Waterproof means a fabric can withstand water entry pressure resulting from active use in extended wet weather, including activities such as walking in wind-driven rain or kneeling or sitting on a wet surface.
Water repellent and water resistant are not waterproof. Water-repellent fabrics use DWR coatings or dense weaves to prevent saturation of a garment’s shell layer.
DWR is an ultra-thin treatment of durable water repellent polymer applied to the outer layer of fabric layer of a jacket. This coating penetrates the fibers and lowers the surface tension of the fabric, causing water to bead up and roll off the garment instead of being absorbed. DWR is not a waterproofing treatment by itself; the Gore-Tex membrane underneath does that. However, DWR significantly improves your comfort in the rain by reducing the heat loss through wet fabric.
Wet out happens when the exterior fabric of a waterproof garment becomes saturated with water, thereby increasing its ability to transmit heat from the body and creating clamminess or a cooling sensation often confused with water entry or garment leakage.
Source: Gore-Tex.com
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