Choosing Your Waterproof Jacket

Both the Storm Jacket and the Halo Jacket are ultra-light, super waterproof jackets designed to pack down small in case the weather takes a turn.  

The Storm Jacket has a full-length zip and two hip pockets. The Halo Jacket has a ½ length zip with one chest pocket, and it can pack away into this pocket. Due to the longer zip, the Storm Jacket is very slightly heavier.  

Both are fully seam-sealed with the same waterproof and breathability ratings (25,000mm waterproof rating and 10,000gm/m2/24hrs breathability rating).  

The Downpour Elite is a jack of all trades and is stealthy, ideal for bush stalking. It is well suited to waterfowl hunting as it’s shorter (so it won't get in the way when you’re sitting and wading) and the deep bellowed lower pockets are ideal for dumping ammo.  

The Odyssey V2 is a premium all-rounder, with cutting-edge features that really set it apart from the Downpour Elite. It performs from the forest floor up to the mountain tops and is also quiet for close-quarters bush stalking.  

Both have the same waterproof rating (22,000mm). The Odyssey V2 has a slightly higher breathability rating (15,000gm/m2/24hrs versus the Downpour Elite which has 10,000gm/m2/24hrs).  

PFC DWR stands for Perfluorinated Compound Free Durable Water Repellent.

Perfluorinated Compound (PFC) are chemicals commonly used in waterproof outdoor apparel as well as many more common household items such as nonstick cookware and paints. We aren’t fans of the by-products that come from using these chemicals and their impact on the environment.  

All DWR used in the Hunters Element range is PFC free, and you can read more about our choice to use this type of PFC free DWR here. 

We use Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) waterproof testing on our range.  

JIS testing involves a specific machine that simulates Hydrostatic head testing.  It uses pressure and water to see how resistant a fabric is to water ingress.  A piece of our fabric is clamped and sealed in the test rig, water pressure is gradually increased against the outer face of the fabric until the fabric begins to fail and leaks appear. 

The pressure is measured and recorded at this point. PSI, KG/cm2 and MM (Hydrostatic Head) are all units of pressure that these machines can typically produce. 

Fabric is considered waterproof if it can withstand over 2,000mm. The average pressure of rainfall is between 1,000 – 2,000mm. Here is how our range performs in the JIS waterproofing tests: 

Atlas Jacket – 30,000mm 

Storm Jacket – 25,000mm 

Halo Jacket – 25,000mm 

Sleet Jacket – 25,000mm 

Odyssey V2 Jacket – 22,000mm 

Downpour Elite Jacket – 22,000mm 

Our jackets are constructed with a 3-layer waterproof and breathability system, and are specially designed to be very waterproof while remaining breathable through the use of technologically advanced membranes.  

Our waterproof jackets are also made breathable through a second-generation style of construction, where three layers of fabric are bonded together: 

1. The outside face fabric which is strong and quiet, and treated with a PFC-free durable water repellent.  
2. The middle membrane, which wicks away sweat from your body with its hydrophilic properties (meaning, it loves water). 
3. The inside layer which is a fine tricot mesh that sits against your body, providing comfort for you and protection for your jacket against high-friction areas.  

The middle membrane’s hydrophilic properties effectively wicks sweat and moisture off your body, and this moisture then beads, and evaporates up through the outer layer fabric – driven by the difference in temperature and air pressure between the inside of the jacket, and the outside world.  

As this middle membrane loves moisture, it is important to ensure the outside layer has its DWR maintained over the life of the jacket, so the moisture continues to effectively move (and stay) from the inside to the outside.  

The breathability testing expresses results in number of grams of moisture that is wicked and evaporated through one square metre of fabric, in 24 hours. The higher the number, the better the breathability. A rating of 8,000g/m2/24hrs is considered a good breathability rating for outdoor use.  

Here’s how our range stacks up: 

Atlas Jacket – 40,000gm/m2/24hrs 

Odyssey V2 Jacket – 15,000gm/m2/24hrs 

Downpour Elite Jacket – 10,000gm/m2/24hrs 

Storm Jacket - 10,000gm/m2/24hrs

Halo Jacket – 10,000gm/m2/24hrs 

Both the Odyssey V2 and the Downpour Elite jackets are quiet and suited for close-quarter bush stalking.

Our base layers, mid-layers and outer layers are designed to be paired with each other – so the sizing has been graded to accommodate that. We recommend buying your usual top size when choosing your waterproof jacket. 

Durable water repellent coatings, even when not used often, wear off over time. This can be noticed when water stops beading off the outer fabric. To reapply the DWR and get the waterproofing back to new, wash it in a sports wash or DWR replenish wash. Alternatively, a DWR spray will replenish the water repellence. We like the Grangers or Nikwax range for this. 

When you've got towash all the blood and guts off your jacket, we recommend washing by hand, in a bathtub, in cold water using a Sportswash. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry. No not dry clean. Avoid using power detergents, or any other detergent which is scented or has UV brighteners. 

We all know the power of a deer’s nose. However, they also have the ability to detect UV in clothing which stands out similarly to how humans see blaze orange.

The Hunters Element range is based on a 3-layer system: base layer, mid-layer and outer layer. These outer layers are designed to be worn above our base-layers (such as the Core or Core+ range) and our mid-layer range (such as the Legacy Jacket, Zenith top or Whakarapu Hood).  

The outer layer is the final barrier of defence between you and Mother Nature, and is engineered for superior water resistance, breathability and noise reduction. 

All three layers used together ensure you warm up, cool down and stay dry for superior performance in the field. The fabric technology in each layer has been thoughtfully designed to best regulate your temperature, breathe out excess heat and sweat, and keep you protected from the harsh elements.