Waterfallproof Parka

The Waterfallproof Parka is designed to combat the megastorms of the future, where crazily intense rainfall becomes the norm. Highly waterproof, windproof and breathable, it’s constructed with an advanced 3 layer Swiss material from Schoeller, with an intelligent membrane that opens and closes in the heat, and self-drying nanotechnology borrowed from plants. Building the material alone requires a total of 28 separate construction processes.

The outside of the Waterfallproof Parka mimics one of nature’s most brilliant pieces of engineering – the lotus leaf. Over millions of years the lotus leaf has adapted to life constantly surrounded by water. Although the surface of each leaf looks completely flat, it’s covered with a complex landscape of microscopic bumps which helps it stay clean and dry.

When a water droplet lands on a normal flat surface, it sticks easily and quickly begins to absorb. But when water hits the surface of the lotus leaf, it can only balance on the peaks of the tiny bumps, meaning any movement or a breeze will cause the liquid to simply roll away. The outside layer of the jacket replicates the leaf’s microscale bumps using Schoeller’s nanosphere® technology. The bumps are completely imperceptible to the naked eye, but allow the jacket to resist water, oil and dirt.

The issue with creating something crazily waterproof is breathability. The more water can’t come through one way, the harder it is to let it come out the other. A rubber wetsuit for instance would never let any rain through, but if you tried to go for a run in one you might pass out as it won’t let heat or sweat escape efficiently. So the middle layer of the jacket uses Schoeller’s c_change® membrane. Instead of remaining static, the membrane can open and close to respond to different weather conditions as they happen, while remaining permanently waterproof and windproof.

While every zipper on the Waterfallproof Parka is built to cope with extreme volumes of rain, we’ve fitted the jacket with a chest pocket that can survive total immersion in water. Even if you’re wading in chest deep water, anything inside it will stay dry. It’s built with an incredibly heavy-duty waterproof zipper that looks a bit like a rubber anchor and is normally only found in scuba diving gear. Just as no water could get in, no water could get out. So if you’ve always wanted to take your pet goldfish out for a walk, fill up the pocket and now you can.

When the weather turns hostile you’ll find an internal fastening system either side of the hood and another adjuster at the back, so you can tighten it fast. The jacket comes with a high collar to insulate you in the harshest conditions, and it’s lined with a soft, brushed fabric against your neck, nose and mouth.

You can tighten the cuffs as hard as you want thanks to a simple Velcro belt. The Velcro slides through a loop that you can then pull tight to create a seal around your wrists or gloves to protect you from the elements.

The jacket will stretch with you whatever you’re doing. But instead of relying on elastane, we use an advanced weaving process which creates mechanical stretch to achieve the same effect. Articulated sleeves follow the natural shape of your arm. And you’ll find two long side vents on either side of the jacket to keep air flowing around your body and make sure you never feel restricted.