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Where did Waterproof Clothing come from and how does it keep you dry?

The Macintosh coat was the first formal, waterproof coat made in the world. The process started in 1823 when Charles Mackintosh learned how to spread rubber on to cotton to create a waterproof fabric. Although this was a huge achievement, there were many problems such as the smell and stiffness of the coat and the tendency to melt in hot weather. These days there are hundreds of different types of waterproof products which all work in different ways. A simple waterproof coat is often a single nylon or plastic layer impregnated with a waterproofing substance such as laminate. Although these coats are lightweight and keep you dry they can be very noisy and some are not at all breathable, causing the wearer to sweat. However as technology improves we are seeing an increasing number of changes. Lightweight waterproof coats, produced by companies such as Jack Murphy can now be waterproof, windproof and even breathable. These coats are ideal for everyday wear when you’re out and about. Those looking for a tougher, harder wearing, waterproof material have often chosen a classic Barbour wax jacket. These are extremely popular as they are an affordable way of protecting yourself against the elements and even the odd bramble bush. Although these coats are hard wearing and practical, wax can rub off onto other clothing and the jackets can also seem heavy and stiff (and some would also say that they smell a bit too!) However wax clothing can easily be washed and re-proofed with wax. There are many alternative types of waterproof clothing available to suit all types of outdoor activities and budgets. For shooting and hunting for example, not only should the clothing be waterproof, it should also be a fairly quiet fabric that is comfortable with no restriction of movement. Many companies have now designed their own technique for waterproofing the garments that they sell such as Deer-Tex in some Deerhunter jackets and coats. These waterproof membranes are a huge improvement as they are often lightweight, breathable and windproof too providing maximum comfort, allowing sports people to perform at their best. Other companies integrate with other businesses that specialise in this area such as the use of Gore-Tex membranes by Laksen, Musto and Le Chameau. The Gore-Tex membrane is layered between an outer fabric and inner lining. The membrane is completely waterproof because the pores in it are about 20,000 times smaller than a drop of water. However the pores are actually 700 times bigger than a droplet of water vapour, which means than perspiration in the form of water vapour can easily pass out of the membrane. The material is therefore breathable, allowing the wearer to remain dry and comfortable whatever their level of activity. Another advanced technology that is often used is the CTX membrane which stands for Comfort, Technology and eXtreme. It is a completely watertight yet breathable membrane providing comfort regardless of the weather conditions or the wearer’s level of activity. An additional advantage is that it is extremely silent which is important for stalking and hunting. I would always recommend a Barbour jacket from here; they also have a good range of Musto clothing. There are now also many products available that anyone can apply to their clothing or other products. A main example of this is the large range of Water-based re-proofers created by Nikwax aiming to keep products waterproof, windproof and breathable.