by davekeiller » Sun May 06, 2018 5:08 pm
Goretex is probably the most popular waterproof material. Whether it's the best depends on how you define "best", as there's always a trade-off between waterproofing, breathability, weight, durability and price.
Waterproofs can broadly be divided into 3 types:
Impermeable plastics - Generally only found in cheap waterproofs. These are generally good at keeping rain out, but lack of breathability means that they keep the sweat in and you'll often get hot wearing them.
PTFE membranes. Brands include Goretex and eVent, and most clothing manufacturers have their own system. These generally use a PTFE membrane and you can think of them as being like a really thin layer of plastic with lots of holes in it. They are waterproof because the holes are too small for liquid water droplets to get through, and breathable because the holes are big enough for the molecules of water vapour to get through. Generally speaking, lighter weight means more breathable but less waterproof and not as durable. Generally, eVent is lighter and more breathable than goretex but not as durable.
Nikwax analogy. Paramo and one or two others use this. It's supposed to work like animal fur to draw water away from the body. It's generally a bit warmer and heavier than a membrane (some say that's a selling point as you need fewer insulating layers, other that it's too warm), and is less waterproof but more breathable and dries out quicker. The marmite of outdoor gear in that people either love it or hate it.
It's probably best to think about what type of walking you do, how much you're willing to spend and whether you tend to get too hot or too cold and then go to a few shops and see what they recommend.
