Our rain scale
Drizzle, Showers and Downpour: how each level is built, what it is for, and what no level covers.
Every coat, jacket, hat and bag we sell sits on one of three levels. The level describes how the piece is built: the weight of the shell, the coating and how the seams are finished. It is a guide to the weather each piece is designed for. It is not a laboratory rating, and we do not quote hydrostatic head (millimetre) or breathability figures.
01 Drizzle
Light, water-repellent and packable, for fine rain and dry spells in between.
- Lightweight nylon shell with a water-repellent finish
- Stitched seams (not taped)
- Packs into its own pocket
Good for: a commute with a short walk, travel, a bag that might need a coat later. Water will find its way through the seams in steady rain.
02 Showers
A coated shell with taped seams where rain lands first, for showers that come and go.
- Mid-weight polyester shell with a polyurethane (PU) coating
- Taped seams at the shoulders, hood and yoke
- Press-stud storm placket or covered zip
Good for: everyday wear in changeable weather, school runs, walking between places.
03 Downpour
Our heaviest coated shell, every seam taped and a storm flap over the zip, for rain that settles in.
- Heavier polyester shell with a polyurethane (PU) coating
- Every seam taped on the inside
- Two-way zip under a press-stud storm flap, peaked hood
Good for: long walks in the rain, standing at the touchline, waiting for a late bus.
What no level covers
- The printed lining is not water-repellent. That is why none of our coats are reversible.
- Pockets, cuffs and hems let water in if you plunge your hands in or stand in a downpour for a long time. Keep phones in an inside pocket in heavy rain.
- Bucket hats are water-repellent on the plain coated side only. The print side is for dry days.
- Pouches and totes are water-repellent, not submersible.
- Welly socks are not rated: they are knitted socks that go inside your boots.
Keeping the shell working
Wash coats at 30°C on a gentle cycle, fastened and inside out, with a liquid detergent and no fabric softener. Hang to dry away from direct heat. Do not tumble dry, iron the coated outer or dry clean. Over time, water may stop beading on the surface; a wash-in or spray-on reproofer made for coated fabrics can help.
Why no millimetre ratings?
Hydrostatic head and breathability figures only mean something when they come from a test report for the exact fabric and garment. Until we publish reports for a style, we prefer to tell you plainly how it is made. If a style gains a tested rating, it will appear on its product page with the test it comes from.