Waterfallproof Pants

The Waterfallproof Pants are designed to combat the megastorms of the future, where crazily intense rainfall becomes the norm. Highly waterproof, windproof and breathable, they’re 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 that mimics a lotus leaf. Fully seam sealed, we’ve fitted them with a watertight pocket that can withstand high pressure torrents of 100 litres a minute.

The outside of the Waterfallproof Pants 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 pants replicates the leaf’s microscale bumps using Schoeller’s nanosphere® technology. The bumps are completely imperceptible to the naked eye, but allow the pants to resist water, oil and dirt.

This c_change® membrane mimics natural structures like flowers and pinecones, opening and closing in response to changes in temperature, humidity and sweat. It’s designed to keep you at a consistent temperature by combining really high breathability with heat retention. While it can open up like a series of microscopic vents to let heat escape, in the cold it closes itself like a protective barrier to stop heat leaving. So as soon as the temperature drops, or you stop moving, the membrane contracts to insulate you and retain heat close to the body.

While every zipper on the Waterfallproof Pants is built to cope with extreme volumes of rain, we’ve fitted the pants with a watertight pocket that will keep anything inside completely dry. Even if you blast the zipper with a high pressure jet, it can withstand up to 100 litres of water a minute. 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.

The pants are fitted with two back pockets built with water resistant zippers. They come with angled storm flaps that are designed so that any water rolls off them and away from the pockets. The pants also come with two open side pockets for when the weather isn’t trying to kill you.

The fly fastens with a zipper and two strong metal press studs. The zipper is water resistant and protected by a storm flap, while the second metal stud is concealed behind a layer of fabric to protect it from heavy rain. And there are five 60mm belt loops that are designed to be compatible with almost any belt.

A simple metal press stud system lets you tighten the pants at the hem. It works well if you’re out on a bike, or if you need to create a seal around your boots in wet conditions.

The pants 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 knees, detailed shaping and a slight taper mean the pants follow the natural shape of your legs.