may be enjoyable for many, but arriving at your destination and staying in wet socks and wet clothes is not enjoyable for anyone. Textile manufacturers, who are aware of this situation, produce seasonal clothing designed to be worn especially in rainy times in a waterproof way. However, waterproof may not actually offer the comfort you want.
When you buy a waterproof shoe or coat, you think that you will stay dry whether you step in the water or stay in the rain. This idea is somewhat true, but these waterproof products cause a lot of trouble because they do not pass the water produced by our body, that is, sweat, that is, they do not throw it out. So what shall we wear? Let’s get to know product models such as softshell and gore-tex a little more closely, through the question of what waterproof means and what it does.
What does waterproof mean?
It is possible to translate waterproof, which is an English phrase, directly into our language as waterproof. Waterproof is a textile technology used in the fabrics of shoes and coats, especially designed to be worn during rainy times.
It is possible to think of waterproof fabric as a basic coating. The water that hits this fabric does not get inside. Thus, it offers a waterproof area to its users. However, when you want to put my foot in the water or walk around in the rain for hours, the waterproof becomes dysfunctional.
What does it do with waterproof?
Waterproof is a term expressing that a product is waterproof. A waterproof boot or coat guarantees waterproofness. However, this warranty has some conditions. An average waterproof product guarantees that it will not be waterproof when you are under a light rain for about 2 hours.
Let’s say it’s raining strangely and as if it wasn’t enough, you stepped into the water that filled the pit that the municipality had not closed for years. Waterproof does not protect you. Because waterproof provides a basic water protection. Many technological products we use today give a similar waterproofing guarantee, but let’s swim in a pool and see what happens.
So does ‘Waterproof’ really work?
Let’s not dishonor a huge textile industry. Most waterproof labeled products provide the waterproof guarantee they claim. Your waterproof shoes and coat will protect you when you leave work and walk to the bus stop or get off the bus and go home on a road that is not much wet.
At this point, it is necessary to open a parenthesis. Waterproof is an old technology. In other words, it fulfills its claimed waterproof guarantee in a very basic way. A light rain, a small puddle, melting snow roads are okay, but when the exposed liquid density increases, waterproof also becomes dysfunctional. There is also an inner side to the case.
We constantly think about liquid contact from outside, but we also produce liquid by sweating all the time. A shoe must not only imperme liquid from the outside, but must also expel the air inside, thus preventing the formation of sweating and preventing the internal liquid. As we say waterproof, because it is an old technology, unfortunately it prevents your feet from getting air and as a result, it causes you to have a terrible day at work with wet feet.
Waterproof-like clothing terms and their meanings:
- Softshell
- Gore-tex
What is softshell, what does it do?
Softshell, as the name suggests, provides a waterproof feature by forming a light layer on your clothes and shoes. Products with the softshell label prevent water from entering by sliding the water drops. It is considered a much healthier and more durable product type than waterproof products.
Softshell shoes and clothing are ideal for everyday use. They keep your feet and you warm, but not as waterproof and breathable. They do not cause sweating problems as they are air permeable. Thanks to its windproof feature, it can also be preferred in cold weather. However, they are only suitable for daily use as they provide a light protection.
What is Gore-tex, what does it do?
A product model that doesn’t sound like what it’s called, but that sounds cool, gore-tex offers the strongest protection of any product claiming to be waterproof, and is therefore more expensive as you can imagine. It’s never waterproof, cuts the wind like a knife, and even if you’re out in the rain for hours, it won’t leak a little bit of water.
The fabric of Gore-tex products consists of 3 layers. The top layer protects from the cold, the bottom layer provides waterproofing, and the bottom layer prevents sweating by providing air passage. It is frequently preferred because it does not sweat, offers a light and comfortable use. It is especially ideal for trekking and similar outdoor sports that require a lot of effort.
Waterproof, softshell, gore-tex; Which one should you choose?
Which of the three different textile technologies offered to users with the claim of waterproofness, waterproof, softshell and gore-tex, you prefer is completely dependent on your user habits. However, considering that the waterproof system is outdated, not airtight, does not provide intense protection and causes sweating, it would be best to choose it as the last option.
Now on to softshell and gore-tex; both offer absolute waterproofing, light weight, easy to use and sweatproof. However, it must be admitted that gore-tex provides much stronger protection than softshell. Because the purpose of the development of this technology is to enable people to walk on the mountain and slope with peace of mind by wearing gore-tex products. Such a product will also show high performance under heavy rain.
Gore-tex products are generally developed for people who do outdoor sports and may not appeal to everyone in terms of style. It should also be noted that it is expensive. In this case the best option we have seems to be softshell. The purpose of the development of softshell technology is to make daily use products more useful. The softshell will provide adequate protection if you don’t spend long hours in the rain or step into large puddles.
We examined different types of fabrics such as softshell and gore-tex on the question of what waterproof means that products such as coats and boots are waterproof. Of course, all this is for informational purposes only. Before buying a waterproof product, you should make an individual choice by considering its other features and your usage area.
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