How Durable is Your Waterproof? Durability Explained

How durable is my waterproof?

When youā€™re using your waterproof jacket in mountain environments, a certain level of durability is critical. Your shell needs to survive scuffs with rock, pack strap abrasion, and being pulled in and out of your backpack repeatedly.Ā 

There are many factors that impact the durability of waterproof fabrics:Ā 

  • The type of material and fabrics used (e.g. nylon or polyester).Ā 

  • The type of membranes used (e.g. PU, PE, ePE or ePTFE).Ā 

  • The denier and weight of the face fabric used.Ā 

  • The method of face fabric construction (e.g. woven or knitted).Ā 

In addition to the extensive durability tests carried out by our fabric partners, we test all our designs ourselves. Whether thatā€™s in our Rab Lab, or by sending them off to specialist testers and athletes to be put through their paces out in the field, from lofty mountain tops to freezing polar regions.Ā 

An image of a durability test machine for fabric abrasion testing
Testing for durability in the lab.

The Martindale machine offers an industry standard test. Its beauty lies in its simplicity, subjecting a sample of fabric to a repeated rubbing motion that simulates long term wear.

The machine can simulate the pressure a particular item will have on the fabric, such as backpack webbing, or the constant abrasion of wearing a 6kg backpack.Ā 

Testing for durability in the field.

Our kit isnā€™t fully approved for use until itā€™s seen action in the places itā€™s designed for. From winter in the Scottish mountains to Himalayan expeditions, our test team provides us with real world evaluation to supplement our lab tests.Ā 

Feeding back to our designers, garment technologists and specialist fabric team, the testers put our gear through rigorous mountain use, ensuring that every aspect, from construction to fit, is working as it should.Ā