Water column overview

Water column (often abbreviated as WC), also called water column pressure, indicates in millimetres how much water pressure the material can withstand before water penetrates it. Imagine placing a glass tube on a garment and refilling it with water. When you’ve filled the tube up to 15 000 mm, i.e. 15 meters, the water passes through the material. Then the garment has a water column of 15 000 mm.

Water resistance (mm)	Weather conditions
6 000 – 10 000 mm	Withstands light rain, moderate snow, light pressure.
11 000 – 15 000 mm	Moderate rain, average snow, light pressure.
16 000 – 20 000 mm	Can handle long walks in heavy rain, wet snow, some pressure.
20 000 mm +	Withstands heavy rain, wet snow, high pressure.

We test the water column of all waterproof garments in a lab and label them with the water column so that you can easily see how waterproof that particular garment is. It also certifies that the garment’s fabric has been tested for its water resistance. What’s more, we go out into nature and test our garments in all weather and seasons to ensure optimal functionality.

Breathability

Like water column, breathability is measured in a lab and indicates a material’s ability to release body moisture. It is measured in g/m²/24h, i.e. the amount of liquid, measured in grams, a square metre of fabric can release in a day. Lab testing is a good way to measure breathability, but it is more complicated. Outdoor temperature, humidity, activity, rain, sun, everything affects a garment’s breathability. RevolutionRace tests the breathability of all waterproof garments in real life. We head out into nature and road-test them in all weather and seasons to ensure their functionality.

Johnny Edlind

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