Waterproofing guides are just that – a guide; they’re all relative and depending on where you’re riding, the product might be waterproof in the American Rockies, but not in the Victorian Alps. To try and help, we’ve broken the ratings down into four key groups:
800 - 5,000k – Rain repellent. Will probably be okay for those perfect blue bird days, but in a down-pour, moisture will soak through within a few minutes. Can be found in technical mid-layers.
5,000 – 10,000k - Rain resistant. Will resist more than just contact moisture, but will eventually get wet, especially in a downpour or if sitting on snow for more than an hour.
10,000 – 20,000k – Recommended Australian Minimum. This is where the waterproofing really starts to get serious. Will withstand a few hours of heavy rain and wet snow, however if subjected to moisture pressure (ie. Sitting down on snow or heavy crashes), it will eventually soak through.
20,000k + – The Best Stuff.Torrential downpour? Once in a century blizzard? You’re as good as can be with this rating. Even if your snow buddy pours a bottle of water on you – you’re not getting wet any time soon with this on.